Pets: sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits.

Assembly Member Bennett's legislation to regulate pet sales in California establishes new requirements for transparency and consumer protection in transactions involving dogs, cats, and rabbits. The measure prohibits nonrefundable deposits in pet sale contracts after January 1, 2026, while mandating detailed disclosures about animals' origins and medical histories.

Under the new provisions, sellers must provide written documentation of each animal's source, including breeder information, USDA license numbers when applicable, and state of birth. The required disclosures also encompass complete medical records, detailing all vaccinations, treatments, and medications administered while in the seller's possession. When information is unavailable, sellers must explicitly note these gaps in their records.

The legislation creates enforcement mechanisms through both private and public channels. Purchasers can pursue civil actions to recover funds from void contracts, with prevailing plaintiffs eligible for attorney's fees and costs. State and local prosecutors, including the Attorney General and district attorneys, may also bring enforcement actions. The measure exempts governmental agencies, service animal transfers, and public animal control facilities from these requirements while maintaining existing regulations under the Lockyer-Polanco-Farr Pet Protection Act and related statutes.