AFA Legislative Tracker™ 2021-22 Sessions; and Regulatory Tracker™ (from April 2022)
101st Michigan Legislature and 117th US Congress
Updated to December 29, 2022 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to November 23, 2022 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to October 31, 2022 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to September 29, 2022 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to August 31, 2022 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to July 30, 2022 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to June 30, 2022 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to May 30, 2022 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to April 23, 2022 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to March 30, 2022 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to February 24, 2022 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to January 29, 2022 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to December 31, 2021 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to November 23, 2021 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to October 29, 2021 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to September 30, 2021 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to August 29, 2021 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to July 30, 2021 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to June 29, 2021 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to May 31, 2021 and searchable versions (State and Federal); read our blog here.
Updated to April 30, 2021 and searcheable versions (State and Federal); read our blog here.
Updated to March 29, 2021 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to February 28, 2021 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to January 31, 2021 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
AFA Testimony, Michigan Legislature, 2021-22 Session (Chronological order by date of first committee hearing)
HBs 4881 and 4882 (“Teddy’s bills) would require a research facility to offer retired dogs, cats used in research to a MI rescue or shelter for adoption before euthanizing, and would require research facilities using dogs, cats to submit report to MDARD, including animals adopted, and establish penalties for failure to follow adoption standards. Read AFA’s letter in support for the February 22, 2022 House Regulatory Reform Committee hearing.
SCR 7 “urge[s] the Natural Resources Commission to authorize, and the Department of Natural Resources to organize, wolf hunting and trapping as part of the state’s wolf management efforts beginning in 2022.” Read AFA’s letter in opposition for the January 27, 2022 House Natural Resources Committee hearing.
HBs 5358, 5359 and 5360 would regulate Michigan’s hunting and fishing guide industries. Read AFA’s letter in support for the December 2, 2021 House Natural Resources Committee hearing.
HBs 4703 and 4704 would create a bond-or-forfeit process that would apply when an animal is seized in a case involving animal neglect (MCL § 750.50) or animal cruelty (MCL § 750.50b) and would amend the current provision which is unworkable. Read coalition letters joined by AFA in support for the September 28, 2021 House Judiciary and June 14, 2022 Senate Judiciary Committee hearings.
HB 4726 would authorize vets, vet techs to practice in MI for up to 90 days in case of emergencies; or to respond to large scale animal cruelty cases. Read AFA’s letter in support for the June 15, 2021 House Regulatory Reform Committee hearing.
SB 486 would limit membership on the Wolf Management Advisory Council to residents of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula; under its provisions, 5 of 6 members of the current WMAC, including AFA’s representative, would be unable to serve. Read AFA’s letter in opposition for the June 2, 2021 Senate Natural Resources Committee hearing.
HBs 4823 and 4824 support the horse racing industry by revising the gaming and sports betting acts to remove a cap on money allocated to the industry, at the potential expense to other funds such as the school aid and compulsive gaming prevention funds. Read AFA’s letter in opposition for the May 12, 2021 House Agriculture Committee hearing.
SBs 396, 397, 398 and 399 is a bill package that props up the dying horse racing industry by allowing betting on past horse races, allow video lotteries at race tracks and allow casinos to simulcast horse races. Read AFA’s letter in opposition for the April 29, 2021 Senate Agriculture Committee hearing; supplemental testimony for the May 13 Committee hearing; and testimony in opposition for the December 7 House Regulatory Reform Committee hearing.
HB 4256 revises and modernizes the state’s Public Accommodations law regarding service animals, their trainers and raisers. Read AFA’s letter in support for the April 27, 2021 House Regulatory Reform Committee hearing. AFA submitted testimony in support for the September 14, 2021 Senate Regulatory Reform Committee hearing.
SR 20 “encourage[s] the Natural Resources Commission to add Eastern sandhill cranes to the game species list and seek U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval to establish an Eastern sandhill crane hunting season.” Read coalition letter joined by AFA in opposition for March 3, 2021 hearing, and AFA’s letter in opposition to SUB (S-1) for the March 17 hearing.
SR 15 “urge[s] the Natural Resources Commission to authorize, and the Department of Natural Resources to organize, wolf hunting and trapping as part of the state’s wolf management efforts beginning in 2021.” Read AFA’s letter in opposition dated February 23, 2021, and coalition letter joined by AFA in opposition for the February 24 hearing.
