This bill introduces new regulations for animal care centers, requiring them to notify dog owners when their dogs will be left unattended and to inform them if the facility lacks a functioning fire protection sprinkler system. It mandates that animal care centers report any injuries to animals or people occurring on their premises, with specific reporting protocols developed in consultation with local law enforcement. The bill also allows local law enforcement to conduct annual inspections of these centers and imposes penalties for failure to maintain proper care standards. Key provisions include a definition of "animal care center," which covers various commercial dog care facilities, and the establishment of care standards related to structural integrity, waste disposal, and emergency preparedness.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws regarding pet vendors, stipulating that no vendor may transfer animals or birds without a license, reducing the threshold for requiring a license from transferring more than 50 to 30 animals of specific types. It changes the licensing period from annual to biennial, with licenses expiring every two years instead of annually, while maintaining a non-refundable application fee of $200. The bill also establishes a biennial certification requirement for animal care centers, effective January 1, 2028, and anticipates a net increase in state revenue from certification fees starting in FY 2028, despite an estimated decrease in revenue of $30,000 in FY 2027 due to the shift to biennial licensing. The Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food will require additional staffing to manage the increased workload associated with these changes.