This bill requires all municipalities in New Jersey to establish a municipal animal control program that provides essential animal control services and enforces state laws regarding animal control and cruelty. Each municipality must prioritize funding for these programs and appoint a municipal health officer to oversee their implementation and compliance. The health officer will coordinate with certified animal control officers, shelters, and veterinarians, and is responsible for quarterly reporting to both the municipal governing body and the State Office of Veterinary Public Health. The Department of Health (DOH) will oversee these municipal programs and handle unresolved complaints at the local level.

Additionally, the bill mandates the inclusion of a homeless cat program in each municipality, which may involve the impoundment and management of cat colonies. The DOH will create a grant program to assist municipalities, with an initial funding of $500,000. The bill allows the State Office of Veterinary Public Health to intervene in municipal contracts for animal control services if requirements are not met, and it sets specific guidelines for the management of cat colonies, including care by vetted individuals and the spaying or neutering of unaltered cats. The DOH is also empowered to establish rules and regulations to ensure consistent enforcement of animal control measures statewide.