1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to animals; creating a civil cause of action and allowing punitive and
1.3 emotional civil damages for injury to pets; proposing coding for new law in
1.4 Minnesota Statutes, chapter 604.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. [604.145] LIABILITY; INJURY TO PETS.
1.7 (a) A person who injures another person's pet is liable to the owner of the pet for the
1.8cost of the injury, including medical bills, actual damages, emotional damages, and punitive
1.9damages as provided in sections 549.191 and 549.20.
1.10 (b) This section does not apply to:
1.11 (1) a licensed veterinarian who acts pursuant to a valid veterinary license and the acts
1.12would not be cause for revocation, suspension, or limitations according to section 156.081;
1.13 (2) a licensed veterinarian when the owner asks the veterinarian to cause the pet's death;
1.14 (3) a licensed veterinarian acting pursuant to state law or local ordinance; and
1.15 (4) any person authorized to kill a pet under state law.
1.16 (c) For the purposes of this section, "pet" means a nonhuman mammal, bird, or reptile
1.17impounded or held for breeding, or possessed by, cared for, or controlled by a person for
1.18the present or future enjoyment of that person or another, and does not include livestock.
1Section 1.
REVISOR SS/KR 25-0462303/05/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 2733
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Wolgamott03/24/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary Finance and Civil Law