56 pet industry-related bills and local ordinances were proposed during the 2019 and 2020 legislative sessions, 38 of which were designated as priority by PIJAC.
Final Disposition of Priority Legislation:
| 2020 SESSION (ADJOURNED ON 12/18/20) |
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BILL # | SUMMARY | FINAL DISPOSITION |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-1 (Cruelty to Animals), Section 4-1-3 (Unnecessary Cruelty) of RI General Laws to prohibit a person convicted of unnecessary cruelty on an animal from owning or exercising control of an animal for a time not less than 5 years, and subject to a fine of $1,000. | WITHDRAWN BY SPONSOR | |
Amends Title 23 (Health & Safety) of RI General Laws by adding a new Chapter 19.17 (Plastic Waste Reduction Act) to prohibit retail sales establishments from providing single-use plastic checkout bags. | DIED IN STUDY ORDER ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-1 (Animal Cruelty), Section 4-1-3 (Unnecessary Cruelty) of RI General Laws to prohibit a person convicted of unnecessary cruelty to animals from owning or exercising control of an animal for a period of not less than 20 years. | DIED IN STUDY ORDER ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-1 (Animal Cruelty), Section 4-1-3 (Unnecessary Cruelty) of RI General Laws to prohibit a person convicted of unnecessary cruelty to animals from owning or exercising control of an animal for life. | DIED IN STUDY ORDER ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-1 (Cruelty to Animals) of RI General Laws by adding a new Section 4-1-44 to establish an Animal Welfare advisory Council to advise the Governor and the General Assembly on matters relating to animal welfare, treatment, health, and safety of companion animals. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry) of Rhode Island General Laws by adding a new Chapter 1.3 to create the "Animal Abuser Registry Act". | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care) of RI General Laws by adding a new Section 4-19-23 (Pet Grooming) to require registration of every pet groomer and pet grooming facility operating in the State. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-1 (Cruelty to Animals) of RI General Laws by adding a new Section 31.1 to provide that a civil or criminal court may, at their discretion, authorize the appointment of pro bono attorneys and supervised law students from a list maintained by the state Department of Environmental Management, to act as animal advocates in animal cruelty and abuse. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 23 (Health & Safety) of RI General Laws by adding a new Chapter 19.17 (Plastic Waste Reduction Act) to prohibit retail sales establishments from providing single-use plastic checkout bags. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 44 (Taxation), Chapter 44-18 (Sales and Use Taxes – Liability and Computation), Section 7.3 (Services defined) of RI General Laws to repeal the sales tax on pet care services. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 6A (Uniform Commercial Code), Chapter 6A-2 (Sales), Sections 103 (Definitions) and Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care) to prohibit the use of a dog or cat as security for its purchase where the seller or lender can repossess the dog or cat for failure to make payments. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-1 (Cruelty to Animals) of RI General Laws to establish an Animal Welfare Advisory Council to advise the Governor and the General Assembly on matters relating to animal welfare, treatment, health, and safety of companion animals. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-1 (Cruelty to Animals), Section 4-1-3 (Unnecessary Cruelty) of RI General Laws to prohibit a person convicted of unnecessary cruelty to animals from owning or exercising control of an animal for life. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-1 (Animal Cruelty), Section 4-3-3 (Unnecessary Cruelty) of RI General Laws to prohibit a person convicted of unnecessary cruelty to animals from owning or exercising control of an animal for period of not less than 20 years. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 250 (Dept. of Environmental Management Regulations), Chapter 40 (Agriculture & Resource Marketing), Subchapter 05 (Animal Health), Part 1 (Rules and Regulations Governing the Importation of Domestic Animals) of the Rhode Island Code of Regulations to permit the importation into the State of Rhode Island of only those animals which are disease free or which originate from sources that have qualified as disease free according to State or Federal standards. | ADOPTED | |
Amends Title 250 (Dept. of Environmental Management Regulations), Chapter 40 (Agriculture & Resource Marketing), Subchapter 05 (Animal Health), Part 4 (Rules and Regulations Governing Animal Care Facilities) of the Rhode Island Code of Regulations to further provide for the licensing provision of animal care facilities. | ADOPTED | |
Amends Title 250 (Dept. of Environmental Management Regulations), Chapter 40 (Agriculture & Resource Marketing), Subchapter 05 (Animal Health) of the Rhode Island Code of Regulations by adding a new Part 11 (Rules and Regulations Governing Reportable Animals Diseases and Conditions in the State of Rhode Island) in order to create a list of reportable animal diseases and a codified procedure for reporting of these diseases. | ADOPTED | |
