Substitute House Bill No. 6726, Public Act No. 23-187, is an act that revises the regulation of livestock in Connecticut. The bill updates the definition of "livestock" to include camelids and hooved animals raised for domestic or commercial use, and introduces new terms such as "accredited veterinarian," "certificate of veterinary inspection," and "notifiable disease," among others. It expands the powers of the Commissioner of Agriculture to quarantine animals suspected of having communicable diseases, regulate their sale or movement, and adopt regulations to prevent disease spread. The bill also modifies the penalty structure, replacing the previous penalty provision for violating quarantine with new provisions for administrative civil penalties.

The bill further amends laws related to the testing and control of diseases like tuberculosis and brucellosis in livestock, specifying the State Veterinarian's role in determining the disposition of diseased animals and the conditions under which the state will compensate owners of euthanized livestock. It revises the requirements for the importation of livestock, including the need for a veterinary inspection certificate and an import permit, and sets forth health and testing requirements for different species. Additionally, the bill updates regulations on the sale of milk, the vaccination of female calves, and the disposal of diseased livestock carcasses. It also introduces new penalties for various offenses, such as fines for non-compliance with disease notification requirements and misdemeanors for misleading the commissioner. Lastly, the bill amends kennel inspection laws, granting animal control officers the authority to inspect kennels annually and issue corrective orders, and was approved on June 28, 2023.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 22-278, 22-279, 22-279a, 22-287, 22-288, 22-288a, 22-294, 22-295, 22-296, 22-298, 22-301, 22-303, 22-308, 22-309, 22-316, 22-318a, 22-319b, 22-320a, 22-321
ENV Joint Favorable Substitute: 22-278, 22-279, 22-279a, 22-287, 22-288, 22-288a, 22-294, 22-295, 22-296, 22-298, 22-301, 22-303, 22-308, 22-309, 22-316, 22-318a, 22-319b, 22-320a, 22-321
File No. 274: 22-278, 22-279, 22-279a, 22-287, 22-288, 22-288a, 22-294, 22-295, 22-296, 22-298, 22-301, 22-303, 22-308, 22-309, 22-316, 22-318a, 22-319b, 22-320a, 22-321
JUD Joint Favorable: 22-278, 22-279, 22-279a, 22-287, 22-288, 22-288a, 22-294, 22-295, 22-296, 22-298, 22-301, 22-303, 22-308, 22-309, 22-316, 22-318a, 22-319b, 22-320a, 22-321
Public Act No. 23-187: 22-278, 22-279, 22-279a, 22-287, 22-288, 22-288a, 22-294, 22-295, 22-296, 22-298, 22-301, 22-303, 22-308, 22-309, 22-316, 22-318a, 22-319b, 22-320a, 22-321