2017 Legislation
Jan 5, 2017
Updated 8/10/17
ALABAMA (RULE) Standards of Care for Wildlife Used for Public Exhibition Purposes Requires USDA license for Class I and II wildlife exhibits
Status: Adopted May 5 2017
ALABAMA (HB 172) Animals, required rabies vaccines for canidae or felidae, further provided for, possession of certain canidae or felidae, possession of certain large felidae or wolves, prohibited under certain conditions, penalties
Status: DEAD
COLORADO (Citizen Petition) Recognizes ZAA as accrediting agency
Status: DENIED by agency
IDAHO (S 1051) Support Animals, public places
Status: DEAD
INDIANA (HB 1550) Exotic animals and endangered species. Exempts domestically bred foreign endangered species and subspecies from the state endangered species laws.
Status: DEAD
INDIANA (HB 1332) Dangerous wild animals. Bans large cats, wolves, bears and hyenas.
Status: DEAD
IOWA (HF 107) A bill for an act providing for an Iowa individual income tax checkoff for qualified Iowa zoos, making an appropriation, and providing for the Act’s implementation
Status: Referred to Ways & Means 1/25/17. FAILED 2017.
KANSAS (HB 2276/SB 162) Amending statutes concerning dangerous regulated animals
Status: FAILED 2017.
MAINE (SP 91) An Act To Require Permits for Wildlife in Captivity and Notification of the Escape of Exotic Wildlife in Captivity
Status: Became law without governor’s signature as Chapter 285 on 7/5/2017
MASSACHUSETTS (S 490) An Act relative to wild and exotic animal performance prohibtion
Status: Referred to Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture 1/23/17. Hearing 5/2
MISSISSIPPI (HB 536) Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; require to adopt regulations related to cage size for wild animals that consider size and weight of animals.
Status: DIED in committee 1/31/17
MISSOURI (SB 49) Allows St. Louis City and St. Louis, Jefferson, St. Charles and Franklin Counties to propose a 1/8th of a cent sales tax to fund the St. Louis Zoo
Status: Signed into law 7/10/17 – Effective 8/28/17
NEVADA (AB 238) Enacts provisions relating to the importation, possession, sale, transfer and breeding of dangerous wild animals.
Status: FAILED committee Deadline.
NEW JERSEY (A 430) Imposes certain registration and reporting requirements to prevent illegal trade of tigers
Status: Referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources 1/27/16.
NEW JERSEY (A 2591) Imposes civil penalty for the exhibition or use in performance of a living bear, elephant, lion or tiger
Status: Referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources 2/8/16.
NEW JERSEY (S 323) Requires liability insurance for permit to possess certain dangerous animals
Status: Referred to Commerce Committee 1/12/2016.
NEW YORK (S 276) Restricts the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling circuses and shows
Status: Referred to Agriculture 1/4/17
NEW YORK (S 6283) Relates to prohibitions on certain circus performances
Status: FAILED 2017
NEW YORK (A 8157) Relates to prohibiting the issuance of permits authorizing the use of wild animals and elephants in circuses; excepts an accredited zoo and a wildlife sanctuary
Status: FAILED 2017
PENNSYLVANIA (SB 248) An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for the offense of use of live animals in traveling exhibitions
Status: Referred to Judiciary 1/27/17. Hearing 6/6
PENNSYLVANIA (HB 1273) An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in permits relating to wildlife, further providing for definitions.
Status: Referred to Game and Fisheries 4/24/17
PENNSYLVANIA (HB 1489) An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in special licenses and permits, further providing for the definition of “exotic wildlife.”
Status: Referred to Game and Fisheries 6/5/17
SOUTH CAROLINA (H 3531) Large Cats, Apes & Bears. Bans them and removes ban on public contact with animals without an approved rabies vaccine.
Status: Signed into law 5/11/17
TEXAS (RULE) Caging Requirements and Standards for Dangerous Wild Animals
Status: Posted 4/7/17
TEXAS (HB 2274/SB 1879) Relating to registration and regulation of dangerous wild animals; providing penalties, creating a criminal offense, and authorizing a fee
Status: DEAD
WASHINGTON (HB 1311) Creating a business and occupation tax deduction for certain amounts received by zoological facilities
Status: FAILED 2017
WEST VIRGINIA (HB 2218) Dangerous Wild Animals
Status: Signed into law 4/25/17
WEST VIRGINIA (HB 2248) Dangerous Wild Animals
Status: Signed into law 4/25/17