Connecticut Legislative Overview – 2025 Session
CONNECTICUT Legislative Overview – 2025 Session
(Adjourned on June 4, 2025)
45 pet related items were proposed during the 2025 legislative session, 31 of which were designated as priority by the Pet Advocacy Network.
Final Disposition of Priority ISSUES:
| BILL # | SUMMARY | FINAL DISPOSITION |
| HB 5109 | Dog and Cat Quarantine Period: Proposal to amend the CT General Statutes to establish a maximum quarantine period of four months for any dog or cat that is not vaccinated for rabies but that has an open wound of unknown origin and that is suspected of having been exposed to rabies. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 5112 | Statewide Pet Sale Ban: Amends Title 22 (Agriculture, Domestic Animals), Chapter 435 (Dogs and Other Companion Animals, Kennels and Pet Shops), Section 22-344 (Licensing of commercial kennel, pet shop, training facility or grooming facility) of CT General Statutes to prohibit the retail sale of dogs, cats or rabbits by pet shops. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 5138 | Statewide Pet Sale Ban/Pet Store License Revocation: Proposal to amend the CT General Statutes to: 1) Prohibit the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet shops after January 1, 2026; and 2) Authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to revoke the pet shop license of any pet shop licensee that continues to do so. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 5295 | Veterinary Negligence/ Transparency: Proposal to amend Title 20 (Professional & Occupational Licensing, Certification, Title Protection and Registration), Chapter 384 (Veterinary Medicine), Section 204a (Allegations of wrongdoing, investigation by department; Disclosure to complainant) of CT General Statutes to require transparency and accountability in investigations of veterinary negligence by ensuring that the owner of an animal that is the subject of an allegation of such negligence is informed about the status and outcome of the investigation. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 5450 | Statewide Pet Sale Ban: Proposal to amend Title 7 (Municipalities) of the CT General Statutes to authorize municipalities to prohibit pet shops from selling dogs, cats and rabbits. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 5481 | Mandatory Microchipping of Dogs and Cats: An Act to amend the CT General Statutes to require the microchipping of cats and dogs sold or adopted in the state, in order to protect cats and dogs from abandonment and displacement. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 5482 | Mandatory Vaccination of Dogs and Cats: An Act to amend the CT General Statutes to require any retailer, shelter or breeder that sells or offers a cat or dog for adoption to have such cat or dog properly vaccinated. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 5731 | Homeowner’s Insurance – Breed-Specific Prohibition: Proposal to amend the CT General Statutes to prohibit homeowners insurance companies from denying homeowners insurance coverage to property owners based on the breed of a tenant’s dog trained as a guide or assistance dog when such property owner is required to allow such tenant to have such dog pursuant to state or federal law. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 5902 | Animal Breeding Regulation: An Act to amend the CT General Statutes to regulate animal breeding in the state through the Department of Agriculture. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 5904 | Veterinary Investigations – Transparency: Amends Title 20 (Professional & Occupational Licensing), Chapter 384 (Veterinary Medicine), Section 20-204a (Allegations of wrongdoing, investigation by department. Disclosure to complainant) of CT General Statutes to provide information to pet owners from the Department of Public Health during and following an agency investigation into allegations of wrongdoing by a veterinarian toward such pet. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 5905 | Exotic Animal Trade Regulation: Proposal to amend CT General Statutes to prohibit the trade of exotic animals and their parts in the state. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 5909 | Pet Shop Task Force – Animal Care Standards: Proposal to amend the CT General Statutes to establish a task force to determine whether pets sold in pet stores require the institution of standards for their care. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 5914 | Single-Use Plastic Bag Prohibition: Proposal to amend the CT General Statutes to repeal the prohibition on the distribution of single-use plastic bags by certain merchants and establish a prohibition on the use of PFAS in paper straws. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 6131 | Insurance Policies – Breed-Specific Prohibition: Proposal to amend the CT General Statutes to prohibit discrimination in insurance underwriting based on the breed of a homeowner’s dog. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 6153 | Animal Abuse – Performing Without Veterinary License: Proposal to amend Title 53 (Crimes), Chapter 945 (Offenses Against Humanity and Morality; Cruelty to Animals), Section 53-247 (Cruelty to animals. Animals engaged in exhibition of fighting. Intentional injury or killing of police animals or dogs in volunteer canine search and rescue teams) of CT General Statutes to increase the penalty for a first offense of starvation of, violence against or death of an animal and performing medical procedures or experimentation without a veterinarian license. