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Committee hears bill to allow pregnant and lactating animals in foster homes; department seeks clarity on "facility" language
Summary
Lawmakers and animal‑welfare groups debated SB475, which would allow pregnant and nursing animals to be placed in foster homes. The Department of Agriculture supported fostering but urged wording changes to cover non‑residential facilities and to preserve inspection and record‑keeping authority.
Senator Regina Bertzell, prime sponsor of Senate Bill 475, told the House Environment and Agriculture Committee that the bill updates the legal definition of a foster home to allow pregnant and lactating animals to be cared for in appropriate foster settings rather than kept in often crowded shelters. "I am the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 475, which includes a determination of the best interest of the animal in the definition of foster home," she said.
The bill drew support from rescuers who described long experience placing dogs and cats in private residences for medical stabilizing and socialization. Patricia Morris, representing the governor’s commission on humane treatment of animals, said the amended Senate language should not turn private residences into registrable commercial facilities.
Commissioner Sean Jasper of the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food said his agency supports fostering pregnant and lactating animals but asked lawmakers to add the word "facility" to the definition to preserve the department’s ability to oversee non‑residential fosters used for medical or behavioral rehabilitation. "The rules say foster facilities shall be used solely for medical or behavioral rehabilitation," Jasper said, adding that records of licensed pet vendors and foster facilities would help the department follow up on gaps in inspections.
A central point of debate was whether the statute should require pet vendors to provide an annual list of foster homes or require individual foster homes to register directly with the department. Senator Bertzell and witnesses who fostered animals argued vendor‑level reporting is sufficient; the commissioner said vendor reporting would give the department the records it needs without coming into private residences unannounced.
The committee heard brief supporting testimony from Patricia Morris, Kurt Arinberg of Humane World for Animals and others; public commenters described practical foster arrangements and long volunteer experience. Committee members pressed for precise statutory language so department rules and the statute do not conflict.
The committee closed the public hearing after taking testimony and online comments. The department and witnesses asked staff to prepare clean statutory language clarifying whether foster "home" should be changed to "private residence or facility" and to specify which entities must maintain foster lists.
