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SB 511

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sam Bell and 6 co-sponsors

Allows healthy unowned outdoor cats to be sterilized, ear-tipped, vaccinated, and returned (TNR) without a minimum hold time.

05/06/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 511

SB 511 — Stray Hold Regulatory Changes (summary)

Status: Passed 1st Reading (bill text provided from North Carolina session)
Subject areas: Animal control; stray/unowned cats; animal shelter operations; rabies vaccination/tagging; shelter reporting and recordkeeping

Purpose / intent

SB 511 revises state rules for handling unowned (stray) cats and other animals impounded by animal shelters. The bill is designed to (1) enable trap–neuter–return (TNR) practices for healthy, unowned outdoor cats, (2) clarify holding and disposition procedures for impounded animals, (3) adjust rabies-tag rules for ear‑tipped cats, and (4) strengthen shelter recordkeeping and annual reporting requirements for shelters that receive state or local funding.

Key provisions

  • Minimum holding period: Establishes a default minimum hold of 72 hours for animals impounded by a shelter (counties may set longer minimums). This 72-hour rule applies unless another exception in the statute applies.
  • TNR exception for healthy unowned cats (G.S. 19A‑32.1(a1)): Healthy, impounded cats without discernible ownership may be sterilized, ear‑tipped, vaccinated for rabies (and other recommended vaccines), and returned to the location where trapped without any minimum holding period.
  • Recordkeeping (G.S. 19A‑32.1(j) / G.S. 130A‑192(a3)): Shelters and animal control officers must maintain impoundment records for at least three years. Required data include date and length of impoundment, disposition (including recipient name/address if released), and identifying information; shelters must also specifically record cats sterilized, ear‑tipped, vaccinated, and returned.
  • Annual reporting (G.S. 19A‑65): County/city shelters or shelters receiving state/local funds must file an annual report (by March 1) to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services listing, by species: animals received, adopted, returned to owner, cats returned to trapping location under the TNR exception, and animals destroyed. Reports must also include total operating expenses and cost per animal handled. Failure to timely file makes the city/county ineligible for certain reimbursement payments under G.S. 19A‑64 for that calendar year.
  • Rabies tag exemption (G.S. 130A‑190 / 130A‑192): Dogs must wear rabies tags; cats and ferrets must wear them unless exempted by local ordinance — the bill explicitly exempts unowned, ear‑tipped outdoor cats (sterilized and vaccinated) from the tag requirement.
  • Animal control officer duties: Officers shall canvass for animals without tags, check for owner ID or tipped ear, make reasonable owner‑location efforts, scan for microchips when available, and follow specified disposal options if not reclaimed: return to owner, adopt out, sterilize/ear‑tip/vaccinate and return (TNR), or euthanize by approved procedures.

Who is affected

  • County and municipal animal shelters and their contractors
  • Animal control officers and local public‑health/veterinary partners
  • Unowned/outdoor cat populations (facilitates TNR)
  • Local governments (reporting obligations; potential reimbursement consequences)
  • Veterinarians involved in shelter sterilization/vaccination programs
  • Members of the public interested in reclaiming animals or participating in community TNR

Procedural / timeline notes

  • The bill text states an effective date of October 1, 2023 (per the version included). Implementation requires shelters to update intake, sterilization, vaccination, recordkeeping, and reporting practices to comply with the statute and any county policy adjustments.

Anticipated impacts

  • Likely to expand shelter TNR activity for unowned outdoor cats, potentially reducing shelter crowding and euthanasia of healthy community cats.
  • Increases administrative and recordkeeping/reporting duties for shelters receiving public funds; noncompliance can affect state/local reimbursement eligibility.
  • Clarifies public‑health interface (rabies vaccination/ear‑tipping) and standardizes disposal options and documentation.

If you would like, I can:
- Extract the exact statutory language changes (G.S. section-by-section) for legal reference; or
- Prepare a short implementation checklist for shelters and animal control officers to comply with the new requirements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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