2023-2024 Legislative and Policy Resources

AFA Legislative Tracker 2023-24 Sessions; and Regulatory Tracker

102nd Michigan Legislature and 118th US Congress

Updated to May 27, 2024 (State Bills, Federal Bills, Regulations).

Updated to April 29, 2024 (State Bills, Federal Bills, Regulations).

Updated to March 30, 2024 (State Bills, Federal Bills, Regulations).

Updated to February 27 2024 (State Bills, Federal Bills, Regulations).

Updated to November 30, 2023 (State Bills, Federal Bills, Regulations).

Updated to October 31, 2023 (State Bills, Federal Bills, Regulations).

Updated to September 30, 2023 (State Bills, Federal Bills, Regulations).

Updated to August 31, 2023 (State Bills; Federal Bills).

Updated to July 29, 2023 (State Bills; Federal Bills and Regulations).

Updated to June 28, 2023 (State Bills; Federal Bills and Regulations).

Updated to May 31, 2023 (State Bills; Federal Bills and Regulations).

Updated to April 28, 2023 (State Bills; Federal Bills and Regulations).

Updated to March 30, 2023 (State Bills; Federal Bills and Regulations).

Updated to February 28, 2023:

Updated to January 30, 2023:


AFA Testimony, Michigan Legislature, 2023-24 Session (Chronological order by date of first committee hearing on bill) 

HB 4838 the “Puppy Protection” or “Humane Pet Shop” bill would prohibit pet shops (redefined as brick-and-mortar establishments selling animals not bred at the establishment) from selling, adopting, exchanging, or transfering a dog, cat, or rabbit; or offering a dog, cat, or rabbit for sale, adoption, exchange, or transfer. However, pet shops could showcase adoptable dogs, cats, or rabbits from the state’s animal control and animal protection shelters. AFA submitted testimony, May 22, 2024, House Government Operations Committee.

HBs 5404, 5405 and 5525 would revise existing laws that penalize harm to “dog guides” used by blind individuals who use travel aids (5404 and 5405) and allow civil suits for injury or death to service animals in addition to current criminal penalties (5525). Read AFA’s testimony, May 22, 2024, House Judiciary Committee.

HBs 5587 through 5593 would amend Michigan’s Sentence Guidelines with respect to animal crimes and present a legislative solution to the problem of deficient sentences given in cases involving felony animal cruelty crimes against companion animals and would align the punishments that can be imposed, with the intent of the felony cruelty crimes against companion animals. AFA testified and was part of a coalition of organizations and individuals submitting this testimony, May 21, 2024, House Criminal Justice Committee.

SBs 148 and 149 (“Teddy’s Bill) would require research facilities to make arrangements with the state’s animal shelters so that dogs and cats can be offered for adoption after research is complete; and would impose modest reporting requirements. AFA’s testimony, June 6, 2023, Senate Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee.


NONHUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT, INC., on
behalf of Prisoner A (aka Louie), Prisoner
B, Prisoner C, Prisoner D, Prisoner E,
Prisoner F, and Prisoner G (“DeYoung
Prisoners”),
Petitioners-Appellants,
vs.
DEYOUNG FAMILY ZOO, LLC and HAROLD
L. DEYOUNG,
Defendants-Appellees.

BRIEF AMICI CURIAE OF
ANIMAL LAW SECTION, STATE BAR OF MICHIGAN
ATTORNEYS FOR ANIMALS
PROFS. DAVID FAVRE AND ANGIE VEGA


Policy Statements 2023-2024

Public Comment, Natural Resources Committee, July 13, 2023, responding to the presentation by the Michigan Wildlife Council and urging DNR to support HB 4856 which would expand the membership to provide expertise and diversity; and expand its educational programs to include balancing the needs of animals who have been adversely impacted by people.

Public Comment, Natural Resources Committee, April 13, 2023, urging the Commission to reject proposed order on “Nuisance” Animals, April 2023

Coalition Letters to PetsMart and Petco drafted by Avian Welfare Coalition to PetsMart and Petco urging the corporations to stop selling birds, February 2023

AFA Comment on US Fish and Wildlife Service Proposed Rule — Revision to the Section 4(d) Rule for the African Elephant, that strengthens requirements for import of live, trophy-hunted, and parts of elephants into the US. The proposed rule improves existing regulations. However, it does not ban imports; it accepts uncritically that trophy hunting can enhance conservation; and fails to address necessary economic benefits to range continues of non-consumptive activities; January 17, 2023.