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AB-631 • 2026

Animals: animal shelters: transparency.

Animals: animal shelters: transparency.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Lee
Last action
Official status
Senate - Appropriations
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not list specific examples of outcomes (like adoption or return), so those were removed from definitions.

AB-631: Animal Shelter Transparency

This law requires animal shelters to collect and share specific data about the number of animals they take in, where those animals came from, and what happened to them.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires shelters to record the total number of animals taken in, their source of intake, and their outcomes.
  • Mandates that this information be updated at least once every three months (quarterly).
  • Orders shelters with websites to post these records online for public viewing for at least 5 years.
  • Requires shelters without websites to make this information available upon request for at least 5 years.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public animal shelters
  • Private animal shelters

Terms To Know

Source of intake
Where the shelter got an animal from.
Outcome
What happened to an animal after it was taken in by the shelter.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Reimbursement for costs only happens if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this bill creates a new program or higher level of service.
  • The law applies specifically to public animal control agencies and shelters regarding state-mandated local programs.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Senate - Appropriations

Official Summary Text

Animals: animal shelters: transparency.