*HB 278 Animal license tax; City of Newport News to impose fee on dog or cat not spayed or neutered. VVAW Bill.
Mamye E. BaCote, Eisenberg, Englin, Jones, D.C., Melvin, Miller, Scott, J.M., Spruill and Toscano (Patron list updated 1/21/2006)
Note: Permits Newport News to charge more for an intact dog license than the state's limit, something that Richmond and Norfolk already do because of special circumstances, effectively drying up their license sales. This bill would also create a $30 differential cost between intact and spay-neutered license fees. (Note updated 1/21/2006 & 1/28/2006)
* Supported by the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS).
OPPOSE
AG subcommittee failed to report 1/26/2006. "Left" in House AG.

HB 265 Animal license taxes; establishes maximum tax that localities can charge. VVAW Bill.
Frank D. Hargrove, Sr.
Note: Reprise of Delegate Hargrove's failed 2005 HB1884. $35 dog license fee increase, without previously required spay-neuter funding.
SUPPORT
AG subcommittee PBI 1/26/2006. "Left" in House AG.

HB 318 Local animal control violation penalties. - VVAW Bill.
David B. Albo
Note: Increases the limits localities may set for a schedule of civil penalties for each type of specified animal code violation to not less than $100 or more than $500. Moneys raised pursuant to this subsection must be placed in the locality's general fund for the purpose of funding animal control activities including (for the first time) spay/neuter "programs."
OPPOSE
Patron absent. Carried over to 2/2/2006
AG subcommittee tabled 2/2/2006. "Left" in House AG.

*HB 339 Licensing of dogs and cats.(1/6/2006 update) (Note updated 1/27/2006)
Bobby Orrock
Note: HB339 is a VFHS-VACA-HSUS bill that has morphed via amendment into a track your dog from whelping box to grave, licensure closure, spay-neuter bill. It explicitly requires that veterinary rabies vaccination records be used to enforce tag sales. As a matter of state policy, this bill requires counties to discriminate against owners of intact dogs. It abrogates all current local animal licensing options, requiring that intact tags statewide be raised to the current state maximum of $10, with spay-neutered tags required to be sold at $5. Rabies vaccination sets local licensing cycle. Three year vaccine = three year tag = $30/dog initially, starting in 2007.

Other states' differential intact vs. sterilized tag costs have risen to $75-100/dog/year. Norfolk, under a special provision, currently charges $25-$5 and has a licensure rate of 11%, one-third of the state average. Urban areas at today's $10 cap have pressed for years to have it raised. Higher and higher fees set in Richmond from now on, not locally, and required microchipping in 2007 appear assured. Pressures to do away with low cost kennel licensing will also intensify as individual tag costs rise above $10. The bill requires that owners of impounded intact and collar-less or tag-less dogs pay an extra $5/day or the dogs will be spay-neutered. How do you identify the owner of a tagless dog? A microchip is the easiest way.

Public moneys (impound fees) MUST be spent on unregulated and unmonitored private spay-neuter programs, another Virginia first.
* Supported by the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS)
OPPOSE
AG subcommittee reported substitute 1/26/2006.
AG Committee reported further substitute, removing $10/$5 fees, by a 16-6 vote on 2/1/2006.
Floor amendment removed all references to cats and cat owners on 2/6/2006.
Passed 71-28-1A on 2/7/2006.
Conveyed to Senate and referred to AG committee on 2/8/2006.
Senate AG "passed by for the day" on 2/13/2006.
Senate AG reported substitute which retained public dog owner database 6Y-5N on 2/20/2006.
Senate passed 30Y-10N on 2/28/2006.
Senate substitute agreed to by House 65Y-35N on 3/2/2006.
Enrolled and signed by the Senate President on 3/9/2006.
Signed by House Speaker on 3/10/2006.
ALL-OUT VETO EFFORT - CONTACT GOVERNOR KAINE
Governor recommended delaying effective date until July 1, 2007 on 4/11/2006.
Enacted as Virginia law, Chapter 836, effective 7/1/2007 on 4/19/2006.

