This bill amends the current dog licensing law to allow owners of 7 or fewer dogs to obtain a group license instead of individual licenses. The previous requirement of needing a license for "5 or more" dogs has been changed to "7 or fewer," and the language now states that owners "may" obtain a group license rather than "shall." The group license will be valid for up to 7 dogs, and the fee for this license has been increased from $20 to $28, with a portion allocated to a companion animal neutering fund. Additionally, if an owner has more than 7 dogs, they must obtain individual licenses for each additional dog, which will incur a supplemental fee based on the number of individual licenses beyond the initial 7.

The bill also introduces new requirements for holders of group licenses, including a provision that prohibits the sale, gifting, or trading of any dog without first obtaining a license for that dog. Furthermore, the age limit for dogs exempt from licensing fees has been changed from 3 months to 6 weeks. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and is projected to have a fiscal impact of less than $10,000 annually for the years 2025 through 2028.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 466:6