The bill H.841 establishes a Division of Animal Welfare within the Vermont Department of Public Safety, detailing the qualifications and responsibilities of the Director of Animal Welfare. The Director is tasked with creating a comprehensive plan to enforce animal welfare laws, including addressing animal cruelty complaints and collaborating with law enforcement. The bill introduces a registration requirement for animal shelters, rescue organizations, and pet dealers, mandating them to register with the Division and provide information on animal intake and disposition, with penalties for non-compliance. It also creates an Animal Welfare Fund to support the Division's activities, funded through various revenue sources, and updates terminology from "spaying and neutering" to "sexual sterilization."

Additionally, the bill imposes new requirements for pet dealers, animal shelters, rescue organizations, and breeders, mandating them to maintain a commercially reasonable level of general liability insurance as a condition of their licenses or registration. The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is granted authority to adopt rules regarding the issuance of required certificates. The Director of Animal Welfare is also required to report by December 15, 2026, to the House and Senate Committees on Government Operations about the development of a comprehensive animal welfare program, including oversight proposals for breeders and sellers of dogs and cats. 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