* HB 340 Control of dangerous and vicious dogs; registry; penalty (1/6/2006 update)
(note edited 1/7/2006)
Bobby Orrock
Note: Requires every Virginia jurisdiction adopt a dangerous dog ordinance. Establishes four levels of dog owner misdemeanor punishments for the first dog bite, where none had existed before. Injury of a hamster rates Class 4, injury of a human is Class 1 (up to a year in jail, and/or $2500 fine). Eliminates Animal Control Officer administrative "dangerous" determinations, leaving that decision to a local court. No judicial standards improvements. Mandates a State Vet's Office "Dangerous Dog Registry." A dog that injures a human, another dog, any cat or pet rabbit, hamster, et. al. is "dangerous," spayed or neutered, tattooed or microchipped, confined, muzzled and must be covered by $300,000 worth of liability insurance, or a surety bond in that amount. This last item is generally considered a death sentence, as such liability coverage is either not available or astronomically expensive. Would you post your house as surety that your dog wouldn't injure another feral cat, pet rabbit or hamster? Should a "dangerous" dog injure any thing or one again, the dog's declared vicious, put down and the owner fined and/or jailed.
* Supported by the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS)
OPPOSE
AG subcommittee reported 1/26/2006.
AG committee reported amended substitute 20-2 on 2/1/2006.
Twice significantly amended on the floor and passed 86-11-3NV on 2/8/2006.
Conveyed to the Senate and referred to AG Committee on 2/9/2006
Senate AG reported edited substitute 15-0 on 2/27/2006.
Read third time on 3/2/2006. (note corrected 3/3/2006)
Rereferred to Senate Courts of Justice on 3/2/2006.
Courts of Justice reported substantial substitute 15-0 on 3/6/2006.
Based on a cursory review, HB340, HB1039 and SB200 now appear to be identical and acceptable bills to VHDOA. Class 6 felony punishments for severe injury to a human resulting from clearly irresponsible owner behavior. Owner Class 1 and 2 misdemeanor penalties for human, dog and owned cat **second or subsequent offense** injuries by a dog previously determined dangerous. Improved due process, showing and judicial discretion provisions. Hunting dog protections reinserted. Liability coverage reduced to $100,000. Medical reporting requirement eliminated.
Enrolled on 3/15/2006.
Signed by Speaker on 3/15/2006.
Signed by President on 3/16/2006.
Governor recommended revising a coverage provision by deleting lines 10 and 11, "A. The governing body of any county, city or town locality may enact an ordinance parallel to this statute regulating dangerous dogs and vicious dogs." relettering and adding, "M. The governing body of any locality may enact an ordinance parallel to this statute regulating dangerous and vicious dogs; provided, however, that no locality may impose a felony penalty for violation of such local ordinances." He also deleted that portion of lines 163 and 164 which read "The owner shall submit such a renewal every year until the dog is deceased." and changed "Register" to "Registery" - on 4/11/2006.
Enacted as Virginia law, Chapter 837, effective 7/1/2006 on 4/19/2006.

HB386 Dangerous and vicious dogs. (1/6/2006 update)
Rosalyn R. Dance, Amundson, BaCote, Caputo, McClellan and Spruill (Patron list updated 1/21/2006)
Note: Expands the definition of a dangerous dog to include a dog that has, without provocation, chased, confronted, or approached a person in a threatening or aggressive manner such that a reasonable person would be fearful of an attack. Requires any ordinance adopted pursuant to this section to provide that an animal control officer may determine, after investigation, whether a dog is a dangerous dog. Currently that authority is given at the discretion of the locality. This bill would be better termed the "No, it didn't injure me, but that dog frightened me - Hurry, put it down Control Act."
OPPOSE
AG subcommittee tabled 1/26/2006.
Patron's name, nothing more, added to HB340

HB 606 Certification of animal pedigree. (1/10/2006 update) - VVAW Bill.
Kristen J. Amundson
Note: Extremely misleading bill title. Requires any "pet dealer" selling a dog or cat who represents that the animal is registered or capable of being registered with any animal registry provide documentation of an examination by a licensed veterinarian.
AG subcommittee PBI 1/26/2006. "Left" in House AG.