AFA Policy Statements 2021-2022
Comment on USDA Proposed Rule — National Organic Program: Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards, November 2022
Attorneys for Animals, Inc. and State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section
Comment on Proposed Changes / 2023 Draft GAAMPs for the Care of Farm Animals, August 2022
Comment on US Fish & Wildlife 2022-2023 Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations, Supporting the Effort to Limit Use of Lead Ammunition in National Wildlife Refuges With Recommendations; Opposing Extending Hunting and Fishing Opportunities in NWRs, August 2022
Press Release Condemning “Banana Derby” and the Use of Animals in Entertainment; A Primatologist’s POV, June 2022
Comment on USDA/APHIS Proposed Rule: Standards for Birds Not Bred for Use
in Research Under the Animal Welfare Act, May 2022
Press Release Announcing Michigan Attorney General Opinion that state agency required to develop humane standards for, and register, all facilities in the state that test on animals, May 2022
Coalition Letter to Biden Administration asking for support of California’s Proposition 12, which promotes food safety, public health and animal welfare, April 2022
Testimony in Opposition to Re-considering a Deer Management Plan, Ann Arbor City Council, February 7, 2022 Meeting
Letter to US Sen. Debbie Stabenow urging opposition to appointment of Martha Williams as Director of US Fish and Wildlife Service, January 11, 2022
Conservation Groups’ Statement Supporting Tribal Consultation, Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Gray Wolf Protection, November 21, 2021
Testimony in Support of Fur Ban Ordinance, Ann Arbor City Council, August 16, 2021 Meeting
Coalition Letter to US House Natural Resources Committee urging revisions to the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 2773) that would ensure greater accountability and broader public input in wildlife governance while still achieving the bill’s primary goal of providing significant new funding for implementation of state wildlife action plans, July 26, 2021
Public Comment, Natural Resources Committee, July 15, 2021, “A Tale of Three States” comparing wolf management in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin
Letter in Support of Proclamation to Ban Wildlife Killing Contests, July 11, 2021, Ontonagon County Board of Commissioners
Comment opposing United States Department of Agriculture Proposed Rule that would transfer Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority over genetically engineered animals to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; FDA has more rigorous standards than USDA which also is charged with promoting agribusiness interest (May 2021)
Coalition Letter in Support of Proclamation to Ban Wildlife Killing Contests, June 1, 2021, Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners Proclamation
Letter Opposing Deer Cull, Ann Arbor City Council, Mayor, May 3, 2021 Budget Meeting
Letter Urging Governor to ensure that Wolf Management Advisory Council provides a forum for meaningful participation for those Michiganders who oppose hunting and trapping of gray wolves, February 5, 2021.
AFA Legislative Tracker™: 2019-20 Sessions
100th Michigan Legislature and 116th US Congress
Final 2019-2020 Legislative Sessions to January 8, 2021 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to November 25, 2020 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to October 28, 2020 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to September 30, 2020 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to August 28, 2020 and searchable version (State and Federal); read our blog here.
Updated to July 30, 2020 and searchable version (State and Federal)
Updated to June 29, 2020 and searchable version (State and Federal)
Updated to May 30, 2020 and searchable version (State and Federal)
Updated to April 30, 2020 and searchable version (State and Federal)
Updated to March 31, 2020 and searchable version (State and Federal); read our blog here.
Updated to February 27, 2020 and searchable version (State and Federal); read our blog here.
Updated to January 29, 2020 and searchable version (State and Federal)
Updated to December 18, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal)
Updated to November 26, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal)
Updated to October 29, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal); read our blog here.
Updated to September 29, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal)
Updated to August 27, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal); read our blog here.
Updated to July 25, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal)
Updated to June 14, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal)
Updated to May 31, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal); read our blog here.
Updated to May 17, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal)
Updated to May 13, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal)
Updated to April 25, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal); read our blog here.
Updated to April 13, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal); read our blog here.
Updated to March 22, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal); read our blog here.
Updated to February 28, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal); read our blog here.
Updated to February 10, 2019 and searchable version (State and Federal); read our blog here.
