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Notable New Bills CALIFORNIA MINNESOTA NEW YORK NY AB 5947 https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A05947&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y Prohibits certain species of fish, bats, rodents. and primates, to be identified by the Department of Environmental Conservation from being imported into the state. Authorizes the department, based on likelihood of zoonotic transmission, to immediately suspend licenses for importation of certain species. Allows zoos and other facilities to petition the department for exemption from importation restrictions the department may impose, and gives the department authority to require petitioning facilities to demonstrate use of biosafety equipment or other protocols for handling restricted species. Would regulate the operation of live animal (“wet”) markets in the state. NY AB5850 https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&leg_video=&bn=A05850&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y Same as SB 3629 (as amended). Prohibits the participation of certain animals in traveling animal act - bans kangaroos, wallabies, bears, all cats except for domestic, and non-human primates from any and all exhibitions including petting zoos and carnivals. Does not apply to a performance at a permanent facility.
SOUTH CAROLINA |
Existing Bills ARIZONA AZ SB 1048 https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/1R/bills/SB1048P.htm Cruelty to working animals and narrows definition of working animals from previous versions to include only law enforcement and service animals. Entire bill was stricken and amended at committee. Now allows a county board of supervisors to receive any gift, bequest or devise Also specifies that a county enforcement agent is the person in each county who is responsible for enforcing rules regarding animal control.
CALIFORNIA CA AB 892 https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB892 Would prohibit public contact with any of the following species: Bears, Caracals, Elephants, Kangaroos, or any hybrid of a kangaroo, Non-human primates, Otters, Servals, Sloths or Wallaby, or any hybrid of a wallaby. The bill does allow direct contact by animal professionals, facility owners and TV and Film productions, among others. However the exceptions do not allow for any public contact whatsoever.
CONNECTICUT FLORIDA HAWAII MASSACHUSETTS MA HD 2591 https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/HD2591 Allows authorities to immediately remove an animal in an emergency situation from the animal’s present location in order to take custody of the animal if they believe that the animal is injured or in imminent danger of physical harm. MA SD 1450 https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/SD1450 Prohibits the harassment of animals. Establishes responsibilities for animals' guardians. Requires any business representing itself as an animal protective entity to be subject to quarterly inspections or records review. Also prohibits animal fights and any person who captures, breeds, cages, transports or sells any animal to a person or commercial entity for the purpose of exhibition, entertainment, curiosity, or dismemberment. Defines terms such as animal torture and establishes cruelty offenses.
MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MONTANA NEW JERSEY NJ S 581 https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S3989 Establishes offense of reckless trespass involving a wild animal if the person enters a cage, enclosure, or other area where a wild or zoo animal is housed or otherwise contained and intentionally or unintentionally harasses the wild animal, or is attacked by the wild animal. NJ S 3989 https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S3989 Expands list of animals prohibited from use in traveling animal acts; limits certain exceptions to apply only at educational institutions.
NEW YORK NY SB 5014 https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=S05014&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y Enacts the "Big Five African Trophies Act" relating to banning the importation, transportation and possession of certain African wildlife species and products. Same as AB 1616. Committee Hearing held 2/25/2025. Advanced to second reading. NY S 3629 https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=S03629&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y Prohibits the participation of certain animals in traveling animal act - bans kangaroos, wallabies, bears, all cats except for domestic, and non-human primates from any and all exhibitions including petting zoos and carnivals. Does not apply to a performance at a permanent facility so long as the covered animal is at the facility for more than fourteen days. Committee hearing held 2/25/2025. Bill amended to remove any reference to time limits for performances at permanent facilities. NY AB 1616 https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A01616&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y Enacts the "Big Five African Trophies Act" relating to banning the importation, transportation and possession of certain African wildlife species and products. NY A 1835 https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A01835&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y Prohibits the use of primates in entertainment acts. Provides an exception for AZA zoos. NY AB 1685 https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A01685&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y Prohibits the breeding, sale, trade, purchase, importation, and exportation of red-eared slider turtles. NY AB 1804 https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A01804&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y Defines wild and exotic animals. Adds new animals to the list of wild and exotic animals. Allows people to possess or harbor a listed exotic animal provided that they have not been convicted of animal cruelty or are under an order not to possess animals. Sloth store bill. Same as SB 252. NY S 2296 https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=S02296&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y NY AB 640 https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A00640&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y Creates a court-appointed advocate for animals. NY SB 252 https://legiscan.com/NY/text/S00252/2025 Provides that "wild animal" means indigenous, non-domesticated animals native to the country in which they live and "exotic animal" means a wild animal with an origin of a different continent; adds certain wild or exotic animals to the list of non-companion animals. This is the new version of the “sloth store” bill from 2024. Committee hearing held 2/25/2025. Bill advanced to second reading. NY AB 107 https://s3.amazonaws.com/fn-document-service/file-by-sha384/af2f857a528d6b8671610edfd62e30ead487a5c90a2c3930c600163001456fc36f398d1c188d7c0c2e23ae1ab6544d3e Establishes that animals are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain, stress, and fear; establishes an animal can be a victim of a crime.
SOUTH CAROLINA SC H 3937 https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/3937_20250206.htm Makes it illegal to import into, possess, keep, purchase, have custody or control of, reproduce, or sell within this State. Current owners can get permits and must register their animals within 90 days of the effective date. Zoos and other exhibitors are eligible for permits. However AZA zoos are exempt.
VIRGINIA VA SB 1125 https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1125 Prohibits propagation of wildlife without a permit, as well as premature separation of young wildlife and hybridization of species. AZA is identified as a resource and authority on separation practices and AZA facilities are exempt from the prohibition of hybridization. Amended and passed on the floor of the Senate to remove permit requirement, allow exceptions for early separation, remove reference to breeding of subspecies and to remove references to and exception for AZA facilities. Further narrowing amendments made in the House Agriculture Committee. Passed By House And Senate As Amended. ZAA OPPOSED AS INTRODUCED. VA HB 1768 https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB1768 Prohibits the possession, sale, transfer, or breeding of nonhuman primates. Contains exemptions for certain institutions, including federal Class C exhibitors, although that exemption has conditions attached to it. None of those conditions are attached to any of the other exempt facilities. Failed in the subcommittee. ZAA OPPOSED AS INTRODUCED.
WASHINGTON WA SB 5065 https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5065.htm Prohibiting the use of certain animals (elephants. Big cats, primates and bears) in traveling animal acts. Amended on the Senate Floor to exempt performances that take place at a nonmobile, permanent institution or other fixed facility licensed by the USDA and conducted by the nonmobile institution or fixed facility. Passed Senate as amended. Pending in the House. ZAA OPPOSED AS INTRODUCED.
WYOMING |
Proposed State Regulations KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE |
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FEDERAL LEGISLATION Animal Welfare Endangered Species/Conservation |
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