HB 654 Boarding of seized dogs and cats (1/10/2006 update) - VVAW Bill.
Kenneth R. Plum
Note: Allows dogs and cats seized by animal control officers to board the animals in private kennels at the owner's expense during the pendency of the abandonment, cruelty or neglect hearing. No limit placed on how costly the alternative private kennels may be, although there is theoretical ten-day maximum charge.
AG subcommittee tabled 1/26/2006. "Left" in House AG.

HB 858 Cruelty to animals. (1/11/2006 update)
Frank D. Hargrove, Sr.
Note:Provides that anyone using violence against a dog in the face of an actual or imminent attack by the dog shall be presumed not to violate the cruelty to animals provisions. Another OK to kill a dog bill by the quixotic Delegate Hargrove. This bill is very similar to his failed 2004 HB554.
OPPOSE
Struck by patron 1/26/2006. "Left" in House AG.

HB 1039 Reckless control of a dog; penalty. (1/11/2006 update)
Delegates Ken Melvin, Albo, Bell, Howell, A.T., Kilgore and Moran; Senators: Howell, Norment and Stolle
Note: Creates a new Class 6 felony for recklessly controlling or handling a dog (or other animal) that seriously injures another person. This bill doesn't change the existing dangerous dog animal code's serious deficiencies. Instead, it adds a new penalty to the state's criminal code, i.e. "Any owner or custodian whose willful act or omission in the care, control, or containment of a dog or other animal is so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life, and is the proximate cause of such dog or other animal attacking and severely injuring any person, shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. The fact that such dog or other animal has previously inflicted serious bodily injury or death on a person, and at the time of the attack was roaming at large unsupervised, shall be prima facie evidence of the owner's or custodian's reckless disregard for human life."
SUPPORT w/modifications
Courts subcommittee reported 1/25/2006.
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (18-Y 0-N) on 2/6/2006.
Referred to Committee on Appropriations on 2/6/2006.
Reported from Appropriations 23-0 on 2/10/2006.
Passed House BLOCK VOTE 100-0 on 2/14/2006.
Conveyed to Senate and referred to AG Committee on 2/15/2006.
Senate AG rewrote the entire bill, substituting #5-#6 felony, #1-3 misdemeanor owner penalties a'la SB200 and excluded HB340's protections for hunting dog owners. Reported 11-0 on 2/27/2006.
Senate read for the third time on 3/2/2006. (note corrected 3/2/2006)
Rereferred to Senate Courts of Justice on 3/2/2006.
THIS AG CTME SUBSTITUTED BILL IS TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND SHOULD BE OPPOSED
Courts of Justice reported substantial substitute 15-0 on 3/6/2006.
Based on a cursory review, HB340, HB1039 and SB200 appear identical and acceptable bills to VHDOA. Class 6 felony punishments for severe injury to a human resulting from clearly irresponsible owner behavior. Owner Class 1 and 2 misdemeanor penalties for human, dog and owned cat **second or subsequent offense** injuries by a dog previously determined dangerous. Improved due process, showing and judicial discretion provisions. Hunting dog protections reinserted. Liability coverage reduced to $100,000. Medical reporting requirement eliminated.
Enrolled on 3/15/2006.
Signed by Speaker on 3/15/2006.
Signed by President on 3/16/2006.
Identical Governor recommendations for HB340, HB1039 and SB200, three identical bills. See HB340 above for details.
Enacted as Virginia law, Chapter 837, effective 7/1/2006 on 4/19/2006.

HB 1091 Use of gas chambers for animal euthanasia prohibited. (1/11/2006 update) - VVAW Bill.
Delegates Jim Scott, Amundson, Caputo and Plum (Patron list updated 1/21/2006)
Note: Prohibits the use of gas chambers for animal euthanasia. This bill has a delayed effective date of October 1, 2006.
AG subcommittee PBI 1/26/2006. "Left" in House AG.

HB 1095 Pounds, shelters, & pet stores; State Vet. to inspect annually, observance of euthanasia procedure. (1/18/2006 update) - VVAW Bill.
Kristen J. Amundson
Note: Requires the State Veterinarian or his designee to conduct routine inspections of every municipal pound or shelter twice annually, all other shelters and pet shops shall be inspected once annually. Inspections shall be unannounced and conducted during normal business hours. Violations that remain uncorrected 35 days from the initial inspection shall be subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation per day. The inspector shall observe a euthanasia procedure if one is scheduled for the day of the inspection, if none is scheduled the inspector shall observe a rehearsal of the euthanasia procedures.
AG subcommittee PBI 1/26/2006. "Left" in House AG.

