SB414: Bill Text

2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE

LRB-1290/1

JAM:cdc

2025 SENATE BILL 414

September 4, 2025 - Introduced by Senators Wanggaard, Carpenter, Habush Sinykin, Ratcliff, Spreitzer, Keyeski and Jagler, cosponsored by Representatives Kitchens, Joers, Armstrong, Udell, Miresse, DeSmidt, Piwowarczyk, Maxey, Palmeri, Kreibich, Bare, Goodwin, Donovan, Sheehan, Anderson, Sinicki, Behnke, Melotik, Mursau and Stubbs. Referred to Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development.

SB414,1,3 An Act to create 173.44 of the statutes; relating to: requiring animal testing facilities and breeders to offer certain dogs and cats for adoption to releasing agencies and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires animal testing facilities and persons that breed cats or dogs for sale or transfer to an animal testing facility to offer to a releasing agency for eventual adoption certain dogs and cats that do not pose a risk to public health. A “releasing agency” is defined to mean an animal shelter, humane society, animal welfare organization, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, home-based rescue, or other entity that provides individuals with animals for adoption as companion animals. The bill requires that, if an animal testing facility is operated by a state agency or an institution of higher education, the state agency or institution of higher education may develop its own internal adoption program to effectuate the requirements of the bill.

The bill also requires animal testing facilities and breeders to annually report to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection certain information about the dogs and cats that they offer to transfer to releasing agency.

A person who violates the provisions of the bill shall be subject to a forfeiture not to exceed $5,000.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB414,1 Section 1. 173.44 of the statutes is created to read:

SB414,2,2 173.44 Adoption of dogs and cats. (1) Definitions. In this section:

SB414,2,4 (a) “Adoption” means the transfer of ownership of a dog or cat from a releasing agency to an individual.

SB414,2,8 (b) “Animal testing facility” means a facility that uses cats or dogs for research, education, testing, or other scientific or medical purposes, including testing done to assess the safety or efficacy of chemicals, ingredients, drugs, vaccines, or product formulations.

SB414,2,10 (c) “Breeder” means a person that breeds dogs or cats for sale or transfer to an animal testing facility.

SB414,2,14 (g) “Releasing agency” means an animal shelter, humane society, animal welfare organization, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, home-based rescue, or other nonprofit group that provides individuals with animals for adoption as companion animals.

SB414,2,20 (2) Requirement to transfer to releasing agency. (a) An animal testing facility or breeder that no longer has a need for a dog or cat in its possession that does not pose a health or safety risk to the public shall offer the dog or cat for transfer to a releasing agency for eventual adoption. The offer for transfer shall be open for at least 3 weeks prior to the animal testing facility or breeder effectuating the euthanasia of the dog or cat.

SB414,3,4 (b) If an animal testing facility is operated by a state agency, as defined in s. 1.12 (1) (b), or an institution of higher education, as defined in s. 39.395 (1), the state agency or institution of higher education may develop its own internal adoption program to effectuate the requirements of par. (a).

SB414,3,6 (c) An animal testing facility or breeder may enter into an agreement with a releasing agency for the implementation of the requirements of par. (a).

SB414,3,9 (d) An animal testing facility or breeder that acts in good faith to transfer a dog or cat to a releasing agency pursuant to par. (a) is not liable for civil damages for acts or circumstances related to or resulting from the transfer of the dog or cat.

SB414,3,14 (3) Record-keeping requirements. By January 31 of the year following the effective date of this section .... [LRB inserts date], and by January 31 of each year thereafter, an animal testing facility or breeder shall submit to the department, in a matter as determined by the department, a report that includes the following information for the previous year:

SB414,3,15 (a) The total number of dogs and cats it owned.

SB414,3,16 (b) The total number of dogs and cats it used for research or testing.

SB414,3,18 (c) The total number of dogs and cats it transferred to a releasing agency for the purpose of adoption.

SB414,3,20 (d) The name and address of each releasing agency to which it transferred a dog or cat for the purpose of adoption.

SB414,3,22 (e) The total number of dogs and cats that were adopted from its internal adoption program, if applicable.

SB414,4,3 (4) Penalty. (a) A person who violates this section shall be subject to a forfeiture not to exceed $5,000. Each violation of sub. (2) as it relates to a single dog or cat and each violation of the reporting requirement as it relates to a single dog or cat under sub. (3) is a separate offense.

SB414,4,6 (b) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to impose or accept any liability or responsibility by the state, its agencies, and the officers and employees of the state or its agencies.

SB414,4,7 (end)