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Committee hears proposals to limit pet rent, bar insurer breed bans and protect tenants with companion animals
Summary
Witnesses including animal‑welfare groups, shelters and researchers urged the Joint Committee on Housing to pass bills (H.1559/S.1022 and related measures) that would cap pet rent, reinstate pet‑friendly public housing programs and bar insurers and landlords from discriminating by dog breed or size.
The Joint Committee on Housing took testimony on bills to reduce housing‑related pet relinquishments and expand pet‑inclusive housing policies. Provisions discussed included a cap on monthly "pet rent," reinstatement and expansion of a state pet‑friendly public housing program, protections during declared emergencies and limits on insurer or landlord breed‑based discrimination.
Advocates from national and local animal‑welfare organizations told the committee that housing barriers are the largest single reason animals enter shelters. "The number one reason that animals are surrendered into our shelters is housing‑related reasons," Allison Blank, director of advocacy at the Animal…
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