| 2019 SESSION (ADJOURNED ON 6/30/2019) |
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BILL # | SUMMARY | FINAL DISPOSITION |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care) of Rhode Island General Laws by adding a new Section 4-19-4.1 (Sale by pet shops) which would prohibit pet shops from offering for sale cats or dogs that are not obtained from an animal shelter, dog pound or animal rescue. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry) of Rhode Island General Laws by adding a new Chapter 1.2 to create the "Animal Abuser Registry Act". | DIED ON SENATE FLOOR | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care), Section 7 (Dealer License) of RI General Laws by adding a new Subsection 7.1 to prohibit the rental, lease, or financing of any sale of a dog or cat by any person, or business. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-1 (Cruelty to Animals) of RI General Laws by adding a new section 4-1-44 to establish an Animal Rights Advisory Council to advise the Governor and the General Assembly on matters relating to animal rights, treatment, health, and safety. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care) of RI General Laws to regulate the conduct of unlicensed animal care providers by subjecting them to inspection by the Department of Environmental Management or the Rhode Island SPCA for compliance with rules and regulations governing animal care facilities. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care) to define and to require licensure for pet trainers. | ENACTED | |
Amends Title 23 (Health & Safety) of RI General Laws by adding a new Chapter 19.17 (Plastic Waste Reduction Act) to prohibit retail sales establishments from providing plastic checkout bags. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care) of RI General Laws by adding a new Section 4-19-4.1 (Sales by Pet Shops) prohibit pet shops from purchasing dogs or cats from breeders who are not in good standing with the USDA and/or state regulations, as well as hobby breeders or individuals who have any criminal violations directly related to the general well-being of animals, or animal shelters or rescues whose licensure has been revoked. | ENACTED | |
Amends Chapter 4-1 (Cruelty to Animals) of Rhode Island General Laws by adding a new Section 4-1-37.1 (Reports of abandoned, neglected or abused animals) to require all persons or entities caring for or having custody of an animal to report animal abuse, cruel neglect or abandonment to the police. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 6A (Uniform Commercial Code), Chapter 6A-2 (Sales), Sections 103 (Definitions) and Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care) to prohibit the use of a dog or cat as security for its purchase where the seller or lender can repossess the dog or cat for failure to make payments. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry) of RI General Laws by adding a new Chapter 28 (Mandatory Dog and Cat Microchipping Act) to provide for the mandatory microchipping of all dogs and cats and applicable penalties for failure to comply. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 44 (Taxation), Chapter 44-18 (Sales and Use Taxes – Liability and Computation), Section 7.3 (Services defined) of RI General Laws to repeal the sales tax on pet care services. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 23 (Health & Safety) of RI General Laws by adding a new Chapter 19.17 (Plastic Waste Reduction Act) to prohibit retail sales establishments from providing plastic checkout bags. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 23 (Health & Safety) of RI General Laws by adding a new Chapter 19.17 (Plastic Waste Reduction Act) to prohibit retail sales establishments from providing single-use plastic checkout bags. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-1 (Cruelty to Animals), Section 40 (Possession of Animals) of Rhode Island General Laws to prohibit pet ownership for persons convicted of certain animal cruelty offenses. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care) of RI General Laws by adding a new Section 4-19-4.1 (Sales by Pet Shops) prohibit pet shops from purchasing dogs or cats from breeders who are not in good standing with the USDA and/or state regulations, as well as hobby breeders or individuals who have any criminal violations directly related to the general well-being of animals, or animal shelters or rescues whose licensure has been revoked. | ENACTED | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care) of Rhode Island General Laws by adding a new Section 4-19-4.1 (Sale by pet shops) which would prohibit pet shops from offering for sale cats or dogs that are not obtained from an animal shelter, dog pound or animal rescue. | DIED IN COMMITTEE ON ADJOURNMENT | |
Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care) to define and to require licensure for pet trainers. | ENACTED | |
Ordinance No. 19-08A amends Chapter 3 (Animals) of the Town of Scituate, RI Code of Ordinances by adding a new Article III (Pet Stores) to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in town pet stores. | ADOPTED | |
Proposed ordinance amends Chapter 126 (Animals) of the Smithfield, RI Code of Ordinances by adding a new Article IX (Retail Sales of Dogs and Cats) to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats. | ADOPTED |
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