The bill amends Vermont's animal welfare laws by establishing a Division of Animal Welfare within the Department of Public Safety and outlining the qualifications for the Director of Animal Welfare. This Director will be tasked with developing a comprehensive plan for enforcing animal welfare laws, overseeing investigations of animal cruelty complaints, and coordinating with law enforcement. A new registration requirement is introduced for animal shelters, rescue organizations, and pet dealers, mandating them to provide information on animal intake and disposition without charging a fee, with penalties for non-compliance including warnings or fines for repeat violations. The bill also updates terminology from "spaying and neutering" to "sexual sterilization" and includes provisions for the sterilization of stray cats without known owners.

Furthermore, the bill creates an Animal Welfare Fund to support the Division's activities, funded by a percentage of revenue from surcharges, transfers from the General Assembly, and donations. It introduces a new section requiring pet dealers, animal shelters, rescue organizations, and breeders to maintain a commercially reasonable level of general liability insurance as a condition of their licenses or registration. The Director of Animal Welfare is also required to report by December 15, 2026, to legislative committees on establishing a comprehensive animal welfare program, including oversight for dog and cat breeders and sellers. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 20-190, 20-3581, 20-3583, 20-3682, 20-3903, 20-3907, 20-3911, 20-3915
As Passed By the House -- Official: 20-190, 20-3581, 20-3583, 20-3682, 20-3903, 20-3907, 20-3911, 20-3915, 20-3814, 20-3815, 20-3816
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 20-190, 20-3581, 20-3583, 20-3682, 20-3814, 20-3815, 20-3816, 20-3903, 20-3907, 20-3911, 20-3915
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 20-190, 20-3581, 20-3583, 20-3682, 20-3903, 20-3907, 20-3911, 20-3915, 20-3814, 20-3815, 20-3816
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 20-190, 20-3581, 20-3583, 20-3682, 20-3814, 20-3815, 20-3816, 20-3903, 20-3907, 20-3911, 20-3915
As Enacted: 20-190, 20-3581, 20-3583, 20-3682, 20-3814, 20-3815, 20-3816, 20-3903, 20-3907, 20-3911, 20-3915