Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S618 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
OldNewDifferences
11 1 of 1
22 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 552 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
33 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 618
44 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
55 _________________
66 PRESENTED BY:
77 Jason M. Lewis
88 _________________
99 To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
1010 Court assembled:
1111 The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
1212 An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops.
1313 _______________
1414 PETITION OF:
1515 NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Jason M. LewisFifth MiddlesexMichael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/3/2025Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk2/7/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/7/2025Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/18/2025John F. KeenanNorfolk and Plymouth2/26/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex2/26/2025Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex2/27/2025Adam J. Scanlon14th Bristol3/5/2025 1 of 2
1616 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 552 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
1717 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 618
1818 By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 618) of Jason M. Lewis, Michael O.
1919 Moore, Michael D. Brady, James K. Hawkins and other members of the General Court for
2020 legislation to ban the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops. Environment
2121 and Natural Resources.
2222 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
2323 _______________
2424 In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
2525 (2025-2026)
2626 _______________
2727 An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops.
2828 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
2929 of the same, as follows:
3030 1 SECTION 1. Section 39A of chapter 129 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
3131 2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 1, before the word “Every”, the
3232 3following letter:- (a)
3333 4 SECTION 2. Said section 39A of said chapter 129 of the General Laws, as so appearing,
3434 5is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 13, the word “section”, and inserting in place
3535 6thereof the following word:- subsection
3636 7 SECTION 3. Said section 39A of said chapter 129 of the General Laws, as so appearing,
3737 8is hereby further amended by inserting after subsection (a) the following 3 subsections:-
3838 9 (b) No person engaged in the business of operating a pet shop for which a license must be
3939 10obtained pursuant to subsection (a); and are regulated under 330 CMR 12.00 shall sell or offer
4040 11for sale a dog, cat, rabbit, or guinea pig. 2 of 2
4141 12 (c) Subsection (b) shall not be construed to prohibit a pet shop from offering space to an
4242 13animal rescue or shelter organization to showcase dogs, cats, rabbits, or guinea pigs for adoption
4343 14so long as the pet shop does not have an ownership interest in the animals offered for adoption.
4444 15 (d) Nothing in subsections (b) or (c) shall affect the authority of any town, city, or other
4545 16locality to regulate or prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, rabbits or guinea pigs.
4646 17 SECTION 4. This act shall go into effect 90 days after its passage.