HB 1113 Income tax, state; veterinarian pro bono tax credit. (1/19/2006 update) - VVAW Bill.
Clifford L. Athey
Note: Allows a nonrefundable credit to veterinarians of $40 for each spaying, neutering or euthanasia procedure performed at no cost on animals from public pounds and 501 (c) (3) shelters, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2007. Direct Virginia taxpayer funding of public and private spay-neuter programs, without oversight or standards. New Hampshire's much-touted program includes animal owner morals screenings. HB835 and HB1367 are absolutely identical bills introduced by Delegates Welch and Hull. (Note updated 2/7/2006)
OPPOSE
Finance subcommittee failed to report - 2/13/2006. "Left" in House Finance.

HB 1114 Income tax, state; animal adoption tax credit. (1/19/2006 update) - VVAW Bill.
Clifford L. Athey
Note: Grants an income tax credit for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2007, to individuals for one-half of the adoption fees they pay when they adopt one or more animals from public pounds or charitable animal shelters. The amount of the credit may not exceed $25 per adoption.
Finance subcommittee failed to report - 2/13/2006. "Left" in House Finance.

HB 1168 Pounds, shelters, and pet stores; State Veterinarian to inspect annually. (1/17/2006 update) VVAW Bill.
Albert C. Eisenberg
Note: Requires the State Veterinarian or his designee to conduct routine inspections of every pound and shelter once annually and every pet shop twice annually. Violations that remain uncorrected 30 days from the initial inspection shall be subject to a civil penalty of $500 per violation per day.
Struck by Patron 1/12/2006. "Left" in House AG.

HB 1411 Dog dealers. (1/17/2006 update)
Mark L. Cole
Note: Excludes from the definition of dealer persons that breed show dogs or hunting dogs. The bill also exempts from any local permitting requirement any person that breeds as a hobby, breeds to improve a breed of dog, sells a pet or the offspring of a pet, or engages in an abandoned or injured dog rescue effort. Classical divide and conquer tactic. No definitions for "show dogs" or "hunting dogs." An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping that it will eat him last - Sir Winston Churchill, 1874-1965
OPPOSE
AG subcommittee PBI 1/26/2006. "Left" in House AG.

HB 1532 Abandonment of companion animals.(1/21/2006 update)
James M. Shuler and Kenny Alexander
Note: Prohibits the abandonment, disposal, or dumping of companion animals. The catch and release of feral cats for purpose of neutering is exempt. A violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor; penalty. Attempts to address a badly convoluted code section. How you do decide whether a dog's dumped or lost? Is jailing an appropriate penalty? There's no animal code definition for "lost," but see abandon and dump, also the littering code. What should be the penalties for discarding a dead hamster? neglecting a dog or cat?
Tabled by patron. "Left" in House AG.

HB 1563 Animal control officer training.(1/21/2006 update)
Bobby Orrock
Note: Transfers the registration requirements for animal control officers employed by localities from the State Veterinarian to the Department of Criminal Justice Services and requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services' approval for animal control training courses. The bill requires that the costs associated with the registration requirements and the educational instruction be allocated from the budget of the State Veterinarian. Reverses, in substantial measure, the effect of Del. Orrock's 2004 HB144. With tweaking, probably a net positive for Virginia animal owners.
Carried over to 2/2/2006.
AG subcommittee tabled 2/2/2006. "Left" in House AG.

HJ 116 Animal control officers; Crime Commission to study need for regulation, training, etc. thereof.(1/17/2006 update)
Terry G. Kilgore, Albo, Bell, Melvin and Moran; Senators: Howell and Stolle
Note: Directs the Virginia State Crime Commission to study the need for regulation, training and funding of animal control officers.
SUPPORT
Reported from Rules 16-0 on 2/8/2006.
HOUSE BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (98-Y 0-N) on 2/10/2006.
Conveyed to Senate and referred to Rules Committee on 2/13/2006.
Reported from Rules on 2/24/2006.
Senate agreed to by voice vote on 2/28/2006.

