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HB 6174

Animals: animal shelters; cross-references to 1969 PA 287 in 1969 PA 224; update. Amends sec. 1 of 1969 PA 224 (MCL 287.381). TIE BAR WITH: HB 6167'26

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Erin Byrnes and 5 co-sponsors

HB 6174 updates definitions and licensing rules for shelters, researchers, and dealers involved with dogs and cats used in labs, tying its effect to two related bills.

bill electronically reproduced 07/03/2026
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Bill Summary · HB 6174

Summary of HB 6174 (Michigan, 2025-2026)

Main purpose and intent

  • HB 6174 amends 1969 PA 224, which governs the licensing and regulation of entities involved with dogs and cats used for laboratory research, as well as related protections and reporting.
  • The bill is designed to update cross-references to reflect current and related provisions and to tie in with HB 6167, indicating a package of reforms related to animal welfare, research facilities, and shelters.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions revised and clarified for use in the amended act, including:
    • “Animal protection shelter”: defined as a facility registered or licensed with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) under section 4 of 1969 PA 287 (MDARD oversight of shelters) and operated by specified types of organizations (individuals, humane societies, SPCA-like organizations, or other nonprofit groups caring for homeless animals).
    • “Cat” and “Dog”: species-specific definitions (domestic cat Felis catus; domestic dog Canis lupus familiaris).
    • “Dealer”: a person who delivers, transports, boards, buys, or sells dogs or cats for research purposes for compensation or profit; excludes individuals who breed/raise animals for sale to research facilities.
    • “Laboratory animal” and “Laboratory research”: defined to cover dogs or cats used or intended for such purposes.
    • “Research facility”: entities licensed/registered with USDA that use laboratory animals in research and may receive funding from Michigan or local governments or funding sources to support operations.
  • Enacting section notes: The new language will only take effect if either Senate Bill S02817’25 or House Bill H6167’25 from the 103rd Legislature is enacted into law. This creates a tie-bar linkage between HB 6174 and the related bills, indicating coordinated reform.

Who or what is affected

  • Animal protection shelters: Establishes criteria and licensing/registration expectations under MDARD, potentially affecting how shelters operate and are regulated.
  • Researchers and research facilities: Those using dogs or cats for laboratory purposes; may face updated definitions and requirements, especially regarding the involvement of shelters in adoption before euthanasia and the financial/funding considerations tied to state/local funding.
  • Dealers of dogs/cats for research: New or clarified regulatory definitions could affect licensing, compliance, and reporting for entities involved in supplying animals to labs.
  • MDARD and related oversight bodies: Responsible for licensing/registration and enforcement under the amended framework.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The effective date of the amendments is contingent upon enactment of one of the tied bills (S02817’25 or H6167’25). Until those bills are enacted, HB 6174 does not take effect.
  • The bill was introduced July 3, 2026, and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform; it carries co-sponsorship from multiple legislators, signaling bipartisan interest in animal welfare and research regulation reforms.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • If enacted, the changes may enhance alignment between shelters and research facilities regarding animal welfare, including potential processes for rehoming or adoption of lab animals no longer needed.
  • The tie-bar structure suggests a broader policy package; stakeholders should monitor the linked bills (HB 6167 and S02817’25) for additional substantive provisions that may affect funding, reporting, and enforcement.
  • Clarity in terminology (e.g., “dealer,” “laboratory animal,” “animal protection shelter”) could reduce regulatory ambiguity for facilities and shelters.

If you’d like, I can compare HB 6174’s definitions and provisions to the current statutory framework or summarize the related tied bills (HB 6167 and S02817’25) once their texts are available.

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

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