Item 7: Legislative Priorities — original pdf

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Legislation Priorities 2/9/2026 Agenda ● Review our ask ● Texas Spay/Neuter Pilot Program ● Review Legislation Priorities ● Review Suggestions for Future Consideration ● Motion to Submit Priorities and Commissioner Contacts ● Discuss Priorities/Suggestions ● Amend Motion to Remove/Change Priorities and/or Contacts ● Present/Consider Additional Priorities/Contacts ● Amend Motion with Additional Priorities/Contacts ● Vote to Submit the List to the COA Government Relations Office Our Ask December 4, 2025 email from Government Relations: Please let us know if there are any legislative items your board or commission wishes to bring forward for consideration by City Council in its adopted 2027 state and federal legislative programs by January 30, 2026. Our goal is to have a good working list by the end of January, and we will concurrently spend a couple of months working through the items, following up, and ultimately bringing forward items to the City Council for consideration. Note: Extension granted so we could vote on a list at our 2/9/2026 meeting 2025 Texas Spay/Neuter Pilot Program (TXSPN) Request supporting continued funding ● Managed by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) ● ● Grants will provide direct financial support for spay/neuter services for dogs and cats $13 Million paid out 2026-2027 ○ All counties eligible ○ Dogs and cats owned by or in the custody of Texas residents, rescue organizations, animal shelters and government entities ● Does not impact “Animal Friendly Program” that subsidizes spay/neuter via license plate revenue ● Austin/Travis County Impact: Potential Funding to continue successful spay/neuter events Of Note While legislative changes at the State level are best, if viability is not there, a carve out giving counties their own legal authority to implement change would be an acceptable alternative. Priority Legislation to Support ● Virtual Veterinary Care/Telemedicine in Texas ○ Promoted by the Texas Humane Legislation Network ○ 89th Session - Senate Bill SB1442; House Bill HB3364 ○ AAS Veterinarian Dr Debbie Elliott testified in favor of this bill ○ Austin/Travis County Impact: ■ Less stress on pets going into the office ■ Makes it easier for aging adults and people with disabilities to own/keep their pets ■ Increases access to care for people who rely on public transportation or live in rural areas ■ Pets may get care they won’t otherwise get Priorities, continued ● Ethical Pet Sales Bill ○ Promoted by the Texas Humane Legislation Network ○ Stop puppy mills ○ ○ Dog and cat sales 18 cities in Texas have retail pet sales ordinances ■ There is no draft for sale of other species but we would support any efforts to increase humane animal sales ○ Austin/Travis County Impact: Austin City Code Section 3-2-3 addresses commerce of live animals and is good but cities in driving distance do not have the same restrictions ■ Round Rock has 3 pet stores ■ San Antonio has pet stores Priorities, continued ● Designate animal control officers as first responders ○ In Austin, APOs operate on the frontlines of public safety, responding to dangerous animal situations, natural disasters, and calls involving sick or injured animals ○ Helps ensure APOs have better access to training, equipment, and necessary mental health support, as they frequently encounter traumatic, high-risk scenarios similar to police or EMS ○ Texas HB3049 ■ Referred to House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veteran’s Affairs Committee ○ Austin/Travis County Impact: Austin was predicted to save $30K in tolls - tolls are paid because our APOs are not first responders Priorities, continued ● Remove deposit barriers for renters and homeowners ○ Might be a bill put forth by Best Friends ○ 2023 bill resulted in no hearings ○ 2025 HB410 - not passed ■ Standardize pet-related housing charges. Limits the charges a landlord could impose to either a one-time refundable pet deposit OR a monthly fee. The monthly fee would be capped at $20 per pet. ○ Austin/Travis County Impact: could get more medium/large dogs in homes and keep pets with owners who have to move Priorities, continued ● Implement an animal abuser State