California Legislative Overview – 2025 Session
CALIFORNIA Legislative Overview – 2025 Session
(Adjourned on September 13, 2025)
22 pet-related items were proposed during the 1st year of the 2025-26 California legislative session, 9 of which were designated as priority by the Pet Advocacy Network.
Priority ISSUES:
| ISSUE | IMPACT | POSITION | ACTION | FINAL STATUS |
| AB 478 Accessible Emergency Information and Services (Mandatory Evacuations and Pets) | Formalizes and standardizes pet-rescue and reunification during evacuations by creating operational, legal, and financial obligations for cities and counties (planning, training, approvals, sheltering costs, and interagency coordination). | SUPPORT | Met with legislators. Testimony submitted. | ENACTED (EFFECTIVE ON 1/1/26) |
| AB 506 Retail Sale of Dogs, Cats & Rabbits (Non-Refundable Deposit Prohibition, Source Disclosure, and Buyer Remedies) | More transparency for consumers about where a pet came from and a reduced risk of losing money to non-refundable deposits for animals. | MONITOR | Met with legislators. | ENACTED (EFFECTIVE ON 1/1/26) |
| AB 519 Sale of Dogs, Cats & Rabbits (Pet Broker Restrictions) | Closes a loophole in California’s pet-retail statute by making it illegal for pet brokers to adopt out, sell, or otherwise facilitate the sale of dogs, cats, or rabbits. Effectively bans online/reseller middlemen who source animals from out-of-state breeders and re-sell them to California buyers. | OPPOSE | Met with legislators. Provided in person testimony. Met with Governor’s staff to request veto. Action Alert sent. | ENACTED (EFFECTIVE ON 1/1/26) |
| AB 631 Animal Shelters (Intake and Disposition Transparency) | Requires California animal shelters to publicly post detailed intake and outcome data online, updated monthly and accessible for five years. | SUPPORT | Met with legislators. Testimony submitted. | HELD OVER TO 2026 (2025 SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 1382 Companion Animal Importing and Sales Restrictions (Intentional Genomic Alterations) | Prohibits the sale or breeding of genetically modified pets, particularly those altered for cosmetic purposes, by promoting ethical considerations over aesthetic preferences in pet breeding practices. | OPPOSE | Tracking. | HELD OVER TO 2026 (2025 SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 312 Dog Importation Requirements (Health Certificates) | Updates California’s dog importation laws by requiring detailed, publicly accessible health certificates for dogs brought into the state for resale or change of ownership, shifting oversight to the Department of Food & Agriculture to enhance transparency and public health safeguards. | SUPPORT | Met with legislators. Testimony submitted. | ENACTED (EFFECTIVE ON 1/1/26) |
| Del Mar Ballot Initiative Pet Retail Sales Ban (Expansion of Current Ban to Sales of All Live Animals) | Proposed Ordinance/Resolution/Ballot Measure would include additional animal classes, namely arachnids, birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and fish in the current provision that it is unlawful to display, offer for sale, deliver, barter, auction, give away, transfer, or sell any live dog, cat or rabbit in any pet shop, retail business, or other commercial establishment located in the city of Del Mar. | OPPOSE | Met with legislators. Testimony submitted. | PENDING |
| West Hollywood Ordinance Pet Retail Sales Ban (Expansion of Current Ban to Sales of All Live Animals) | No pet store shall display, sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of amphibians, arachnids, birds, fish, hermit crabs, mammals not otherwise prohibited, or reptiles in the City of West Hollywood. | OPPOSE | Met with legislators. Provided in person testimony. Made phone calls and posted social media ads aimed at constituents. Press Release sent. | ADOPTED (EFFECTIVE ON 5/1/26) |
| CA Fish & Game Commission Rulemaking Restricted Species List (Addition of Invasive Crab & Bivalve Genera) | Adds the Green crab (Carcinus maenas), an invasive, non-native crustacean species, and the Limnoperna, Sinanodonta and Xenostrobus genera which are invasive, non-native bivalve species, to the state’s list of restricted animals. | MONITOR | Comments submitted. | COMMENT DEADLINE WAS 10/7/25 |
View ALL California legislation tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2025-26 session.
View ALLCalifornia regulations tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network in 2025.
View ALL local ordinances tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2025 session.
View ALL federal and state issues tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2025-26 session.