The Michigan Legislature has been back from summer recess since early September, although the legislators have only been in session for a handful of days over the past month. The legislature will be in session one more day (October 17), before the election on November 6. Once the election is over, the legislature will return for a “lame duck” session with 14 days scheduled through December 20 before final adjournment. These sessions can be fast-paced and hectic, with bills rushed through without proper consideration. If the election brings a change in party control in either chamber, then, all bets are off as to what will happen!
One positive development is a bill to provide immunity from prosecution for forcible entry into a motor vehicle for purpose of rescuing an animal (HB 6298), a so-called “Good Samaritan” bill, which AFA has been calling for as a needed supplement to bills introduced previously that would criminalize the leaving of an animal unattended in a vehicle.
A summary of animal-related activity this fall:
- A new anti-BSL bill also would prohibit regulation of any service animal based on breed (HB 6295)
- Dog licenses would no longer be required under this amendment to the Dog Law (HB 6301)
- The bill putting a moratorium on deer sterilization, already approved by the House, moved to the Senate floor after the Senate Natural Resources Committee recommended a substitute bill (HB 5321)
- The major overhaul of the Animal Industry Act received a hearing in the House Agriculture Committee but few details emerged during brief testimony; AFA is urging animal advocacy organizations, who were not included in the working group which reviewed and recommended language to take a thorough look at the bill and its implications to ensure no unintended consequences detrimental to animals. by animal advocacy organizations who were not included in (HB 6205).
Here’s the most recent Legislative Tracker; a searchable version is here.
