Update on Texas bill filings

[StopBSL]

March 11 (this Friday) marks the last day that legislators may file
bills that are not emergency bills or local bills. Animal control laws
are not usually considered either of these types of bills, so it is
unlikely for any BSL to be filed this year if it is not filed within
the next week.

While things are looking good that we will not see BSL introduced this
session, it is important to know that the content of filed bills may
change at several points during the legislative process.

If the bill topic is germane (relevant) to animal control or dog
control, breed-specific language could be inserted. Revisions and
amendments may be made by the bill author or by another legislator. It
may happen while the bill is in committee, or it may happen while the
bill is being debated on the floor of the House or Senate.

The following filed bills are the most likely to have BSL inserted:
--HB 1389 - criminal penalties for owner of dog that attacks a person
(filed by Rep. Hopson)
--HB 998 - civil liability and insurance requirements for certain dogs
(filed by Rep. McClendon) **HB 998 is "specific" in many ways (intact
male dog over 20 lbs), but not breed-specific at this time.

The following filed bills are related to animal control, but BSL is
highly unlikely to be added:
--HB 2116 - standards of care and confinement of dogs and cats
--HB 1919 - a defense to prosecution for cruelty to nonlivestock
animals
--HB 1043 / SB 939 - creating an offense for certain conduct relating
to cockfighting
--HB 1451 - regulation of commercial dog and cat breeders

Of course, as we near the filing deadline, over 150+ new bills are
filed every day. So it is still possible that a breed-specific bill
will be filed.

I will continue to watch the bill filings over the next week, and to
monitor changes to the bills that have already been filed. You will
receive notification if a breed-specific bill is filed, or if a bill
becomes breed-specific.

Thanks very much for your attention and engagement thus far! I would
like to think that your vocal opposition to breed-specific legislation
has been the primary reason that legislators have avoided filing breed-
specific bills this session.

Jennifer Thomas
Texans Against BSL, groups.google.com/group/texans-against-bsl/
StopBSL, www.stopbsl.com