New Jersey Overview – 2023 Session
NEW JERSEY
Legislative Overview – 2022-23 Session
(Adjourned on January 8, 2024)
123 pet related items were proposed during the 2022-23 legislative session, 52 of which were designated as priority by the Pet Advocacy Network.
Final Disposition of Priority ISSUES:
| BILL # | SUMMARY | FINAL DISPOSITION |
| AB 167 | “Rocky’s Law” – Dog Medical/Behavioral Record Requirement: Amends Title 4 (Agriculture & Domestic Animals) of NJ Revised Statutes requires every animal rescue organization facility, shelter, pound, and pet shop in the State to establish an animal’s health, behavioral, and medical history prior to offering the animal for adoption or sale. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 198/SB 2485 | Regulation of Pet Grooming Services: Amends Title 56 (Trade Names, Trademarks & Unfair Trade Practices) of NJ Revised Statutes by adding a new section requiring a person who is found to have negligently performed pet grooming services to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law & Public Safety. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 382 | Animal & Veterinary Facility Registration/Inspection: Amends Title 45 (Professions & Occupations), Section 1-18 (Investigative powers of board, director, or attorney general) of NJ Revised Statutes to require animal and veterinary facilities to register with the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and to be inspected by the board on an annual basis. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 570/SB 182 | Pet Groomer Licensing: Amends Title 46 (Professions & Occupations) of NJ Revised Statutes to require licensing of pet groomers. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 956 | NJ SPCA Investigation Authorization Requirement: Requires the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA) to be accountable to the Attorney General and provide that it would not be authorized to undertake an investigation or law enforcement activity or operation in any county without the prior approval of the county prosecutor for that county. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 1599/SB 105 | Animal Abuser Registry System: Amends Title 4 (Agriculture & Domestic Animals) to provide for the establishment and implementation of an animal abuser registry system that would require the continuing registration of animal abuse offenders and allow for the public disclosure of certain information pertaining to those offenders. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 1965/SB 2211 | Court-Appointed Animal Advocates: Amends Title 2A (Administration of Civil and Criminal Justice) of New Jersey Statutes to authorize the Court to appoint an advocate in certain criminal cases that affect the welfare or care of a cat or dog. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 2026/SB 322 | Animal Health Technician Education Requirements: Amends Title 11A (Civil Service) of NJ Revised Statutes to reduce from 18 to 12 the required number of credit hours for the Animal Health Technician job title in the civil service and allows for an applicant with 5 years of experience in the field who does not meet all of the education requirements to substitute their experience for the totality of the education requirements. | ENACTED |
| AB 2354/AB 4563/ SB 981 | Animal Cruelty Violations/Animal Custody & Disposition: Amends Title 4 (Agriculture & Domestic Animals), Chapter 22 (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), Article 2 (Prevention of Cruelty), Part B. (Misdemeanors & Fines) of New Jersey Revised Statutes to: (1) Authorize certain law enforcement officials to take custody of animals in cases of suspected animal cruelty violations; and (2) Establish various provisions related to the cost of care of animals taken into custody. | ENACTED |
| AB 2355 | Pet Shop Surveillance Camera Requirement: Amends Title 4 (Agriculture & Domestic Animals), Sections 19-15.8 (Licensing of kennel, pet shop, shelter, pound) and 19-15.14 (Rules & Regulations for kennels, pet shops, shelters, pounds) of NJ Revised Statutes to require each pet shop in the State to install and operate surveillance cameras throughout the pet shop. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 2470 | Animal Cruelty/Pet Ownership Prohibition: Amends New Jersey Revised Statutes to prohibit persons violating animal cruelty law from owning, keeping, or harboring animals. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 2548/SB 1916 | “Dog Trainer Licensing Act”: Amends Title 45 (Professions & Occupations) of NJ Revised Statutes to provide for the regulation and licensing of dog trainers. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 2624 | “Rescue Animal Disclosure Act” – Animal Rescue Oversight: A mends Title 56 (Trade Names, Trade-Marks & Unfair Trade Practices) of NJ Revised Statutes by adding a new section to provide oversight and regulation of animal rescue organization facilities. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 2629 | Invasive Species Task Force: An Act to establish a New Jersey “Invasive Species Task Force”. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 2709 | Animal Abuse Reporting Requirement: Amends Title 9 (Children–Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts), Chapter 6 (Abuse, abandonment, cruelty, and neglect of child; what constitutes) of NJ Revised Statutes to require reporting of animal abuse by certain child protection agency employees. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 2773 | Animal Importer Registration/Fees/Standards of Care: Amends NJ Statutes by: 1) adding a new section providing for animal importer registration, fees, standards of care, recordkeeping, health certificates and breeder disclosure; 2) extending the deadline for consumer remedies of Title 56, Section 8:95 (Noncompliance by pet shop considered deceptive practice); and 3) providing for registration, reporting, and fees for animal rescue organizations. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 2826/SB 333 | “Moose’s Law” – Animal Cruelty Employment Restrictions: Prohibits persons convicted of criminal animal cruelty offenses from: 1) commencing, operating, applying for employment, being employed, or volunteering at, or participating in any capacity in, an “animal-related enterprise”; or 2) acquiring or owning any domestic companion animal for a definitive period of time, as specified by a court. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 3097 | “Bijou’s Law”: Creates the Pet Groomers Licensing Act. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 3273 | Animal Abuse Registry/Pet Ownership Prohibition: Amends New Jersey Revised Statutes to prohibit persons violating animal cruelty law from owning, keeping, or harboring animals. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 3705/SB 2138 | Income Deduction for Veterinary Expenses: An Act to provide a gross income deduction for veterinarian expenses incurred by taxpayers. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 4229/SB 1789 | Animal Cruelty Reporting/Immunity: Amends NJ Revised Statutes to include animal cruelty against a victim’s animal within the definition of domestic violence and other types of abuse and to establish immunity for reporting animal cruelty. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 4706 | Pet Food Sales Tax Exemption: Amends Title 54 (Taxation), Section 54:32B-1 (“Sales and Use Tax Act”) of NJ Revised Statutes to exempt sales of pet food from the State’s sales and use tax. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 4920 | Residential Kennel Regulation: Amends Title 4 (Agriculture & Domestic Animals) of NJ Revised Statutes by adding a new section establishing: 1) Restrictions on the number of dogs kept on residential property; 2) Residential kennel licenses for property on which owner keeps and houses 15 to 25 dogs; and 3) Inspection and maintenance requirements for residential kennels. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 4936 | Animal Abuse Reporting Requirements: Amends Title 4 (Agriculture & Domestic Animals) of NJ Revised Statutes to allow certain employees of Division of Children Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families to report animal abuse to humane law enforcement officers. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 4942/SB 3327 | “Pet Insurance Act”: Amends Title 17 (Corporations and Institutions for Finance and Insurance), Section 46D-1 (Hospital, Medical Benefits for Pets) of NJ Revised Statutes to create a comprehensive legal framework within which pet insurance may be sold in the State. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 5074 | Invasive Species Task Force: An Act to establish a New Jersey “Invasive Species Task Force”. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 5364 | “Dog Training Licensure Act”: Amends Title 45 (Professions & Occupations) of NJ Revised Statutes by creating a “New Jersey Dog Trainer Licensure Board” within the Department of Law & Public Safety’s Division of Consumer Affairs to regulate the practice of dog training. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 5392/SB 3852 | Pet Supplies/10-Day Sales Tax Holiday: Amends Title 54 (Taxation), Section 32B-1 (Sales and Use Tax Act) of New Jersey Revised Statutes by adding a new subsection establishing an annual 10-day sales tax holiday for certain sales of disaster preparedness supplies and equipment (to include pet supplies). | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| AB 5454/SB 3865 | Pet Food/Pet Medication Sales Tax Exemption: Amends Title 54 (Taxation), Section 32B-1 (“Sales and Use Tax Act”) of New Jersey Revised Statutes to provide a sales and use tax exemption for sales of pet food and certain medication for pets. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| SB 448 | Statewide Animal Abuse Registry: Amends New Jersey Revised Statutes to provide for the establishment and implementation of an animal cruelty offender registry that would require the continuing registration of animal cruelty offenders and allow for the public disclosure of certain information pertaining to those offenders. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| SB 2278 | Breed-Specific Dog Regulation Prohibition: Amends Title 4 (Agriculture & Domestic Animals), Section 4:19-17 (Findings, declarations) of NJ Revised Statutes to prohibit restrictions or requirements concerning control or ownership of dogs based solely on breed or size. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| SB 2853 | Animal Shelter/Kennel Regulation: Amends Title 4 (Agriculture & Domestic Animals) and Title 54A (NJ Gross Income Tax Act) of NJ Revised Statutes to establish additional requirements for operation and oversight of animal shelters, pounds, and kennels operating as shelters or pounds. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| SB 3421 | “Pet Purchase Protection Act” Repeal/Statewide Pet Sale Ban: Amends Title 56 (Trade Names, Trade-Marks & Unfair Trade Practices) of NJ Revised Statutes by repealing Section 56:8-29 et. seq. (“Pet Purchase Protection Act” ) and replacing it with a prohibition on the sale of cats, dogs, and rabbits by pet shops. | DIED ON ADJOURNMENT |
| ORD No. 7773-22 | Local Pet Sale Ban Ordinance: Amends Chapter 203 (Dogs and Other Animals) of the Code of Clifton, NJ by adding a new Section 203-27 (Restrictions on the Sale of Animals) to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in city pet shops. | ADOPTED |
| ORD No. O-22-26 | Local Pet Sale Ban Ordinance: Amends Chapter 82 (Animals), Article I (Dogs) of the Code of the Montclair, NJ by adding a new Article VIII (Sale of Animals) to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in township pet stores. | ADOPTED |
| ORD No. 22-22 | Local Pet Sale Ban Ordinance: Amends Chapter 5 (Animal Control) of Tenafly, NJ Borough Code by adding a new Section 5-3.8 (Prohibition on Sale of Dogs or Cats by Retail Pet Stores, Penalty for Violation) to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in borough pet stores. | ADOPTED |
| ORD No. 07-2023 | Local Pet Sale Ban Ordinance: Amends Chapter 110 (Dogs and Other Animals), Article I (Licensing, Registration & Control) of the Borough of Kinnelon, NJ Code by adding a new Section 110-14 (Commercial Establishments; Sale of Dogs or Cats) to prohibit the retail sale of dogs or cats in borough commercial establishments. | ADOPTED |
| ORD No. 2010 | Local Pet Sale Ban Ordinance: Amends Chapter 5 (Animal Control) of Mahwah, NJ Township Code by adding a new Section 5-8 (Sale of Dogs and Cats Prohibited by Pet Shops) to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in township pet shops. | ADOPTED |
View ALL New Jersey legislation tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2022-23 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.