AFA Testimony, Michigan Legislature, 2019-20 Session (Chronological order by date of first committee hearing)
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HB 5856 (Substitute H-1) would omit mandatory minimum sentences for misdmeanor offenses involving the taking, possession or killing of many species of wildlife, including birds, mammals and fish; it is part of a 5-bill package and we argue the legislature should consider each law individually and, if the mandatory minimums are abolished, provide guidance to judges for imposing a sentence of incarceration. Read AFA’s letter in opposition dated October 6, 2020 for October 7 Senate committee hearing.
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SB 367 would revise NREPA to provide for sale of wolf hunting licenses. Read AFA’s letter in opposition dated July 28, 2020, for July 29 committee hearing.
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SB 419 would require that animal rescues register and be regulated by Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. We support more oversight of rescues and have recommended changes that would improve animal welfare. Read AFA’s testimony supporting in concept with recommended changes from June 25, 2020.
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HB 4035 would prohibit local government from regulating dogs based on breed/perceived breed. Read coalition letters joined by AFA in support from February 17, 2020, September 15, 2020 and December 2, 2020 (with 9 other organizations).
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HR 154 is a resolution to encourage the National Park Service to establish a moose tag lottery hunt to assist in controlling the moose population on Isle Royale. Read AFA’s testimony in opposition from January 14, 2020.
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SB 661 amends Horseracing Law of 1995 to allow betting on races which occurred in the past. Read AFA’s testimony in opposition (also SB 12 and HB 4310) from December 10, and from February 11, 2020.
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HBs 4910, HB 4911 would create a new law to regulate Emotional Support Animals and revise the state’s landlord-tenant law; we opposed this draconian scheme that would punish people in need and their animals; it was bad public policy when introduced in 2019, and even worse in the wake of the pandemic. Read AFA’s testimony in opposition from December 10, 2019, and September 22, 2020.
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HB 4860 amends the Large Carnivore Act, which regulates the breeding of black bear sows. Under current law, exemption from a variety of regulations are limited to persons “who reside in this state”, MCLA §287.1122(4). HB 4860 expands this exemption to those who do not reside in Michigan. Read AFA’s testimony in opposition from November 6, 2019.
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SB 352 is a “cross reporting” bill amending animal crimes statute to add requirement for Child Protective Services workers to report animal abuse. Read AFA’s testimony in support (with recommendations) from October 31, 2019.
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SB 316, 317 make it a crime to knowingly provide an animal to another who either intends to abuse, mistreat the animal or who intends to use it in fighting; it arose from a tragic situation with Sterling, a dog. Read AFA’s testimony from October 31, 2019.
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HR 87 encourages USFWS to de-list gray wolves. Read AFA’s testimony in opposition from September 10, 2019.
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SB 174 revises the Animal Industry Act, which includes 2009 animal welfare standards for animals used in industrial agriculture; the initial bill language would have stripped all standards but a coalition, including AFA, advocated for better standards; as a result, Michigan becomes the 1st Midwestern and largest egg producing state to adopt a cage-free standard to date, by the end of 2024. Read AFA’s testimony in opposition from June 6 hearing; and the coalition letter from October 30. The bill was signed into law as PA 0132’19 (Sec. 46, beginning on page 20).
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HB 4340 amends the Hunter Harassment Act to make it a crime to make it a crime to record, with intent to harass, an individual hunting or fishing, with the intent to harass that individual. Read AFA’s testimony in opposition on June 4 and from February 20, 2020.
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SR 0038 urges the US Fish and Wildlife Service to de-list gray wolves, so they can be managed by the DNR (and hunted) in Michigan. Read AFA’s testimony in opposition. The resolution was heard in the Senate Natural Resources Committee on April 25, 2019, was reported favorably without amendment, and placed on Order of Resolutions.
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SR 0030 encourages the Natural Resources Commission to add Sandhill cranes to the game list, so these ancient birds can be hunted. Read AFA’s testimony in opposition. The resolution was heard in the Senate Natural Resources Committee on April 25, 2019 and was reported favorably without amendment.
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SB 37 would allow feeding, baiting deer and elk, over-riding the DNR’s order prohibiting this to stop the spread of disease. Read AFA’s testimony in opposition. The bill was heard in the Senate Natural Resources Committee on April 10 with no vote). Note: HB 4687, a similar bill, was passed by legislature but vetoed by the governor.
