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Bill

S 618

Gaffney Board of Public Works

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Harvey Peeler

Prohibits licensed Massachusetts pet shops from selling dogs, cats, rabbits, or guinea pigs, requiring space for adoptions instead.

Act No. 78
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 618

Summary — S.618 (Massachusetts, 194th General Court, 2025–2026)

Note: the provided metadata for this bill contains conflicting items (a different short title about lenders, multiple committees, and out‑of‑state sponsors). This summary is based on the official bill text filed as “Senate No. 618” (filed 1/14/2025) and the accompanying docket information naming Senator Jason M. Lewis as the primary presenter.

Purpose

The bill would prohibit licensed pet shops from selling or offering for sale four common companion species — dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs — with the stated aim of curbing retail commercial sale of these animals (often to address animal welfare and shelter/rescue placement concerns).

Key provisions

  • Amends Section 39A of Chapter 129 of the Massachusetts General Laws:
    • Inserts a new subsection structure (adds subsection (a) and renumbers language).
    • Adds subsection (b): Prohibits any person operating a pet shop that must be licensed under subsection (a) and is regulated under 330 CMR 12.00 from selling or offering for sale dogs, cats, rabbits, or guinea pigs.
    • Adds subsection (c): Permits pet shops to provide space for animal rescue or shelter organizations to showcase dogs, cats, rabbits, or guinea pigs for adoption, provided the pet shop does not have ownership of the animals.
    • Adds subsection (d): Preserves local authority — town, city or other locality may independently regulate or prohibit the sale of these species.
  • Effective date: the act would take effect 90 days after passage.

Who would be affected

  • Directly affected: retail pet shops in Massachusetts that are required to be licensed under Section 39A and regulated by 330 CMR 12.00 (they would no longer be able to sell or offer for sale dogs, cats, rabbits, or guinea pigs).
  • Indirectly affected: commercial breeders and brokers who sell to pet stores; animal shelters and rescue organizations (may use shop space to facilitate adoptions); consumers who currently purchase these species from pet shops; municipalities (retain local regulatory prerogatives).
  • Enforcement specifics (penalties, inspections, licensing enforcement) are not detailed in the bill text.

Procedural status & timeline (from provided docket)

  • Filed: 1/14/2025 (Senate Docket No. 552 / Senate No. 618)
  • Presented/Introduced: February 18, 2025
  • Committee referrals (variously reported in the docket): Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Environment and Natural Resources; (some records also list “Referred to Banks” — note likely clerical inconsistency).
  • Hearing scheduled (per docket): 10/21/2025, 1:00–5:00 PM in A‑1.
  • Accompanied a new draft: S.2720 (11/19/2025) — indicates subsequent drafting or replacement occurred.
  • Effective upon enactment: 90 days after passage.

Notes and likely impacts

  • The bill mirrors policy approaches in other jurisdictions that shift dog/cat/rabbit/guinea pig acquisition from commercial retail outlets to shelters/rescues or direct-from-breeder/private transactions.
  • It expressly allows adoption events in pet shops where the shop holds no ownership, facilitating partnerships with rescues.
  • Municipalities remain free to impose stricter rules.
  • The bill text does not specify enforcement mechanisms or penalties; these would be governed by existing licensing and regulatory authorities unless further amended.
  • Given docket inconsistencies (sponsors/committees/titles), confirm final bill version (e.g., S.2720) and official legislative tracking for the most current status before relying on this summary.

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

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