HJ 124 Animal ordinance, public nuisance; Association of Counties, et al to advise members to adopt. (1/17/2006 update)
Bobby Orrock and Eisenberg
Note: Encourages VACO and VML to advise and advocate to their respective members to adopt a nuisance animal ordinance.
Reported from Rules (15-0) on 2/8/2006.
House BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE 93Y-3N on 2/13/2006.
Conveyed to Senate and referred to Rules Committee on 2/14/2006.
Reported from Rules with grammatical amendment on 2/24/2006.
Senate agreed to by voice vote on 2/28/2006.
House agreed to Senate amendments 96-3 on 3/2/2006.

NEW ENTRY
*HJ 209 Humane treatment of animals; report. (2/3/2006 Update) VVAW Bill.
Kenneth C. Alexander
Note: Resolution; humane treatment of animals; report. Requests the Department of Education to include standards on animal safety and the humane treatment of animals in future revisions of the Standards of Learning. However, in the event that the Department of Education determines that such a revision of the Standards of Learning is not feasible, the Department shall propose alternative methods of achieving the objective of including instruction on the humane treatment of companion animals to children in the public schools through the character education curriculum. Apart from one line, identical to the animal rightist Senate bill SJ166 below
*Supported by the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS)
OPPOSE
Tabled by Rules on 2/8/2006.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Senate Bills
SB 55 Companion animals; civil penalties. VVAW Bill. (note edited 1/8/2006)
W. Roscoe Reynolds
Note: Amends the Comprehensive Animal Laws to require (i) "companion animal dealers" (new term) to obtain a $150 annual dealer business license to sell companion animals or to advertise companion animals for sale; and (ii) all releasing agencies, including dealers and pet stores, to sterilize, absent health-related delays, and implant a microchip in any companion animal (e.g. domestic or feral dog, domestic or feral cat, nonhuman primate, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, exotic or native animal, reptile, exotic or native bird) before it is released to a new owner. Sets new breeding limits, fees, penalties and definitions for "Breeder Improver," "Fancier breeder, "Hobby breeder" et. al. All dogs and cats acquired from pet stores, dealers and hobby breeders must be sterilized. License and penalty fees used for spay-neuter "programs." [Emphasis and partial definition added]
OPPOSE
Senate AG Committee held 1/23/2006 hearing and repeatedly passed bill by for the day at patron's request. Bill never heard again and officially died on 2/13/2006. "Left" in Senate AG.

