Committee considers HF 2627 to bar new pet stores from selling dogs and cats; bill would grandfather existing sellers with disclosure rules

The House Commerce, Finance and Policy Committee on an unspecified date heard testimony on House File 2627, a bipartisan proposal that would prohibit new pet stores from selling dogs and cats in Minnesota while allowing stores currently selling those animals to continue under a grandfather clause and new transparency requirements. Chair Herr moved to lay the bill over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill; the measure was subsequently laid over.

The bill’s author, Representative Norris, described HF 2627 as “designed to protect consumers and prevent animal cruelty while avoiding shuttering anyone's business,” and said the measure “prohibits any stores that don't currently sell dogs or cats from doing so” while grandfathering existing sellers that provide disclosure about where they source animals.

Nut graf: Supporters said the bill will reduce consumer deception and limit demand for puppy-mill supply chains, while opponents — including owners of longstanding pet stores — argued the measure and some of its provisions could make family businesses unsalable and expose breeders to harassment. Committee members questioned the scope of the measure, its grandfathering language, and whether related problems such as backyard breeders are addressed.

Testimony…