2025 LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY

The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Connecticut Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners (CFDRDO) work hard to oppose legislation that would negatively impact Connecticut dog owners, breeders, and exhibitors.

 

In January, HB 5902 was proposed, a very onerous bill that would have negatively impacted dog breeders.  We closely monitored this bill which thankfully went no further than the proposal stage after Stacey Ober, AKC Government Relations provided information to the bill sponsor explaining that reputable breeders are not responsible for the shelter overpopulation about which the sponsor was concerned.  The bill read as follows:  AN ACT CONCERNING THE BREEDING OF ANIMALS IN THE STATE. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: 1 That the general statutes be amended to prohibit the breeding of 2 animals, including birds and reptiles, unless such person or company is 3 registered with the Department of Agriculture. Additionally, to require 4 the Department of Agriculture to create guidelines for the breeding of 5 animals, develop a breeder registry, collect registration fees and 6 perform annual inspections of such breeders. Statement of Purpose: To regulate animal breeding in the state through the Department of Agriculture.​

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Connecticut – H.B.6277 mandates that “animal breeders” (any person who breeds dogs, cats, rabbits or guinea pigs for sale or transfer to an animal testing facility) and animal testing facilities offer dogs, cats, rabbits, or guinea pigs that are “no longer needed” and do not pose a health or safety risk to the public for adoption via animal adoption or rescue organizations. It also provides that animal breeders and testing facilities will not be held liable for any harm or defects associated with animals adopted under this provision. AKC issued this alert and submitted opposition to the March 24 Joint Environment Committee hearing. The committee advanced a substitute draft addressing AKC concerns and mandating instead that state higher education institutions offer these animals for adoption once research is completed so long as no health or safety risk is posed. It passed and was signed by the Governor on June 16 as Public Act No. 25-129. 

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Connecticut – HB 6240 was raised for consideration by the Joint Environment Committee on March 17. It would amend existing statutes concerning the sale of animals in pet stores by prohibiting the sourcing of animals from any USDA breeder with a direct or indirect violation of the Animal Welfare Act in the past seven (7) years. In addition, pet shops would annually report to the Department of Agriculture the origin of animals sourced, the number of violations and their nature. AKC issued this alert and submitted concerns to the March 24 Joint Environment Committee hearing. The committee revised the bill to look back three years for violations and voted it ought to pass as amended. It did not advance before the session adjourned.

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Connecticut – SB 1386 prohibits homeowners’ insurance and renters’ insurance policies from discriminating based on harboring or owning any dog of a specific breed or mixture of breeds. In addition, the state would evaluate the feasibility of establishing penalties for the intentional misrepresentation of a dog as a service animal. AKC issued this alert and submitted testimony in support for the Joint Insurance and Real Estate Committee’s public hearing on March 4. On March 11, despite opposition from the insurance industry, the Committee approved a new draft of SB 1386. The Senate adopted a floor amendment and passed SB 1386, as amended, on May 29. AKC issued this call to action but it did not advance before the session adjourned. 

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Connecticut – HB 6964 creates a taskforce to study what provisions could be made in certain circumstances to allow emergency medical services personnel to provide emergency treatment and transportation to an injured police K-9. AKC issued this alert and submitted testimony in support for the February 18 public hearing. The committee met on March 18 and voted it favorably but, it did not advance before the session adjourned. 

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Connecticut – HB 6832 authorizes municipalities to adopt local ordinances banning the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits. AKC issued an alert that the Joint Planning and Development Committee was accepting testimony February 3 and testified in opposition. On March 12, the committee voted to advance HB 6832, despite AKC’s concerns and significant testimony in opposition. The bill did not advance before the session adjourned.

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AKC Government Relations and CFDRDO will continue to monitor all bills in Connecticut impacting dog owners and communicate with lawmakers to share our concerns and more positive, effective solutions. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.