Bowie’s Law: animals: adoption, shelter overcrowding, and breeding.
- Requires animal shelters to list all adoptable animals on their websites to increase transparency.
- Mandates microchipping of dogs by breeders before eight weeks of age and registration with microchip registry.
- Expands breeder regulations to cover those selling two litters or ten dogs annually, down from three litters or twenty.
- Requires state study of shelter overcrowding solutions with findings due by January 2028.
Assembly Member Castillo's animal welfare legislation revises California's shelter and breeding regulations through new transparency requirements and expanded oversight of dog breeders. The bill requires animal shelters to maintain public online listings of adoptable animals, with exceptions for those that are severely ill or injured, newborns without mothers, or dogs with documented dangerous behavior.
The Department of Food and Agriculture must conduct a comprehensive study of shelter overcrowding and potential solutions, including examining the feasibility of a statewide database for tracking adoptable dogs and cats. This study's findings are due to the Legislature by January 2028. The bill also modifies the definition of commercial dog breeders to include those who transfer two or more litters or 10 or more dogs annually, down from previous thresholds of three litters or 20 dogs.
Under the new provisions, breeders must microchip dogs before eight weeks of age, register new owners with microchip registries upon transfer, and maintain detailed health records for one year after sale. Dogs cannot be transferred until they receive age-appropriate immunizations and health certification from a California-licensed veterinarian. Local jurisdictions retain authority to implement stricter breed-specific ordinances, while the state will reimburse agencies for costs associated with implementing these new requirements.
 Joaquin ArambulaD Assemblymember | Committee Member |  Not Contacted | |
 Buffy WicksD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Lisa CalderonD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Mike FongD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Diane DixonR Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted |
| Bill Number | Title | Introduced Date | Status | Link to Bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
AB-2425 | Bowie’s Law: animals: adoption, shelter overcrowding, and breeding. | February 2024 | Failed |
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Latest Voting History
| Ayes | Noes | NVR | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 0 | 1 | 18 | PASS |
- Requires animal shelters to list all adoptable animals on their websites to increase transparency.
- Mandates microchipping of dogs by breeders before eight weeks of age and registration with microchip registry.
- Expands breeder regulations to cover those selling two litters or ten dogs annually, down from three litters or twenty.
- Requires state study of shelter overcrowding solutions with findings due by January 2028.
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Assembly Member Castillo's animal welfare legislation revises California's shelter and breeding regulations through new transparency requirements and expanded oversight of dog breeders. The bill requires animal shelters to maintain public online listings of adoptable animals, with exceptions for those that are severely ill or injured, newborns without mothers, or dogs with documented dangerous behavior.
The Department of Food and Agriculture must conduct a comprehensive study of shelter overcrowding and potential solutions, including examining the feasibility of a statewide database for tracking adoptable dogs and cats. This study's findings are due to the Legislature by January 2028. The bill also modifies the definition of commercial dog breeders to include those who transfer two or more litters or 10 or more dogs annually, down from previous thresholds of three litters or 20 dogs.
Under the new provisions, breeders must microchip dogs before eight weeks of age, register new owners with microchip registries upon transfer, and maintain detailed health records for one year after sale. Dogs cannot be transferred until they receive age-appropriate immunizations and health certification from a California-licensed veterinarian. Local jurisdictions retain authority to implement stricter breed-specific ordinances, while the state will reimburse agencies for costs associated with implementing these new requirements.
Latest Voting History
| Ayes | Noes | NVR | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 0 | 1 | 18 | PASS |
Joaquin ArambulaD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Buffy WicksD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Lisa CalderonD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Mike FongD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Diane DixonR Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted |
| Bill Number | Title | Introduced Date | Status | Link to Bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
AB-2425 | Bowie’s Law: animals: adoption, shelter overcrowding, and breeding. | February 2024 | Failed |