registry ○ Logical follow up to the Texas pet ban on those convicted of animal cruelty ○ Florida implemented a list in 2025 (Dexter’s Law) ○ Pennsylvania proposed a list in 2026 (Aimee’s Law) ○ Austin/Travis County Impact: Can be referenced during the foster/adoption process, keeping pets out of the wrong hands. Priorities, continued ● Continue support for Texas emotional support animals ○ https://guides.sll.texas.gov/animal-law/service-animals ● Support Texas bipartisan stalled Dog Fighting felony reclassification bill from last session ○ HB1795 and SB 2426 in 2025 Texas Legislative Session ● Pet inclusive housing ○ Research and pursue a Texas replication/amalgamation of Nevada, Colorado and California’s pet inclusive housing policies that explicitly prohibit insurance discrimination for pet owners and place minimum requirements on publicly funded housing projects to require pet friendly housing Priorities, continued ● Ban cat declawing ○ Ban cat declawing with an amalgamation of New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia and California laws ● Glue trap ban ○ Ban the use and sales of glue traps ● Define “breeder” more robustly ○ Update existing Texas breeder registration laws; pursuit of a more robust definition of breeder at the local level would also be a win Priorities, continued ● Rescue Pets in Hot Cars ○ Research and pursue a Texas replication of Reba’s Law (in Nevada) which allows civilians to rescue companion animals trapped in unattended vehicles if risk of imminent harm ● Eliminate housing discrimination by weight ○ Texas Law (Health and Safety Code 822.042) says no discrimination by breed but not weight ■ Focuses on behavior Future Considerations (Robyn Katz-Gonzalez) These suggestions warrant future consideration ● Quality of Life TNR mandate - required to have a TNR program in cities and counties ○ Egg laying hens - restrictions on confinement ○ ○ No animals in the back of pickups/animals secured in cars ○ Require every county to fund an animal shelter Future Considerations, Continued These suggestions warrant future consideration ● Law Enforcement ○ Microchipping/scanning requirements for ACOs/APOs ○ Mandatory cruelty education in ag education classes ○ Statewide animals in prison program ○ Define “abandonment” to help determine when pets can be removed ○ K-9 Certification ■ No certification program currently exists ■ Kevlar vests for police dogs would be helpful Future Considerations, continued These suggestions warrant future consideration ● Miscellaneous ○ Wildlife crossing overpasses ■ Houston recently implemented a crossing to “stich” Memorial Park ■ Wildlife and people can cross ○ Fire systems in all shelters and boarding facilities Future Considerations, continued These suggestions warrant future consideration ● Miscellaneous ○ Domestic violence center pet support ■ There are no programs in place in Austin to support DV shelters ■ Collin County: Rescue supports victims by taking pets and bringing them for visits three times a week ■ Research and pursue a Texas replication of Oregon and Colorado laws that expand protection for pet owners and animals involved in domestic violence ● Oregon includes companion animals in domestic violence protection orders ● Colorado - Animals may be included in domestic violence protection orders, and animal cruelty is included in the definition of “domestic violence” ■ Research federal impact on DV funding Motion Submit the following list of priority legislation with a Commissioner contact for each to the City Government Relations Office: 1. Request continued funds for spay/neuter (TXSPN) - Jo Anne Norton 2. Veterinary Virtual Visits/Telemedicine - Jo Anne Norton 3. Ethical Pet Sales - Jo Anne Norton 4. Designating APOs as First Responders - Jo Anne Norton 5. Removing Deposit Barriers for Renters and Homeowners - Whitney Holt 6. Animal Abuser Registry - Jo Anne Norton Texas Emotional Support Animals - Whitney Holt 7. 8. Dog Fighting Felony Reclassification - Whitney Holt 9. Pet Inclusive Housing - Whitney Holt 10. Ban Cat Declawing - Whitney Holt 11. Ban Glue Traps - Whitney Holt 12. Define “Breeder” More Robustly - Whitney Holt 13. Citizens Rescuing Pets in Hot Cars - Whitney Holt 14. Eliminate Housing Discrimination by Weight - Whitney Holt