Increases Penalty for Animal Abuse
HB 43
Sponsor: Rep. Burnett
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
This bill increases the penalty for animal abuse from a Class A Misdemeanor to a Class E Felony.
Eliminates Disposition Process for Abused and Neglected Animals
HB 204/SB 115
Sponsor: Rep. Anderson & Senator Crawford
Alliance Position: Opposed
Status: Defeated
This bill would effectively eliminate the disposition process for abused and neglected animals and allow the animals to remain in the hands of their abusers until the conclusion of a criminal trial. It also eliminates the authority of animal control officers from rescuing abused and neglected animals.
Allows Animals to Be Placed on Domestic Orders of Protection
HB 370
Sponsor: Rep. Gregory
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
This bill would afford protection to animals in domestic abuse cases. Household pets often become pawns in the game of power and control that batterers use to coerce, control, and intimidate their victims. In a nationwide study, 76% of battered women reported that their abusers had harmed, killed, or threatened their animals.
Provides Treatment for Animal Abusers
HB 111
Sponsor: Rep. Sommer
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
This bill allows the Court to order psychological or psychiatric evaluation and treatment for individuals who abuse animals. It also provides immunity to any person, including a veterinarian, teacher, and school personnel who reports animal abuse to a law enforcement agency.
Increases Penalty for Animal Abuse and Establishes an Animal Abuse Registry
HB 44
Sponsor: Rep. Burnett
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
This bill increases the penalties for animal abuse from a misdemeanor to a felony and creates an Animal Abuse Registry identifying all of those convicted of animal abuse.
Prohibits Municipalities From Banning Cruel Animal Events and From Regulating Working Animals
HB 559
Sponser: Rep. Spencer
Alliance Position: Opposed
Status: Defeated
This legislation would allow numerous abusive practices to be inflicted upon working animals and permit cruel animal activities such as "horse tripping." It would deny proper housing and care of working animals and animals used in entertainment. It jeopardizes all local ordinances including zoning ordinances on dog breeding facilities. While this bill is intended to allow carriage horse operators to operate without any oversight it also eliminates regulations on all working animals if such regulations are considered a "financial hardship" by the animal user.
Prohibits Municipalities From Banning Cruel Animal Events and From Regulating Working Animals
HB 1021
Sponsor: Rep. Spencer
Alliance Position: Opposed
Status: Defeated
This legislation would allow numerous abusive practices to be inflicted upon working animals and permit cruel animal activities such as "horse tripping." It would deny proper housing and care of working animals and animals used in entertainment. It jeopardizes all local ordinances including zoning ordinances on dog breeding facilities. While this bill is intended to allow carriage horse operators to operate without any oversight it also eliminates regulations on all working animals if such regulations are considered a "financial hardship" by the animal user. This bill is similar to HB 559.
Prohibits Municipalities From Banning Cruel Animal Events and From Regulating Working Animals
SB 416
Sponsor: Sen Bernskoetter
Alliance Position: Opposed
Status: Defeated
This legislation would allow numerous abusive practices to be inflicted upon working animals and permit cruel animal activities such as "horse tripping." It would deny proper housing and care of working animals and animals used in entertainment. It jeopardizes all local ordinances including zoning ordinances on dog breeding facilities. While this bill is intended to allow carriage horse operators to operate without any oversight it also eliminates regulations on all working animals if such regulations are considered a "financial hardship" by the animal user. This bill is similar to HB 559.
Increases Penalty for Animal Abuse
HB 828
Sponsor: Rep. Basye
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
Currently, the offense of animal abuse is a class A misdemeanor unless the defendant has previously been found guilty of animal abuse or the suffering involved is the result of torture or mutilation, consciously inflicted while the animal was alive, in which case it is a class E felony. This bill enhances the penalty to a class D felony if the defendant has previously been found guilty of animal abuse.
Eliminates Breed Specific Ordinances Including Spay/Neuter Ordinances
HB 297
Sponsor: Rep. Hicks
Alliance Position: Supported with amendment
Status: Failed
This bill would nullify all ordinances and policies that are breed specific, including mandatory spay/neuter ordinances in Springfield and Kansas City that have dramatically reduced the impoundment of pit bulls in these two municipalities. This bill would also invalidate Florissant's spay/neuter ordinance. The Alliance is seeking an AMENDMENT to allow municipalities to regulate the breeding of dogs.
Animals in Hot Cars
HB 59
Sponsor: Rep. Bangert
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
This bill would provide immunity from civil liability for persons who render assistance to animals trapped in motor vehicles.
Restricts the Use of Animals in Research
HB 934
Sponsor: Rep. Hicks
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
This bill prohibits a public or private institution of higher education from carrying out medically unnecessary scientific or medical research on dogs or cats that would cause significant pain or distress. The bill prohibits state funds for being used on this type of research and includes a penalty provision of up to $50,000 for each violation.
Prohibits Counties & Municipalities From Inspecting Farms and Dog Breeding Facilities
HB 951
Sponsor: Rep. Haden
Alliance Position: Opposed
Status: Defeated
This legislation would only allow the Missouri Department of Agriculture and U. S. Department of Agriculture to inspect and regulate farms and dog breeding operations. Many counties regulate factory farms and many counties and municipalities regulate dog breeders. This bill would eliminate such authority and severely limit oversight of factory farms and puppy mills.
Eliminates Authority of Counties to Regulate Factory Farms
SB 391
Sponsor: Senator Bernskoetter
Alliance Position: Opposed
Status: Passed with amendments
This legislation denies counties the authority to regulate large factory farms. Among other things it would prohibit County Commissioners and County Health Boards from regulating the disposal of waste from factory farms. Amendments were placed on SB 391 to offer some protections against the abuses of corporate agricultural operations. In addition, all existing county ordinances regulating factory farms are allowed to remain in place.
