Transfers of Certain Pet Animals

HOUSE BILL 26-1011

BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Duran and McCormick, Bacon, Brown, English, Froelich, Goldstein, Hamrick, Joseph, Lindsay, Nguyen, Rutinel, Rydin, Valdez, Garcia, Smith; also SENA TOR(S) Rodriguez and Roberts, Amabile, Cutter, Coleman.

CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF CERTAIN PET ANIMALS IN COLORADO.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that: (a) Dogs in commercial breeding facilities, known as puppy mills, spend most of their lives in cramped cages, where they are forced to produce litter after litter and suffer from inadequate care, which frequently results in disease, behavioral issues, and even death; (b) While there are federal regulations intended to provide oversight of commercial breeding facilities, these federal regulations do not suffice in preventing cruelty to dogs in these facilities; (c) Retail stores and brokers selling dogs to the public engage in

Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of the act.

deceptive business practices, harming consumers across the state who are falsely made to believe that they are purchasing healthy puppies; and ( d) Therefore, it is the policy of the state to end the sales and other transfers of dogs in retail stores and by brokers in order to: (I) Shut down the puppy mill pipeline and end the cruelty to dogs in these facilities; (II) Protect consumers from deceptive business practices; and (III) Support responsible breeders, animal shelters, and pet animal rescues. (2) The general assembly further finds and declares that nothing in this act impacts agricultural operations in the state. SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 35-80-102, add (1.7) and (8.5) as follows: 35-80-102. Definitions.

As used in this article 80, unless the context otherwise requires: (1.7) (a)

"BROKER" MEANS A PERSON THAT, FOR PROFIT, SELLS,

LEASES, OFFERS TO SELL OR LEASE, BARTERS, AUCTIONS, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERS OWNERSHIP OF, IN PERSON OR ONLINE, A PET ANIMAL BRED BY ANOTHER PERSON.

(b)

"BROKER" DOES NOT INCLUDE A PERSON THAT TRANSFERS NO

MORE THAN THREE SINGLE PET ANIMALS PER EACH CALENDAR YEAR IF THE PERSON TRANSFERS EACH SINGLE PET ANIMAL NO MORE THAN ONCE.

(8.5) OFFICE,

"GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY" MEANS A STATE AGENCY OR AN

DEPARTMENT,

DIVISION,

BOARD,

BUREAU,

COMMISSION,

INSTITUTION, OR AGENCY OF A COUNTY, CITY, OR CITY AND COUNTY IN THE STATE.

SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 35-80-108.5 as follows:

35-80-108.5. Pet stores - brokers - exceptions - short title. (1) The short title of this section is the "Pet Store Consumet Prnteetion Act" "PISTOL THE POMERANIAN PROTECTION ACT". (2) A pet store that sells ot offet s fut sale dogs ot cats shall. (2) (a) Include on all advertisements, including website postings, the pm chase pdce of the dog or cat and any applicable f-edetal ot state license numbets fut the bteedet of the dog or cat; ON AND AFTER JANUARY 1,2028, A PET STORE SHALL NOT SELL, LEASE, OFFER TO SELL OR LEASE, BARTER, AUCTION, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF A DOG OR CAT.

(b) Post on the enclosure of each dog ot cat the pm chase pdce of the dog or cat and the following infutmation on the dog's m cat's bteedet. Full name, kennel name, if applicable; city; state, and any applicable state or fedetal license numbets, and NOTHING IN THIS SECTION PROHIBITS A PET STORE FROM PROVIDING SPACE FOR THE DISPLAY OF DOGS OR CATS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION IF:

(I) THE DOGS OR CATS ARE DISPLA YEO BY A LICENSED ANIMAL SHELTER OR PET ANIMAL RESCUE; (II) THE PET STORE DOES NOT RECEIVE A FEE IN CONNECTION WITH THE DISPLAY OF THE DOGS OR CATS; AND

(III) ANY DOG OR CAT DISPLA YEO FOR ADOPTION IS STERILIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE AND LOCAL REGULATIONS.

(c) Disclose to a prnspective consmnet in wdting, ptiot to the sale of a dog or cat, the fullo wing infut mation about the dog ot cat. (I) The pm chase pt ice of the dog or cat, (II) The intet est t ate or t ange associated with any financing ot credit catd offeted to the prnspective pmchaset, and (III) Any applicable federal ot state license numbet s and an unredacted list of all violations of any fedetal ot state law the dog or cat hr ceder, brnker, or transportet received in the pt e vious two years on a

fede1 al 01 state inspection I eport. (3) Nothing in this section precludes a statutory or home rule town, city, county, or city and county from enacting laws more stringent than the requirements of this section. including a prnhibition on the sale or offer for sale of dogs and cats. (4) (a) A BROKER SHALL NOT SELL, LEASE, OFFER TO SELL OR LEASE, BARTER, AUCTION, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF A DOG OR CAT.

(b) SUBSECTION (4)(a) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO: (I) THE SALE, TRANSFER, OR ADOPTION OF AN ANIMAL, INCLUDING A LAW ENFORCEMENT ANIMAL, TO A GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY;

(II)

THE SALE, TRANSFER, OR ADOPTION OF A GUIDE, SIGNAL, OR

SERVICE DOG;

(III) THE SALE, TRANSFER, OR ADOPTION OF A DOG OR CAT BY AN ANIMAL SHELTER OR PET ANIMAL RESCUE;

(IV) THE SALE, TRANSFER, OR ADOPTION OF A DOG BRED OR TRAINED FOR LAWFUL HUNTING TO OR BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO POSSESSES A CURRENT HUNTING LICENSE IN GOOD STANDING ISSUED BY THE DIVISION OF PARKS AND WILDLIFE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 4 OF TITLE 33;

(V)

THE SALE OR TRANSFER OF A DOG OR CAT BY THE ORIGINAL

BREEDER OF THE DOG OR CAT; OR

(VI) THE SALE, TRANSFER, OR ADOPTION OF A DOG OR CAT BY A HEALTH-RELATED RESEARCH FACILITY PURSUANT TO SECTION 35-82-102.

SECTION 4. Safety clause. The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for

the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.

Julie McCluskie SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

James Rashad Coleman, Sr. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Vanessa Reilly CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Esther van Mourik SECRETARY OF THE SENATE

APPROVED on Wednesday April 29th 2026 at 10:00am (Date and Time)

Jared S. Polis GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO