Massachusetts Overview – 2023 Session
MASSACHUSETTS
Legislative Overview – 2023-24 Session
(Formal Session Adjourned on November 15, 2023)
45 pet related items were proposed during the 1st year of the 2023-24 legislative session, 30 of which were designated as priority by the Pet Advocacy Network.
Final Disposition of Priority ISSUES:
| BILL # | SUMMARY | FINAL DISPOSITION |
| HB 310 | Pet Groomer Board of Registration/Standards of Care: Amends Part 1 (Administration of the Government), Title II (Executive & Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth), Chapter 13 (Division & Boards of Registration) of MA General Laws to: 1) Establish a Board of Registration for Pet Groomers; and 2) Promulgate rules and regulations for pet groomer standards of care. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 314 | Dog Daycare Licensing/Inspection/Standards of Care: Amends Part 1 (Administration of the Government), Title XIX (Agriculture & Conservation), Chapter 129 (Livestock and Disease Control) of MA General Laws by adding a new Section 39H to provide for dog day care business licensing, inspection, and standards of care. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 747 | Statewide Pet Sale Ban (Dog, Cats, and Rabbits): Amends Title XIX (Agriculture & Conservation), Chapter 129 (Livestock Disease Control), Section 39A (Pet Shops; Licensing Operation; Animal Health Inspection) of MA General Laws by adding a new Section 39 1/2 to restrict the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 784/SB 477 | Single-Use Plastic Bag Prohibition: Amends Part 1 (Administration of the Government), Title II (Executive & Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth) of MA General Laws by adding a new Chapter 21P (Plastic Bag Reduction) to restrict the use of single-use plastic bags by retail establishments. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 801 | Animal Rescue Dog Importation Restrictions: Amends Title XIX (Agriculture & Conservation), Chapter 129 (Livestock Disease Control) of MA General Laws by adding a new section to provide restrictions on dogs brought into the Commonwealth by animal rescue organizations. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 826/SB 549 | Statewide Pet Sale Ban (Dogs, Cats, and Rabbits): Amends Title XIX (Agriculture & Conservation), Chapter 129 (Livestock Disease Control), Section 39A (Pet shops; licensing operation; animal health) of MA General Laws to restrict the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in new pet shops. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 835/SB 548 | Dog Daycare/Boarding Kennel Regulation: Amends Title XX (Public Safety & Good Order), Chapter 140 (Licenses) of MA General Laws by adding a new Section 174G to provide for the regulation of boarding kennels and daycare facilities for dogs. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 890/SB 508 | Invasive Species Council/Invasive Species Advisory Council: Amends Title II (Executive & Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth), Chapter 10 (Department of the State Treasurer) of MA General Laws by adding new sections to create the Massachusetts Invasive Species Council and an Invasive Species Advisory Committee. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 1480 | Service Animal Commission: An Act to establish a commission to study the intentional misrepresentation of a service animal. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 1481 | Misrepresentation of a Service Animal Offense: Amends Title I (Crimes & Punishments), Chapter 272 (Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency & Good Order) of MA General Laws by adding a new Section 98B to provide for the offense of misrepresentation of a service animal. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 1557 | Statewide Animal Abuser Registry: Amends Title I (Crimes & Punishments), Chapter 272 (Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency & Good Order) of MA General Laws by adding a new Section 107 to establish an animal abuse registry. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 1703 | Animal Cruelty/Pet Ownership Prohibition: Amends Title I (Crimes & Punishments), Chapter 272 (Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency & Good Order), Section 77 (Cruelty to Animals) of MA General Statutes to prohibit pet ownership by certain animal abuse offenders and to provide for certain penalties. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 1718/SB 1142 | Animal Cruelty Laws Task Force: Amends Titles I (Crime & Punishment), XIX (Agriculture & Conservation) and XX (Public Safety and Good Order), Chapters 129 (Livestock & Disease Control), 140 (Licenses) and 272 (Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency & Good Order) of MA General Laws to: 1) Establish an animal cruelty laws task force; and 2) Prohibit access to animals by convicted animal abusers. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 2019/SB 1309 | Commercial Dog Boarding/Kennel Licensing (“Ollie’s Law”): Amends Part 1 (Administration of the Government), Titles XIX (Agriculture & Conservation) and XX (Public Safety and Good Order), Chapters 129 (Livestock & Disease Control) and 140 (Licenses) of MA General Laws to provide for commercial dog boarding and kennel licensing and standards. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 2027 | Commercial Dog Breeder Kennel Licensing: Amends Title XX (Public Safety & Good Order), Chapter 140 (Licenses) of MA General Laws to add a new Section 137E providing for licensing of commercial breeder kennels. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| HB 2040 | Pet Shop Dog & Cat Sourcing Requirements/Warranty Law Amendments: Amends Title XIX (Agriculture & Conservation), Chapter 129 (Livestock Disease Control) of MA General Laws by adding new Sections 39H to 39M to: 1) restrict the sourcing of cats, dogs and rabbits by pet shops; and 2) amend existing consumer remedies for animals designated as “unfit for purchase”. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| SB 491 | Animal Advisory Board: An Act to create an Animal Advisory Board to the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| SB 1076 | Animal Cruelty/Pet Ownership Prohibition: Amends Title 1 (Crimes and Punishments), Chapter 272 (Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order), Section 77 (Cruelty to animals; prohibition from work involving contact with animals) of MA General Laws to restrict pet ownership by certain animal cruelty offenders. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| SB 1126 | Non-Economic Damages Awards (“Crawford’s Law”): Amends Part IV (Crimes, Punishments & Proceedings in Criminal Cases), Title I (Crimes & Punishments), Chapter 272 (Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency & Good Order) of MA General Laws to award non-economic damages for the wrongful death of a companion animal. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| SB 525 | “Prevent Plastic Grocery Bags from Entering the Environment Act”: Amends Part 1 (Administration of the Government), Title II (Executive & Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth) of MA General Laws by adding a new Chapter 21P (Plastic Bag Reduction) to prohibit the use of single-use plastic carryout bags by retail establishments. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| SB 550 | Statewide Pet Sale Ban (Dogs, Cats, and Rabbits): Amends Title XIX (Agriculture & Conservation), Chapter 129 (Livestock Disease Control), Section 39A (Pet shops; licensing operation; animal health) of MA General Laws to prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| 2023-0626 | Boston Guinea Pig Sales Ban: Amends Chapter XVI (Prohibitions, Penalties & Permits), Section 16-1.9G (Sale of Animals), Subsection 16-1.9G.2 (Prohibition) of the City Code of Boston, MA to include guinea pigs in the existing prohibition on the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits by city pet stores. | PENDING |
| 2023-016 | Braintree Pet Sale Ban Ordinance: Proposed “Humane Pet Store Ordinance” would amend Title 6 (Animals) of Braintree, MA Code by adding a new section to prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, rabbits in town pet shops. | PENDING |
| 2023003 | North Andover Pet Sale Ban Ordinance: Ordinance amends Part II (General Legislation), Chapter 60 (Animal Control) of the Bylaws of North Andover, MA by adding a new Section 60-9 (Humane Pet Store Ordinance) to prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in town pet shops. | ADOPTED |
| 2023004 | Brookline Pet Sale Ban Ordinance: Proposed ordinance would amend Part VIII (Public Health & Safety) of Brookline, MA General By-Laws by adding a new Article 8.XX (Humane Pet Shops) to prohibit the sale of mammals, birds, amphibians, or reptiles by city pet shops. | PENDING |
View ALL Massachusetts legislation tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023-24 session.
View ALL local ordinances tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023 session.
View ALL federal and state issues tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023-24 session.