Bowie’s Law: animals: adoption, shelter overcrowding, and breeding.

Summary

The bill would force every public animal shelter to display a full list of adoptable animals on its website or a third‑party site, and it would change California’s dog breeder regulations. Breeders would be defined by a lower sales threshold, must microchip puppies before eight weeks, keep health records, and cannot sell dogs until they are vaccinated and cleared by a vet. It also orders a state study on shelter overcrowding and provides reimbursement rules for any mandated costs.

AI-generated summary — may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify against the official bill text.

Vote

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 29). · Apr 29, 2025

Hearings

• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · May 23, 2025
• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · May 21, 2025
• Business and Professions Committee Hearing
  Business and Professions · Apr 29, 2025

History

1. Feb 2, 2026From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2. Jan 31, 2026Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
3. May 23, 2025In committee: Held under submission.
4. May 21, 2025Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 1627.)
5. May 21, 2025In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
6. May 14, 2025In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
7. May 1, 2025Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
8. Apr 30, 2025Read second time and amended.
9. Apr 29, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 29).
10. Apr 23, 2025Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
11. Apr 22, 2025From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
12. Apr 22, 2025Assembly Rule 47.1 invoked. (Castillo).

The 12 most recent of 16 recorded actions.

Sponsors

• Castillo · sponsor

Bill text

Opens the legislature’s own copy.

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