Substitute House Bill No. 6277, also known as Public Act No. 25-129, amends Section 10a-150e of the general statutes to enhance the adoption of animals from institutions of higher education. The bill defines "animal adoption or animal rescue organization" as any nonprofit organization exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that focuses on the sale or placement of animals removed from shelters or homes. The bill mandates that each constituent unit and institution of higher education must offer for adoption any cat, rabbit, guinea pig, ferret, or dog that they possess for research or testing purposes, provided that the research does not require the destruction of the animal and it is no longer needed.

The bill introduces new provisions by including rabbits, guinea pigs, and ferrets in the list of animals eligible for adoption, which previously only included cats and dogs. It also allows institutions to enter into agreements with animal adoption or rescue organizations to facilitate the adoption process. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
ENV Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 703:
Public Act No. 25-129: