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CALIFORNIA
ANIMAL BILLS
California Animal Bills Introduced in 2026
AB 2010 Veterinary medicine: veterinary surgery premises: spay and neuter services.
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This bill, The Veterinary Medicine Practice Act requires all premises where veterinary medicine,
veterinary dentistry, or veterinary surgery is being practiced to be kept clean and sanitary at all times and conform to minimum standards established by the board. This bill would specify that the minimum standards established by the California Veterinary Medical Board shall not require a dedicated surgical suite for any veterinary premises that primarily performs high-quality, high-volume spay or neuter services, as defined.
Status: 3/2/2026-Referred to Com. on B. & P.
Calendar: Pending B&P Calendar
AB 2574 Potentially dangerous and vicious dogs: hearings: appeal: notice of owner’s or
keeper’s rights.
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FACT SHEET
Existing law regulates potentially dangerous and vicious dogs. Existing law requires the chief officer of a public animal shelter or animal control department, or the head of a local law enforcement agency, if probable cause exists to believe that a dog is potentially dangerous or vicious, to petition the superior court for a hearing in a limited civil proceeding to determine, upon a preponderance of the evidence, whether the dog should be declared potentially dangerous or vicious. Existing law also authorizes a city or county to establish an administrative hearing procedure to hear and dispose of petitions filed for these purposes. Existing law requires notification to the owner or keeper of a dog that a hearing will be held by the superior court or the hearing entity and that the owner or keeper of the dog is authorized to present evidence as to why the dog should not be declared potentially dangerous or vicious. Existing law requires the owner or keeper of the dog to be served with notice of the hearing and a copy of the petition, either personally or by first-class mail with return receipt requested. Existing law requires that the hearing be held promptly within no less than 5 working days and not more than 10 working days after service of notice. Existing law authorizes a law enforcement or animal control officer, if upon investigation it is determined that probable cause exists to believe a dog poses an immediate threat to public safety, to seize and impound the dog pending a hearing to determine whether the dog should be declared potentially dangerous or vicious. Existing law requires, after that hearing, the owner or keeper of the dog to be notified in writing of the determination and orders issued and, if a determination is made that the dog is potentially dangerous or vicious, requires the owner or keeper of the dog to take specified action, as provided. Existing law authorizes the petitioner or the owner or keeper of the dog to, within 5 days of the receipt of the notice of determination, appeal the decision, as specified. Under existing law, the court hearing the appeal is required to conduct the hearing de novo and to decide the issue upon the preponderance of the evidence. This bill would instead require a city or county to comply with the above-described hearing, notification, and appeal provisions. The bill would also raise the applicable evidentiary standard to by clear and convincing evidence for the determination of whether the dog should be declared potentially dangerous or vicious and appeals on that issue. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.
Sponsor: None
Status: 2/21/2026-From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
Calendar: Pending Committee Assignment
SB 1269 Chiropractors: animal chiropractic practitioners
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FACT SHEET
The Chiropractic Act, enacted by an initiative measure, provides for the licensure and regulation of chiropractors by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. A violation of the act is a misdemeanor. This bill would establish a scheme for a licensed chiropractor to be registered by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners as an animal chiropractic practitioner and would prohibit a chiropractor from practicing animal chiropractic without being registered as an animal chiropractic practitioner unless they are under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The bill would establish requirements for registration as an animal chiropractic practitioner, including holding a certification from one of specified credentialing organizations or a credentialing organization specified by the board. The bill would establish requirements for practicing animal chiropractic and registering an animal chiropractic premises with the board. The bill would require the board, by regulation, to establish fees for registering an animal chiropractic premises. By authorizing new fees to be deposited into the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. The bill would require an animal chiropractic practitioner to comply with regulations of the board applicable to chiropractors, would authorize the board to adopt regulations necessary to implement the bill’s provisions, and would require the board, if adopting specified regulations, to consult with the Veterinary Medical Board, including regulations regarding standards of medicine or care for an animal. The bill would make an animal chiropractic practitioner exempt from the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.
Author: (Ochoa Bogh R)
Sponsor: CA Chiropractic Association
Status:: 3/4/2026-Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
Calendar: Pending Calendar
SB 1296 Real property: rentals: pet policy.
Existing law governs the obligations of tenants and landlords. Existing law prohibits a landlord who allows an animal on the premises from advertising or establishing rental policies in a manner that requires a tenant or a potential tenant with an animal to have that animal declawed or devocalized as a condition of occupancy, as provided. This bill would require a landlord who allows an animal on the premises to include their pet policy in specified locations, including advertisements and rental application forms, as provided. The bill would require prescribed information be included in the
pet policy, including any breed and weight restrictions, as provided. The bill would require a prospective tenant to acknowledge receipt of the pet policy, as specified. The bill would require any landlord who charges an application fee but fails to disclose their pet policy before charging the fee to
refund the application fee to the applicant, as specified
Status:: 3/4/2026-Referred to Com. on JUD.
Calendar: Pending Calendar
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