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HD 4910

An Act to protecting Avian rights and restricting ongoing trade

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Massachusetts bill HD 4910 bans private parrot sales, channels transfers through rescues or shelters, enables adoptions, and imposes up to $1,000 fine per parrot.

Referred to the committee on House Rules
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Bill Summary · HD 4910

Summary of Bill HD 4910 – An Act to Protect Avian Rights and Restrict Ongoing Trade

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • Bill number / docket: HD 4910 (House Docket No. 4910)
  • Status: Referred to the Committee on House Rules
  • Introduced: July 21, 2025 (Filed July 11, 2025)
  • Primary sponsor: Representative Shirley B. Arriaga (Chicopee)
  • Purpose: To protect avian rights, particularly parrots, and to restrict ongoing trade and sale of parrots in the Commonwealth.

Key Provisions

  • New statutory section: The bill adds Section 141E to Chapter 140 of the General Laws (to be inserted after §141D).

  • Definitions:

    • “Animal rescue organization” = a nonprofit that (i) is registered with the Department of Agriculture, (ii) does not breed animals and is not co-located with any breeder, and (iii) does not obtain animals in exchange for payment from breeders or brokers.
    • “Parrot” = any bird in the order Psittaciformes.

  • Prohibitions on sale and transfer:

    • It prohibits selling, offering to sell, exchanging, trading, bartering, leasing, or transferring for permanent placement a parrot.
    • It allows surrender or transfer of a parrot for permanent placement without compensation only to:
    • (i) an animal rescue organization; or
    • (ii) a public animal control facility or shelter.
    • An animal rescue organization or a public animal control facility/shelter may transfer a parrot to an individual for permanent placement without compensation (i.e., adoptions from vetted rescues/shelters are allowed).

  • Penalties:

    • Violation carries a fine of up to $1,000.
    • Each parrot involved in a sale, exchange, trade, etc., constitutes a separate offense.

  • Enforcement:

    • Enforcement to be carried out by city or town animal control officers or police officers consistent with the disposition provisions in §21D of Chapter 40.

  • Effective date:

    • The act would take effect 180 days after passage.

Who Is Affected

  • Private individuals who own parrots (and potential buyers) would be subject to the sale/trade prohibition.
  • Parrot breeders and sellers would be constrained from marketing parrots within the state.
  • Animal rescue organizations and public shelters would be central to the disposition pathway (accepting parrots and facilitating adoptions).
  • Local law enforcement and animal control would enforce the new requirements.

Procedural and Timeline Notes

  • The bill is currently in the House Rules committee. If advanced, it would proceed through the standard Massachusetts legislative process (potential committees, votes in both chambers, and governor’s signature) with an effective date 180 days after enactment.

Summary Impact

HD 4910 aims to protect avian welfare by eliminating private sales of parrots in Massachusetts and channeling all parrot placements through rescue organizations or shelters, followed by adoptions to individuals. The measure emphasizes reducing commercial trade, increasing oversight via animal control, and ensuring penalties deter violations.

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

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