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Subcommittee hears bill to ban private ownership of primates; bill tabled after testimony
Summary
The House Ag Subcommittee heard House Bill 1768 to prohibit private ownership of primates, received supportive testimony from animal-welfare groups and opposition from a private-ownership group, and voted to lay the bill on the table 10-0.
House Bill 1768, a measure to prohibit private ownership of primates except by qualified institutions, was presented and discussed Wednesday before the House Agriculture Subcommittee. Delegate Martinez introduced the bill and defended amendments; after testimony from animal-welfare groups and private-owner representatives the subcommittee voted 10-0 to lay the bill on the table.
The bill would bar private individuals from acquiring or possessing primates as pets while exempting registered research facilities, sanctuaries, zoological parks and similar entities that meet specified criteria; it would grandfather existing privately owned primates. Delegate Martinez said the measure aims to ‘‘promote animal welfare and protect public…
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