Bills We Support
Cross-Reporting: SB 65 (Senator McCreery)
SB 65 would create a list of human service professionals who are mandated to report suspected animal abuse and neglect. It creates training requirements for certain professionals to become proficient in identifying and reporting animal abuse/neglect. It also would add animal control officers and humane investigators to the list of professionals who must report child and elder abuse/neglect.
This bill was written by the Alliance.
Repeals Restrictions on Health Boards: SB 400 (Senator McCreery)
In 2019, legislation was passed such that counties lost the ability to regulate factory farms in reference to public health, animal welfare, and the environment. This bill would restore the power of counties.
Transparency in Animal Experimentation, Protection of Dogs Used for Breeding, and Education for Law Enforcement: SB 402 (Senator Moon)
This bill would require that any public or private university or college that receives state funds and uses the funds for animal research shall post a written report of such animal research on its website annually.
It also creates an offense of animal abuse if a person causes injury to the sexual organs of a female dog or needlessly causes pain to a female dog during artificial insemination.
Finally, it would mandate that the basic training of every peace officer shall include at least four hours of training on officer-canine encounters and canine behaviors in order to eliminate needless killing of pets by law enforcement.
Healthy Pets Act: HB 185 (Rep. Clemens)
This bill would create more stringent standards for puppy mills as it pertains to "healthy breeding practices." It creates new requirements prior to selling an animal to an individual, dealer, or pet shop. It prohibits dealers and pet shops from purchasing from a commercial breeder in violation of any state or federal laws or regulations promulgated by the department of agriculture or the United States Department of Agriculture relating to the care or keeping of animals within the last three years; or who was found guilty of animal abuse or neglect under section 578.009 or 578.012. Pet shops would have to disclose where the animal is from. Creates warranties for pets purchased from pet stores.
Bills We Oppose
Labeling of Cultivated Meat: SB 149 (Senator Carter), SB 319 (Senator Schroer), HB 211 (VanSchoiack)
This legislation would force companies selling cultivated meat have clearly labeled on the front of the package "LAB-CREATED." This could discourage people from buying the product, and it is misleading, as cultivated meat for consumers is not made in a lab.
Freedom to Farm: SB 297 (Senator Carter)
The act establishes the "Freedom to Farm Act" which provides that the right of farmers and ranchers, as defined in the act, to engage in farming and ranching practices for sale or personal consumption shall be free from government intervention and that practices occurring within the state shall not be infringed upon by the federal government under the regulation of interstate commerce. This would have serious negative repercussions for animal welfare.
Drones: HB 209 (Rep. Van Schoiack)
This bill seeks to restrict drone activity such that it would be prohibited to fly a drone over agricultural operations, including puppy mills. Drones are currently being used to locate cockfighting operations and identify harmful practices and environmental spills at factory farms.
Veterinary Practices: HB 325 (Rep. Murphy)
This bill was intended to overturn the ordinances recently enacted in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County that prohibit veterinarians from declawing cats. Regrettably, the bill goes even further by prohibiting any restrictions or regulations of veterinarians by the local government regardless of how abusive the practice, including cruel procedures occurring at factory farms, such as dehorning and castration of cattle without anesthetics and the agonizing and prolonged suffocation of unwanted animals known as “ventilation shut down.”
Clean Water Commission: HB 488 (Van Schoiack)
This bill concerns disqualifying factors for members on the Clean Water Commission. It would remove the rule that "No member shall receive, or have received during the previous two years, a significant portion of his or her income directly or indirectly from permit holders or applicants for a permit pursuant to any federal water pollution control act." This would create a conflict of interest that could help major polluters. The agricultural sector is the world's largest water polluter and consumer of freshwater.
Disposition Process: HB 489 (Van Schoiack)
This bill would effectively destroy our disposition process which allows animals to be removed from dangerous situations and quickly placed into loving, permanent homes.
Exempts Ag Facilities from Fire Regulation: HB 533 (Rep. Diehl)
This bill states that "fire protection and fire prevention ordinances shall not be exercised so as to impose regulations or require permits with respect to the erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures." This could lead to situations on factory farms in which thousands of animals perish excruciatingly by burning.
Micro Shelters: HB 586 (Weber)
This bill creates the definition of a micro-shelter (an animal shelter that houses no more than ten animals at any one time, except infant puppies or kittens born to an animal housed at the shelter shall not be included in the count of animals) and proceeds to exempt them from licensure and inspection regulations. Sadly, abuse and neglect can happen in facilities of any size. Licensure and inspections are critical.