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HB 6170

Animals: animal shelters; cross-references to 1969 PA 287 in wolf-dog cross act; update. Amends sec. 2 of 2000 PA 246 (MCL 287.1002). TIE BAR WITH: HB 6167'26

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

HB 6170 updates Michigan’s wolf-dog cross definitions and enforcement terms to harmonize rules across animal laws and clarify who qualifies as officers, experts, and facilities.

bill electronically reproduced 07/03/2026
#animals:animalshelters #animals:other
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Bill Summary · HB 6170

Overview

House Bill 6170 (2025-2026, Michigan) aims to amend the Wolf-dog cross act (2000 PA 246) by updating and clarifying definitions related to wolf-dog crosses and associated terms. The measure is introduced in July 2026 and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform. It appears to mirror cross-references with 1969 PA 287 and to align terminology across animal control and licensing frameworks.

Main purpose and intent

  • Update and refine the statutory definitions used in the Wolf-dog cross Act to improve consistency with related Michigan animal laws and licensing schemes.
  • Establish clear criteria for who counts as a wolf, a wolf-dog cross, and related terms, as well as who can be considered an animal control officer, law enforcement officer, and other actors in enforcement and regulation.

Key provisions and changes

  • Amends section 2 (definitions) of 2000 PA 246 to:

    • Define or clarify roles such as animal control officer, animal control shelter/animal protection shelter, department (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), and veterinarian.
    • Clarify what constitutes a dog (Canis familiaris or Canis lupus familiaris) and what constitutes livestock (per the Animal Industry Act).
    • Define “expert on wolf-dog cross identification” (at least 10 years of relevant training/field experience, recognized as an expert at state/national levels).
    • Define “facility” as an enclosure where a wolf-dog cross is kept.
    • Enumerate who qualifies as a “law enforcement officer,” including local and state police, sheriffs, village/township officers, animal control officers, conservation officers, and certain federal officers.
    • Define “wolf” and “wolf-dog cross,” including species references (e.g., Canis rufus, Canis lupus) and exclusions (e.g., wolf-dog cross or dog-derived animals that are excluded from Canis lupus familiaris definitions).
    • Define “wolf-dog cross” specifically, including various breeding configurations (wolf with dog; wolf-dog cross with wolf; wolf-dog cross with dog; wolf-dog cross with wolf-dog cross).

  • The act includes an enactment clause stating the amendatory act does not take effect unless Senate Bill No. ____ or House Bill 6167 of the 103rd Legislature is enacted into law (tie-bar provision).

Who/what is affected

  • Wolf-dog cross acts and related enforcement provisions will be informed by clarified definitions.
  • Local units (cities, villages, townships, counties) and the State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, along with animal control shelters, veterinarians, and animal control officers, are implicated through the redefined terms.
  • Law enforcement officers at various levels (sheriffs, city/village/township police, MSP, conservation officers, animal control officers, and certain federal officers) are designated within the framework of enforcement terminology.
  • Individuals or entities dealing with wolf-dog crosses, dog/wolf hybrids, and related facilities/enclosures would be impacted by the updated definitions for regulatory purposes and potential licensing or oversight.

Procedural/timeline aspects

  • The bill was introduced on July 3, 2026, and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform.
  • It includes a tie-bar: the act’s effective date is contingent on the enactment of HB 6167 (also from the 2025-2026 session), creating a joint timing condition for implementation.
  • No substantive funding or fiscal provisions are included in the text provided; the focus is on definitional alignment and cross-references.

Summary in plain terms

HB 6170 seeks to tighten and harmonize the language used in Michigan’s Wolf-dog cross regulation by updating key definitions (what counts as a wolf, a wolf-dog cross, dog, livestock, and who is an officer or expert). It also ensures alignment with related animal laws (1969 PA 287; dog law provisions) and sets a conditional effective date tied to HB 6167. The changes are intended to clarify regulatory responsibilities for animal control shelters, veterinarians, and enforcement agencies handling wolf-dog cross issues.

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

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