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legislation
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legislation > state bills
MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE SESSION The Minnesota 2024 Legislature (Senate and House) adjourned on May 20, 2024. Minnesota operates on a two-year biennial period. 2023 was considered a fiscal year, 2024 was a policy year. The 2025-2026 legislative session with begin in January. (Members in the House of Representatives are up for re-election in 2024.) Session dates: 1849-present To find bills introduced in the Minnesota Senate and Minnesota House of Representatives, click here. _________________________________________________
UPDATE AND STATUS: Examples of animal-related bills introduced in 2023-2024 and/or status 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. Status: Introduced in 2024 legislative session. See website below for bill status. 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 / 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 not move forward in 2023 or 2024 due to the Agriculture chairs (Sen. Putnam and Rep. Vang) not granting hearings. See website below for further details. 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: Not granted hearings in 2024 so will not move forward this session. 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: Refer to Howling for Wolves and HSUS for bill status. Kudos to 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 in 2023 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 in 2023 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
• 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.
• 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
• 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 in 2023
• 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 in 2023
• 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.
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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