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 6216 | Service Animal Registration/ Identification Cards: An Act to amend CT General Statutes to require the Commissioner of Agriculture to establish a registration system for service and emotional support animals that includes the issuance of an identification card for such animals and a photograph of such animals. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 6218 | Animal Control Officers – Animal Standards of Care: An Act to amend CT General Statutes to ensure that animal control officers are morally capable of adhering to a strict standard of care for animals in their possession. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 6240 | Oversight of Pet Shop Dog Sales: Amends Title 22 (Agriculture, Domestic Animals), Chapter 435 (Dogs and Other Companion Animals; Kennels and Pet Shops), Section 354 (Imported dogs and cats; Certificates of health; Importation from rabies quarantine area; Sale of young puppies and kittens; Sale of dogs by pet shop licensees; Certificate of origin required; Purchase of dog or cat from outside of state; Penalties) of CT Statutes to enhance oversight of the sale of dogs in pet shops. | DIED ON HOUSE CALENDAR (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 6242 | Mandatory Dog and Cat Vaccinations – Adopted Animals: An Act to amend the CT General Statutes to require that pet stores, animal shelters and animal breeders perform the mandatory vaccinations required for dogs and cats that such businesses and entities sell or offer for adoption. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 6255 | Statewide Pet Sale Ban: A proposal to amend the CT General Statutes to prohibit the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 6277 | Animal Breeder/Testing Facility Adoption Process: A proposal to amend CT General Statutes to provide a process for the adoption of animals from certain animal breeders and animal testing facilities. | ENACTED (EFFECTIVE ON 10/1/25) |
| HB 6520 | Mandatory Dog Licensing: Proposal to amend Title 22 (Agriculture & Domestic Animals), Chapter 435 (Dogs and Other Companion Animals, Kennels and Pet Shops), Section 22-338 (Licensing of dogs. Fees. Rabies certificate. Exemptions) of CT General Statutes to require any dog of the age of six months or older be licensed every three years (currently annually) in the town clerk’s office in the town where such dog is kept. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 6761 | Animal Cruelty Offenses – Rehabilitation Restrictions: Proposal to amend Title 54 (Criminal Procedure), Chapter 960 (Information, Procedure & Bail), Section 54-56e (Accelerated pretrial rehabilitation) of CT General Statutes to prohibit any person charged with animal abuse that involves violence, starvation or death of an animal from using the accelerated rehabilitation program. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 6824 | Departmental Notification – Veterinary Neglect: Proposal to amend Title 20 (Professional & Occupational Licensing, Certification, Title Protection and Registration), Chapter 384 (Veterinary Medicine), Section 20-204a (Allegations of wrongdoing, investigation by department. Disclosure to complainant) of CT Statutes to require the Department of Public Health to notify the owner of an animal when the veterinarian who treats their animal has been accused of animal neglect. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 6832 | Authorization to Enact Local Pet Sale Ban Ordinances: Amends Title 7 (Municipalities), Chapter 98 (Municipal Powers), Section 7-148 (Scope of Municipal Powers) of CT General Statutes to authorize municipalities to adopt ordinances to prohibit the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet shops. | DIED ON HOUSE CALENDAR (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 182 | Health Savings Accounts – Veterinary Expenses: A proposal to amend CT General Statutes to allow Connecticut residents to use such resident’s health savings account or flexible spending account to pay for veterinary expenses. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 644 | Licensing Fee – Unsterilized Dogs: A proposal to amend Title 22 (Agriculture, Domestic Animals), Chapter 435 (Dogs and Other Companion Animals), Section 22-338 (Licensing of Dogs) of CT General Statutes to eliminate the higher dog licensing fee for unspayed or unneutered dogs. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 1130 | Service Animal Misrepresentation: A proposal to amend the CT General Statutes to uphold the integrity of service animal protections under the ADA, discourage fraudulent behavior and ensure that individuals who rely on trained service animals for disabilities are not hindered or endangered by the misrepresentation of unqualified animals. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 1282 | Dog and Cat Minimum Quarantine Period: Amends Title 22 (Agriculture & Domestic Animals), Chapter 435 (Dogs and Other Companion Animals-Kennels & Pet Shops), Section 359f (Request for reduction of quarantine period after potential rabies exposure of animal) of CT General Statutes to reduce the minimum quarantine time from 6 to 4 months for dogs, cats and other animals that have been attacked and that may have been exposed to rabies. | ENACTED (EFFECTIVE ON 10/1/25) |
| ORD L.R. 31.072 | Stamford Pet Sale Ban Ordinance: Proposed ordinance amends Chapter 111 (Public Safety & Animal Welfare) of Stamford, CT Code of Ordinances by adding a new Section 111-12.5 (Sale of Dogs and Cats by Retail Pet Shops) to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in city pet shops. | PENDING |
View ALL Connecticut legislation tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2025-26 session.
View ALL local ordinances tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2024-25 session.
View ALL federal and state issues tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2025 session.