veeto
Home
Bills
Feedback
hamburger
    Privacy PolicyResources
    © 2025 Veeto.
    AB-506
    Consumer Protection

    Pets: sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits.

    Enrolled
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Requires written disclosures of source and medical history at sale for dogs, cats, and rabbits.
    • Prohibits nonrefundable deposits on California purchases of dogs, cats, or rabbits.
    • Gives buyers a 30-day refund window if a contract is void.
    • Authorizes private suits and public enforcement; prevailing plaintiffs receive attorney’s fees.

    Summary

    Assembly Member Bennett, with principal coauthors Berman and Umberg, frames a measure that broadens California’s pet-protection framework by applying a comprehensive written disclosure regime to the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits and by barring nonrefundable deposits in ownership-transfer contracts for buyers located in California. The centerpiece is a new article that establishes definitions and requires a written notice at the point of sale to accompany the transfer of a dog, cat, or rabbit.

    The disclosures are organized around three elements: first, the original source, including the breeder, the USDA license number if applicable, the country or state of birth, and a statement about any unknown information with related details known by the seller or their associates; second, records of inoculations and worming treatments, with dates and the type of vaccine or worming product used; and third, records of veterinarian treatment or medications received while in the seller’s possession, accompanied by a signed statement referencing an existing medical-history provision. The measure also prohibits a contract for transferring ownership that includes or requires a nonrefundable deposit if the purchase occurs with the buyer in California, effective for contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2026, and requires the seller to refund money within 30 days of notice that the contract is void.

    Enforcement and remedies are provided through both private and public channels: a purchaser may bring a civil action to recover money, seek injunctive relief, and recover attorney’s fees and costs, while the Attorney General and local prosecutors may pursue enforcement in the name of the people of California; the remedies are not exclusive. The bill carves out government transfers and the transfer of guide, signal, or service dogs, and explicitly excludes public animal control agencies or shelters from the new requirements. The proposal thus expands existing dog- and cat-protection provisions to rabbits, aligns disclosure obligations with current law, and introduces a private-right-of-action framework alongside state enforcement, with a January 2026 start for the nonrefundable-deposit prohibition.

    Key Dates

    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 506 Bennett Concurrence in Senate Amendments
    Vote on Senate Floor
    Senate Floor
    Vote on Senate Floor
    Assembly 3rd Reading AB506 Bennett et al. By Umberg
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Placed on suspense file
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
    Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 506 Bennett Assembly Third Reading
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass
    Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
    Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Assembly Judiciary Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Judiciary Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Business and Professions] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Marc BermanD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Sabrina CervantesD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tom UmbergD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Steve BennettD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Matt HaneyD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 5 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 1
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Marc BermanD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Sabrina CervantesD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Tom UmbergD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Steve BennettD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Matt HaneyD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author

    Similar Past Legislation

    Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
    AB-2248
    Contracts: sales of dogs and cats.
    February 2024
    Failed
    View Bill
    Sales of dogs and cats: contracts.
    February 2017
    Passed
    View Bill
    Showing 2 of 2 items
    Page 1 of 1

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Marc Berman
    Marc BermanD
    California State Assembly Member
    Steve Bennett
    Steve BennettD
    California State Assembly Member
    Co-Authors
    Tom Umberg
    Tom UmbergD
    California State Senator
    Sabrina Cervantes
    Sabrina CervantesD
    California State Senator
    Matt Haney
    Matt HaneyD
    California State Assembly Member
    70% progression
    Bill has passed both houses in identical form and is being prepared for the Governor (9/9/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    September 9, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    704680PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Requires written disclosures of source and medical history at sale for dogs, cats, and rabbits.
    • Prohibits nonrefundable deposits on California purchases of dogs, cats, or rabbits.
    • Gives buyers a 30-day refund window if a contract is void.
    • Authorizes private suits and public enforcement; prevailing plaintiffs receive attorney’s fees.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Marc Berman
    Marc BermanD
    California State Assembly Member
    Steve Bennett
    Steve BennettD
    California State Assembly Member
    Co-Authors
    Tom Umberg
    Tom UmbergD
    California State Senator
    Sabrina Cervantes
    Sabrina CervantesD
    California State Senator
    Matt Haney
    Matt HaneyD
    California State Assembly Member

    Summary

    Assembly Member Bennett, with principal coauthors Berman and Umberg, frames a measure that broadens California’s pet-protection framework by applying a comprehensive written disclosure regime to the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits and by barring nonrefundable deposits in ownership-transfer contracts for buyers located in California. The centerpiece is a new article that establishes definitions and requires a written notice at the point of sale to accompany the transfer of a dog, cat, or rabbit.

    The disclosures are organized around three elements: first, the original source, including the breeder, the USDA license number if applicable, the country or state of birth, and a statement about any unknown information with related details known by the seller or their associates; second, records of inoculations and worming treatments, with dates and the type of vaccine or worming product used; and third, records of veterinarian treatment or medications received while in the seller’s possession, accompanied by a signed statement referencing an existing medical-history provision. The measure also prohibits a contract for transferring ownership that includes or requires a nonrefundable deposit if the purchase occurs with the buyer in California, effective for contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2026, and requires the seller to refund money within 30 days of notice that the contract is void.

    Enforcement and remedies are provided through both private and public channels: a purchaser may bring a civil action to recover money, seek injunctive relief, and recover attorney’s fees and costs, while the Attorney General and local prosecutors may pursue enforcement in the name of the people of California; the remedies are not exclusive. The bill carves out government transfers and the transfer of guide, signal, or service dogs, and explicitly excludes public animal control agencies or shelters from the new requirements. The proposal thus expands existing dog- and cat-protection provisions to rabbits, aligns disclosure obligations with current law, and introduces a private-right-of-action framework alongside state enforcement, with a January 2026 start for the nonrefundable-deposit prohibition.

    70% progression
    Bill has passed both houses in identical form and is being prepared for the Governor (9/9/2025)

    Key Dates

    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 506 Bennett Concurrence in Senate Amendments
    Vote on Senate Floor
    Senate Floor
    Vote on Senate Floor
    Assembly 3rd Reading AB506 Bennett et al. By Umberg
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Placed on suspense file
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
    Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 506 Bennett Assembly Third Reading
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass
    Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
    Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Assembly Judiciary Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Judiciary Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Business and Professions] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    September 9, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    704680PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Marc BermanD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Sabrina CervantesD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tom UmbergD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Steve BennettD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Matt HaneyD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 5 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 1
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Marc BermanD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Sabrina CervantesD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Tom UmbergD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Steve BennettD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Matt HaneyD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author

    Similar Past Legislation

    Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
    AB-2248
    Contracts: sales of dogs and cats.
    February 2024
    Failed
    View Bill
    Sales of dogs and cats: contracts.
    February 2017
    Passed
    View Bill
    Showing 2 of 2 items
    Page 1 of 1