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HB 4102 amends the dog fighting law to reference cryptocurrency in the definition of “thing of value”, part of bill package to update the criminal code. Read AFA’s letter of support. The bill was heard in the House Judiciary Committee on March 19, 2019; passed the House on April 9 and the Senate on December 10; was signed by the governor on December 20; PA 176’19.
2019-2020 AFA Policy Statements
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Comment Opposing United States Fish and Wildlife Services Proposed Rule amending the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge’s public use regulations to allow brown bear baiting and less regulated trapping here (November 2020)
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Comment Opposing United States Fish and Wildlife Services Proposed Rule revising regulations designating Critical Habitat for Edangered or Threatened Wildlife or Plants here (October 2020)
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Comment Opposing United States Fish and Wildlife Services Proposed Rule for Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat here (September 2020)
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Comments to Michigan Natural Resources Commission renewing a call for regulating lead ammunition and tackle in light of the comprehensive 30+-year study showing that lead poisoning is the second leading cause of death in nearly 1500 bald eagles in Michigan here (August 2020)
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Comment Opposing United States Fish and Wildlife Service Proposed Rule: Management of Conflicts Associated with Double-Crested Cormorants here (July 2020)
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Comment Opposing United States Fish and Wildlife Service Proposed Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations in National Wildlife Refuges here (June 2020)
Coalition letter to Gov. Whitmer urging that veterinary services be deemed “essential” under the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order here (April 2020)
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Comments to Michigan Natural Resources Commission calling for regulation of lead and other toxic ammunition here (February 2020)
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Comments to Michigan Natural Resources Commission encouraging participation of more segments of the population and more emphasis on non-consumptive users here (January 2020)
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Comment opposing the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service notice modifying records which would formalize the policy of removing records from public view; read our comment here (December 2019)
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Comment Opposing United States Fish and Wildlife Service Plan to De-List Gray Wolves in the Lower 48 States here. Read our blog here (July 2019)
2018 in Review: Our Top Animal Stories and Trends
Our Top Twelve Animal Stories, Part I of II
Our Trends and Predictions, Part II of II
AFA Legislative Tracker™
FINAL 2017-2018 Legislative Sessions, December 31, 2018 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to December 6, 2018 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to October 5, 2018 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to September 4, 2018 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to August 4, 2018 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to June 6, 2018 and searchable versions (State page 1 and page 2 and Federal)
Updated to April 23, 2018 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
Updated to March 21, 2018 and searchable versions (State and Federal)
2017 in Review: Our Top Animal News and Trends
Our Top Animal News and Trends, Part II of II
Our Top Animal News and Trends, Part I of II
Michigan Legislature Bills, 2017-18 Session
AFA Position on HB 5321: Opposition to Measure Preventing Sterilization of Game, Including Deer, January 2018
AFA Position on SB 660: Confinement Standards for Egg-Laying Hens, December 2017
AFA Position on HR 154: Opposition to Hunting Sandhill Cranes, October 2017
2016 in Review: Our Top Animal News and Trends
Our Top Animal News and Trends
Michigan Legislature Bills, 2015-16 Session
AFA Position on HB 4478: Companion Animals in Domestic
Violence Protective Orders
AFA Position on HB 4898: “Puppy Mills”
AFA Position on Michigan House Resolution 228 and House
Concurrent Resolution 22
2016 AFA Policy Statements
AFA Comments on DNR Wildlife Guiding Principles and Strategies;
Offers to Serve on Advisory Committee
AFA Opposition to Michigan Natural Resources Commission
Proposal to Expand Coyote Hunting
2015 in Review
The Year’s Top 10 Animal Victories
Michigan State University College of Law, Animal Legal & Historical Center,
Professor David Favre, East Lansing, Michigan
Lewis & Clark Law School, Center for Animal Law Studies, Portland, Oregon
Animal Legal Defense Fund, Cotati, California
2019-2020 AFA Policy Statements
- Comments to Michigan Natural Resources Commission calling for regulation of lead and other toxic ammunition here (February 2020)
- Comments to Michigan Natural Resources Commission encouraging participation of more segments of the population and more emphasis on non-consumptive users here (January 2020)
- Comment opposing the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service notice modifying records which would formalize the policy of removing records from public view; read our comment here (December 2019)
- Comment Opposing United States Fish and Wildlife Service Plan to De-List Gray Wolves in the Lower 48 States here. Read our blog here (July 2019)