Texas Legislative Overview – 2025 Session
TEXAS Legislative Overview – 2025 Session
(Adjourned on June 2, 2025)
33 pet related items were proposed during the 2025 legislative session, 22 of which were designated as priority by the Pet Advocacy Network.
Final Disposition of Priority ISSUES:
| BILL # | SUMMARY | FINAL DISPOSITION |
| HB 285 | Animal Cruelty Offense Amendment: Amends Title 9 (Offenses Against Public Order & Decency), Chapter 42 (Disorderly Conduct & Related Offenses), Section 42.092 (Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals) of TX Penal Code in relation to the prosecution of the offense of cruelty to nonlivestock animals. | ENACTED (EFFECTIVE ON 9/1/25) |
| HB 471 | Animal Shelter Intake/Disposition Transparency: Amends Chapter 823 (Animal Shelters) of TX Health & Safety Code by adding a new Section 823.010 (Intake and Disposition Records for Animal Shelters and Releasing Agencies) to add releasing agencies to the chapter and to provide intake and disposition recordkeeping requirements for animal shelter and releasing agencies. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED DEADLINE) |
| HB 562 | Licensed Dog and Cat Breeder Bill-of-Sale Requirement: Amends Chapter 802 (Dog or Cat Breeders), Subchapter D (Practice by Licensed Breeder) of TX Occupations Code by adding a new Section 802.155 (Bill of Sale) to provide that a licensed breeder shall provide to a purchaser a bill of sale for each animal sold or exchanged in return for consideration. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED DEADLINE) |
| HB 1436 | Animal Cruelty Public Awareness Campaign: Amends Title 6 (Production, Processing & Sale of Animal Products), Subtitle C (Control of Animal Diseases and Pests), Chapter 161 (General Disease and Pest Control) of Texas Agriculture Code by adding a new Section 161.0604 directing the Texas Animal Health Commission to create an animal cruelty public awareness campaign. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED DEADLINE) |
| HB 1614 | Animal Shelter Veterinary Services Restrictions: Amends Chapter 828 (Dog and Cat Sterilization), Section 828.012 (Surgery & Other Veterinary Services) of TX Health & Safety Code relating to veterinary services performed on certain animals in the care of a releasing agency. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED DEADLINE) |
| HB 1632 | Animal Feed Sales Tax Exemption: Amends Title 2 (State Taxation), Subtitle E (Sales, Excise & Use Taxes), Chapter 151 (Limited Sales, Excise & Use Tax) of Texas Tax Code by adding a new Section 151.360 (Animal Food Intended for Consumption by Domesticated Animals) to provide an exemption from sales and use taxes for animal food intended for consumption by domesticated animals. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED DEADLINE) |
| HB 1720/SB 2969 | Animal Facility Trespass – Criminal Offense: Amends Title 7 (Offenses Against Property), Chapter 30 (Burglary & Criminal Trespass) of Texas Penal Code by adding a new Section 30.08 (Trespass in Facility Housing an Animal) to create the criminal offense of trespass in a facility housing an animal and to restitution for property damage resulting from that trespass. | DIED ON CALENDAR (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 2325 | State Dangerous Dog Registry: Amends Chapter 411 (Dept. of Public Safety of the State of Texas) of Texas Government Code by adding a new Section 411.952 to establish a statewide dangerous dog registry. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED DEADLINE) |
| HB 3364/SB 1442 | Veterinary Telehealth Restrictions: Amends Title 4 (Professions Related to Animals), Chapter 801 (Veterinarians), Section 801.351 (Existence of Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship) of Texas Occupations Code to permit the establishment of veterinarian-client-patient relationships via telephone or electronic means. | DIED ON CALENDAR (MISSED DEADLINE) |
| HB 3458/SB 1652 | Statewide Pet Sale Ban: Amends Title 6 (Texas Business & Commerce Code) by adding a new Chapter 206 (Prohibition on Sale of Dogs and Cats by Pet Stores) to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in Texas pet stores. | DIED ON CALENDAR (MISSED DEADLINE) |
| HB 3777 | Animal Control Authority – Dog Disposition: Amends Chapter 822 (Regulation of Animals) of TX Health & Safety Code by adding a new Subchapter F to provide certain requirements for dogs taken into custody by an animal control authority. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED DEADLINE) |
| HB 3888 | Dog and Cat Sterilization Exemptions: Amends Chapter 828 (Dog and Cat Sterilization), Section 828.013 (Exemptions) of Texas Health & Safety Code to exempt certain dogs and cats from the provisions of this section. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED DEADLINE) |
| HB 4776 | State Animal Cruelty Database: Amends Title 1 (TX Code of Criminal Procedure) by adding a new Chapter 61 (Animal Cruelty Registration Program) to establish a central database containing information about persons who have been convicted of or received a grant of deferred adjudication community supervision after pleading guilty for certain offenses involving animal cruelty. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED DEADLINE) |
| HB 4777 | Non-Economic Damages Awards: Amends Title 4 (TX Civil Practice & Remedies Code) by adding a new Chapter 87A (Liability of Kennels and Animal Shelters) to establish for the loss, injury, or death of a domestic animal. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED DEADLINE) |
| HB 4819 | Non-Refundable Adoption Fees – Unsterilized Animals: Amends Title 10 (Health & Safety of Animals), Chapter 828 (Dog and Cat Sterilization), Section 828.002 (Requirements for Adoption) of TX Health & Safety Code to mandate a refundable $75 fee for adopting non-sterilized dogs and cats, with funds supporting sterilization services. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED DEADLINE) |
| HB 5612/SB 3016 | State Preemption over Local/ Municipal Ordinances: Amends Title 5 (Government Liability) of TX Civil Practice and Remedies Code), Title 2 (Organization of Municipal Government) of TX Local Government Code to reinforce state preemption over local regulations in Texas, ensuring statewide consistency by limiting municipal and county regulatory powers and establishing legal frameworks for addressing violations. | DIED ON CALENDAR (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 2130 | Private Equity Companies – Veterinary Services Transactions: Amends Title 2 (Texas Business & Commerce Code) by adding a new Chapter 15A (Consolidation of Veterinary Services) to regulate transactions involving veterinary services and private equity companies. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED DEADLINE) |
| SB 613 | Veterinary Practice Regulations – Civil Penalties: Amends Title 4 (Professions Related to Animals), Chapter 801 (Veterinarians), Subchapter A (General Provisions) of Texas Occupations Code to regulate veterinary medicine by: (1) Restricting non-veterinarian control over veterinary practices; (2) Increasing penalties for unlicensed practices; and (3) Setting new rules for contracts with private equity firms. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED DEADLINE) |
View ALL Texas legislation tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2025 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.