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legislation
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legislation > state bills
MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE SESSION : 2023-2024 The Minnesota 2024 legislative session re-convened on Feburary 12, 2024. Minnesota operates on a two-year biennial period. 2024 is the second year of the 2023-2024 session. Bills or work not completed in 2023 can carry over to 2024. Session dates: 1849-present To find bills introduced in the Minnesota Senate and Minnesota House of Representatives, click here. _________________________________________________
UPDATE AND STATUS: Animal-related bills introduced and/or passed into law Not all bills are listed below. Find your state legislators (based on your address) at: MN District Finder • SF 3542 / HF 3799 Issue: Minnesota Office of Animal Protection (MN OAP) bill Authors: Sen. John Marty / Rep. Matt Norris Description: Will establish an Office of Animal Protection under the Department of Public Safety to assist authorities in the enforcement of animal cruelty statutes. See website below. Status: Introduced in 2024 legislative session. Link to website (has bill language posted on website): mnoap.org
• SF 1136 / HF 1168 Issue: Companion Animal Board (CAB) bill Authors: Sen. Scott Dibble / incoming bill author Rep. Berg Description: Will establish a state board with expertise in companion animals (pets). Board would have authority to enforce the dog and cat breeder law as well as the kennel and dealer law. Other duties include working with nonprofits, vet clinics, businesses, and the public to coordinate statewide services and resources for the care of pets and the bond to humans. See website below. Status: Did not pass in 2023. The two Agriculture chairs (Sen. Putnam and Rep. Vang) did not grant hearings. Considerable lobbying and advocacy continues to gain support for hearings in 2024 session. Link to website (has bill language posted on website): mncab.org
• SF 1317 / HF 1276 Issue: Humane Pet Store bill Authors: Sen. Judy Seeberger / Rep. Matt Norris Description: Will prohibit pet stores in Minnesota from selling dogs and cats; can provide space to nonprofit organizations to adopt dogs and cats. Status: Was heard in Senate Commerce committee but was tabled; did not pass. Additional lobbying is required before next session to educate committee members about the link between pet stores and puppy mills and harm to animals. Link to website: No website has been created for this specific bill. However, the harm caused by puppy mills and pet stores that buy from puppy mills is well documented. Review data on: www.gohumaneblaine.org AND www.speakupwinonacounty.org
• SF 2062 / HF 2144 Issue: Ban Wolf Hunt Authors: Sen. Kunesh / Rep. Peter Fischer Description: Would prohibit an open season for taking wolves (banning the killing of wolves in a wolf hunt) Status: The prohibition on wolf hunting passed the House by a vote of 69-57. The bill did not get a vote in the Senate. The Environment, Climate and Energy committee excluded the legislation to prohibit wolf hunting and trapping from the final bill. The removal was a disappointment. Efforts will continue to the 2024 legislative ssession. NOTE: Kudos to Howling for Wolves and HSUS for their work on this bill.
• SF 762 / HF 1532 Name: Housing - Prohibit Dog Breed Bans Authors: Sen. Champion / Rep. Liz Reyer Description: Prohibit insurers from discriminating based on breed of dog owned Status: Bill passed! NOTE: Thanks to HSUS for leading these efforts.
• SF 556 / HF 758 Issue: Housing - Prohibit pet declawing and devocalization Authors: Sen. Scott Dibble / Rep . Rep.Perez-Vega Description: Prohibit landlords from taking certain actions that encourage or require tenant to declaw or devocalize an animal Status: Bill passed! NOTE: Thanks to HSUS for leading these efforts.
• SF 371 / HF 831 Issue: Housing - Requirement of reasonable pet policies Authors: Sen. Susan Pha / Rep. Liz Reyer Description: Relates to housing; requires the Housing Finance Agency to require reasonable pet policies in buildings financed by the agency Status: Did not pass; will continue to 2024 legislative session NOTE: Thanks to HSUS for leading these efforts.
• SF 1522 / HF 1228 Issue: Veterinary Technician Workforce Enhancement Act Authors: Sen. Robert Kupec / Rep. John Huot Description: Relating to veterinary medicine. Would regulate veterinary technicians, the practice of veterinary technology, and unlicensed veterinary employees. Status: Did not pass; was referred to and heard in some committees. NOTE: Led by Dr. Allen Balay (veterinarian) and Kim Horne (certified vet technician).
• SF 1316 / HF 1299 Issue: Modifying trapping and snare provisions Authors: Sen. John Hoffman / Rep. Peter Fischer Description: Relating to game and fish; modifying trapping and snaring provisions, including license forfeiture for certain violations Status: Did not pass; was referred to environmental committees. Will continue to 2024 legislative session. NOTE: Kudos to Dog Lovers 4 Safe Trapping MN for leading efforts.
• SF 2438 / HF 2310 Name: Outlaw commercial turtle trapping Authors: Sen. Foung Hawj / Rep. Rick Hansen Description: Outlaws commercial turtle trapping; applies to commercial turtle harvesting and selling. Individuals with recreational fishing licenses will be allowed to keep up to three turtles. Since 2014, about 20 MN license holds have been trapping about 10,000 turtles a year — threatening turtle populations. Status: Bill passed!
• SF 1526 / HF 1202 Name: Chronic Wasting Disease Authors: Rep. Becker-Finn / Sen. Morrison Description: Multiple amendments to existing law and new law to address problem of chronic wasting disease (CWD). Also included transferring certain duties from the Board of Animal Health to the commissioner of natural resources. Status: Passed.
• SF 1162 / HF 1137 Issue: Board of Animal Health Modification Authors: Rep. Rick Hansen / Sen. Scott Dibble Description: Changes to make-up of board members for MN Board of Animal Health. Original bill language was to address what's known as "regulatory capture" - where a board is made up of the same people and industries that they are supposed to regulate, creating conflict of interest. In this case, the majority of current board members of the Board of Animal Health (BAH) are livestock producers, which is the primary industry the the BAH regulates for issues of disease. Bill challenged that by requiring members to represent different geographical areas and be knowledgable in animal agriculture, animal health, or pets and companion animals, with at least two members from the public. Status: Bill compromised. Bill went to conference committee who made significant changes to the intent. Livestock producers still represent majority of the BAH board members. One "pet" veterinarian was added. Committee said the BAH "may" (not must) choose to do have geographical representation.
• SF 2186 / HF 2254 Issue: Crate-free group swine housing facilities Authors: Sen. Heather Gustafson / Rep. Rick Hansen Description: To allow for grants to encourage farmers to transition to crate-free group swine housing facilities. To modify existing law that provides for a livestock investment grant program. Status: Did not pass; will continue to 2024 legislative session.
Other additional bills were introduced to help fund specific shelter expenses at the Animal Humane Society and services at the MN Federated Humane Societies. Additional bills for game and fish laws applicable to wildlife issues were introduced. Multiple bills to support funding for livestock production and promotion passed by Agriculture. |
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