Senate narrowly approves bill requiring at least one emergency shelter to accept personal animals

The Utah Senate on Feb. 3 passed Senate Bill 97, requiring each city, county or town emergency operations plan to designate at least one shelter that will accept evacuees’ personal animals. Sponsor Senator Plumb said the measure was modeled on Florida law and developed with input from emergency responders, shelter operators and animal‑rescue groups.

Plumb told the Senate the bill fills a planning gap: “This is a very simple bill. This essentially requires that a city, county, or town emergency operations plan designate at least 1 shelter where, individuals can go with a personal animal.” She defined “personal animal” as a domestic dog, cat, rabbit, bird or other household pet, not a production animal.

Senator Lincoln Fillmore opposed the bill on the floor, saying the language as drafted prioritized animals without clarifying accommodations for people. “This could be drafted better to get my vote, but as it stands now, we’re requiring them to take an animal and not another person. And therefore, I’m a no,” Fillmore said.

The chamber took a roll‑call vote after debate. The clerk announced the bill “having received 15 yay votes, 12 nay votes, 2 being absent” and read the bill for a third time. The measure passed and will be sent to the Utah House of Representatives for consideration.

Supporters argued the requirement improves public safety and evacuation compliance by enabling owners to bring pets rather than refuse evacuation. Opponents said the statute should better clarify how human‑safety needs and animal accommodations will be prioritized in emergency operations planning.

The bill’s sponsor said municipalities have discretion in local planning and that the statutory requirement is intended to ensure a local option exists for evacuees who refuse to leave without a pet.

The bill now moves to the House for further consideration.