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Committee advances bill letting towns ban sales of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet shops after rejecting grandfathering and regulation amendments
Summary
The Planning and Development committee voted to send HB 5283 to the floor, rejecting three amendments that would have grandfathered existing pet shops or required parity regulations for rescues. Supporters said the measure empowers local control to address animal welfare; opponents called it a potential taking and warned it could shift activity to less-regulated rescues.
The Planning and Development committee voted to send House Bill 5283, which would authorize municipalities to prohibit the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet shops, to the House floor after rejecting three amendment proposals.
Representative Dubitsky, who led the bill’s most sustained debate, urged protections for existing businesses and proposed Amendment A to "insert the following language ... accept no such prohibition shall apply to any pet shop in operation and selling such animals on the effective date of such prohibition," describing it as a grandfathering measure to prevent a retroactive loss of a legally operating business. He argued the bill could be "a taking" and proposed additional amendments that would require compensation or impose inspection parity for animal rescues if pet shops were closed.
Supporters of HB 5283 and committee members who favored the bill framed it as a tool for local control and animal-welfare policy. Representative Haynes, referencing testimony at the public hearing, emphasized concern about animals imported from out of state and urged attention to the source of animals rather than unduly harming businesses. Senator Gordon and other members likewise said they viewed the issue as a work in progress that may require further drafting.
The committee considered three separate amendments to HB 5283. The clerk announced that Amendment A failed 6 to 9, Amendment B failed 6 to 11, and Amendment C failed 4 to 12 after roll-call votes. Following those defeats, the committee recorded its motion to send HB 5283 JF (joint favorable) to the floor and held votes open until 3 p.m. to allow members in other meetings to cast their votes.
Opponents said removing regulated pet shops from the market could unintentionally boost demand for animals from unregulated sources. Representative Dubitsky noted that "pet shops are heavily regulated" and warned that closing them could "put all of these animals at very significant risk" if rescues filling the gap are less regulated. Proponents countered that municipal authority could be used to curb harmful practices and that the committee should keep working on technical fixes and enforcement questions.
The committee’s action does not change state law immediately. The JF designation moves HB 5283 to the next stage for floor consideration, and further amendments or debate are possible there.
The committee also announced votes for multiple items would remain open until 3 p.m. to accommodate members participating remotely or in concurrent hearings.
