On June 18, four historic animal welfare bills passed into law, marking a significant victory for animal advocates in Texas. The Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) played a pivotal role in advocating for the passage of all four bills: SB 876, HB 4164, HB 3660, and HB 598.
Shelby Bobosky, Executive Director of THLN, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "As the only Texas-based, Texas-funded animal protection advocacy group that has been working across the state for decades, this session has been incredible for animals, the people that love them, and our communities. Texas has effectuated change for thousands of animals with the passage of four major bills, and we could not be more thankful to the authors, advocates, and legislators in both chambers who dedicated themselves to promoting animal welfare in Texas."
The details of the four bills are as follows:
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SB 876, authored by Senators Flores and Whitmire and Representative Buckley, aims to reform and strengthen the Texas Licensed Breeders Program to combat the existence of puppy mills throughout the state. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2023.
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HB 4164, introduced by Representative Cortez and Senator Whitmire, provides a clear definition of a service animal as one that is specially trained to assist individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the legislation increases the fine for falsely presenting an untrained pet as a service animal from $300 to $1000. Offenders may also face 30 hours of community service for organizations serving persons with disabilities. This law will come into effect on September 1, 2023.
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HB 3660, sponsored by Representative Vasut and Senator Zaffirini, was prompted by a request for Attorney General opinion in Brazoria County. The bill ensures that Trap-Neuter-Return (T-N-R) programs, which are instrumental in controlling feral cat populations through spaying/neutering and vaccinations, cannot be classified as "reckless abandonment" with criminal charges. This legislation has an immediate effective date.
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HB 598, authored by Representative Shaheen and sponsored by Senator Whitmire, prohibits individuals with a history of animal cruelty from owning companion animals. It also establishes stricter penalties for repeat offenders, aiming to prevent future acts of violence against animals. The law will go into effect on September 1, 2023.
Shelby Bobosky emphasized the crucial role THLN has played in animal welfare legislation, noting, "THLN was instrumental in passing the Animal Cruelty Bill in 1997, then strengthening it four more times. In 2017, THLN led a successful effort to strengthen our state's animal cruelty law, considered one of the most effective animal cruelty laws in the United States. 2023 only continued years of momentum."
Bobosky further urged Texans to embrace this progress and view it as a positive step toward future advancements in animal welfare. She concluded, "Improving the lives of animals and where they reside should be a priority for all of us, and this session and the Texas Legislature agreed."
With the passage of these four bills, Texas has taken a significant stride in safeguarding the well-being of animals across the state, demonstrating its commitment to animal welfare and setting an example for other states to follow.