SB 200 Control of dangerous and vicious dogs, penalty: (1/11/2006 update)
Edd Houck, Quayle, Blevins, Devolites Davis, Edwards, Howell, Lambert, Locke, Lucas, Miller, Potts, Puckett, Puller, Rerras, Reynolds, Saslaw, Ticer and Whipple; Delegates: Albo, Athey, Brink, Dance, Eisenberg, Howell, A.T., Jones, D.C., Moran, O'Bannon, Oder, Plum, Putney, Scott, J.M., Sickles, Tata, Tyler, Waddell and Watts (Patron list updated 3/1/2006)
Note: Extensively amends existing state statute. Requires every Virginia jurisdiction adopt a dangerous dog ordinance. New misdemeanor and felony penalty language, including owner punishments for the first dog bite, something not seen in Virginia before now. No due process or judicial standards improvements. Establishes a State Vet's Office "Dangerous Dog Registry." A dog that injures another dog, any cat or pet rabbit, hamster, et. al. is "dangerous," spayed or neutered, tattooed or microchipped, confined, muzzled and must be covered by $300,000 worth of liability insurance, or a surety bond in that amount. This last item is generally considered a death sentence, as such liability coverage is either not available or astronomically expensive. Would you post your house as surety that your dog wouldn't injure another feral cat, pet rabbit or hamster?
The owner may receive Class 3 misdemeanor penalties - $500 fine maximum. Should the dog injure a second "companion animal," the owner's subject to potential Class 2 misdemeanor penalties of up to six months in jail, and/or a $1000 fine. A dangerous dog may be ordered confined in a double-walled enclosure. The actual "dangerous" determination, which triggers higher misdemeanor or felony penalties, may be made administratively by a VA Animal Control Officer, someone with a total of a single week's training and no judicial experience. Further, no judicial standards for positive determinations exist. Felony punishments (state imprisonment) possible for any dog owner whose dog injures a human. Local jurisdictions may adopt more stringent ordinances, should they choose to. Requires all physicians (veterinarians next?) to report suspected dog bites, under the threat of misdemeanor punishment for failures. Provides immunity for physician reporting and court testimony civil liability.
OPPOSE
Senate AG Committee reported substitute 14-0 on 1/23/2006.
Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N) on 1/26/2006.
Conveyed to House and referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on 2/14/2006.
House AG substitute with numerous wording changes, but keeping the bill's overall thrust reported 22-0 on 2/22/2006. Bill's basic blind shotgun approach remains unchanged. Owner criminal punishments for minor dog injuries to humans, other pets and feral cats. Dogs judged "dangerous" to be sterilized, microchipped and covered by unobtainable $300,000 insurance riders.
Referred to House Courts of Justice on 2/22/2006
Courts of Justice reported substantial substitute 22-0 on 3/3/2006.
Based on a cursory review, HB340, HB1039 and SB200 appear identical and acceptable bills to VHDOA. Class 6 felony punishments for severe injury to a human resulting from clearly irresponsible owner behavior. Owner Class 1 and 2 misdemeanor penalties for human, dog and owned cat **second or subsequent offense** injuries by a dog previously determined dangerous. Improved due process, showing and judicial discretion provisions. Hunting dog protections reinserted. Liability coverage reduced to $100,000. Medical reporting requirement eliminated.
Enrolled and signed by the House Speaker and Senate President on 3/27/2006.
Identical Governor recommendations for HB340, HB1039 and SB200, three identical bills. See HB340 above for details.
Enacted as Virginia law, Chapter 837, effective 7/1/2006 on 4/19/2006.

*SB 232 Immunity for reporting animal abuse (1/11/2006 update) - VVAW Bill.
Senator Patricia S. Ticer; Delegates Amundson, Hull, Plum, Scott, J.M., Sickles and Watts
Note: Protects any person who in good faith complains or provides information of animal neglect, cruelty, or abandonment to, or otherwise cooperates with, the Department or any other agency of government or any person or entity operating under contract with an agency of government having responsibility for protecting the welfare of animals from retaliation by a pet shop, pound, kennel, or releasing agency. New code insertion. Virginia's version of vigilante law. Failed to clean up kennel poop? That's dog neglect. PETA and Big Brother are watching you.
* Supported by the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS)
OPPOSE
Senate AG Committee reported 12-3 on 1/23/2006.
Rereferred to Courts of Justice on 1/26/2006.
Continued to 2007 15-0 on 2/1/2006.
Left in Courts of Justice on 12/11/2006.

SB 491 Dogs, vicious; penalty when recklessly controlling or handling. (1/17/2006 update)
Frederick M. Quayle, Norment and Stolle; Delegates: Kilgore, Melvin and Moran
Note: Creates a new Class 6 felony for recklessly controlling or handling a dog (or other animal) that seriously injures another person. Identical to HB1039, the VA Crime Commission bill. Slightly different patron list.
SUPPORT w/modifications
Senate AG Committee reported substitute bill 12-0 on 1/30/2006.
Senate passed 40-0 on 2/2/2006.
Conveyed to House and referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on 2/14/2006.
Referred from AG to Courts of Justice on 2/22/2006.
Incorporated by Courts of Justice into SB200-(Houck) on 3/3/2006.

*SJ 166 Resolution; humane treatment of animals; report. (1/21/2006 update) - VVAW Bill
John S. Edwards
Note: Requests the Department of Education (DoEd) to include standards on animal safety and the humane treatment of animals in future revisions of the Standards of Learning. Also requires the DoEd to instruct local school systems that they are permitted to use volunteers and outside materials to teach such subjects. Differently packaged Sen. Potts' 2005 SB952 Humane education requirement in Virginia K-12 schools killed on the Senate floor. PETA and HSUS heavily lobbied that bill. More of the same is expected.
* Supported by the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS)
OPPOSE
Passed by indefinitely (PBI) in Rules on 2/10/2006.

2006 General Assembly Contact Information