HB26-1011 • 2026

Transfers of Certain Pet Animals

Under current law, a pet store in Colorado is permitted to sell or offer for sale dogs or cats if the pet store abides by certain requirements. The act removes the existing permission so that, beginni

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Rep. M. Duran, Rep. K. McCormick, Sen. D. Roberts, Sen. R. Rodriguez, Rep. J. Bacon, Rep. K. Brown, Rep. R. English, Rep. M. Froelich, Rep. L. García, Rep. L. Goldstein, Rep. E. Hamrick, Rep. J. Joseph, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. G. Rydin, Rep. L. Smith, Rep. A. Valdez, Sen. J. Amabile, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. L. Cutter
Last action: 2026-04-29
Official status: Governor Signed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

HB26-1011: Ending Pet Store Sales of Dogs and Cats

Starting January 1, 2028, this law stops pet stores and brokers from selling or transferring ownership of dogs and cats in Colorado, with specific exceptions for shelters, original breeders, service animals, hunting dogs, research facilities, and government agencies.

What This Bill Does

Removes the permission for pet stores to sell, lease, barter, auction, or otherwise transfer ownership of a dog or cat beginning on January 1, 2028.
Prohibits brokers from selling, leasing, bartering, auctioning, or transferring ownership of dogs and cats bred by other people.
Allows pet stores to provide space for displaying dogs and cats available for adoption if the store does not collect a fee, the animals are displayed by a licensed shelter or rescue, and the animals are sterilized according to regulations.
Defines 'broker' as someone who sells or transfers ownership of pets bred by others for profit, but excludes individuals who transfer no more than three single pet animals per calendar year if each animal is transferred only once.
Lists exceptions that allow sales or transfers involving government agencies, service dogs, shelters and rescues, hunting dogs to licensed hunters, original breeders, and health-related research facilities.

Who It Names or Affects

Pet stores in Colorado
Brokers who sell animals bred by others for profit
Animal shelters and pet animal rescues partnering with stores for adoption displays
Original breeders of dogs or cats
Individuals possessing a current hunting license buying or selling hunting dogs
Health-related research facilities

Terms To Know

Broker: A person who, for profit, sells or transfers ownership of a pet animal bred by another person. This does not include someone transferring no more than three single pets per year if each is transferred only once.
Pet Store: A retail business that can display dogs and cats for adoption under specific rules but cannot sell or transfer ownership of them after January 1, 2028.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not take effect until January 1, 2028.
Local cities and counties may pass stricter laws than this state bill allows.
Nothing in the act impacts agricultural operations in the state.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

L.002

HOU Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment creates a rule that people who give away or sell three or fewer pet animals in a year are not considered brokers under the new law.

Adds a definition stating that 'broker' does not include anyone transferring no more than three single pet animals per calendar year.
Clarifies that this exception only applies if each animal is transferred just once during that time.

The provided text shows the amendment was cut off in the bill title, so it does not explain what happens to people who transfer more than three animals.
The exact list of which pet animals are covered is incomplete because lines were struck from the original document without showing the full new list.

L.003

HOU Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment creates a specific exception that allows the sale or transfer of dogs bred for hunting to people who have a valid Colorado hunting license.

Adds an exemption allowing individuals with a current, good-standing hunting license from the Division of Parks and Wildlife to buy, receive, or adopt dogs specifically bred or trained for lawful hunting.

The amendment text only mentions dogs; it does not clarify if this exception applies to cats.
The full context of how this exemption interacts with the rest of the bill's restrictions on pet stores is incomplete in the provided snippet.

L.006

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: This amendment would allow pet stores to sell dogs and cats if they got the animals from breeders or other sources that follow specific rules created by this law.

It adds an exception so pet stores can still sell dogs and cats under certain conditions.

The amendment text does not explain what the new 'rules and standards' for breeders would actually require.
Because this amendment was voted down (lost), it did not become part of the final bill.

L.007

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: This amendment would change the year a new rule about selling pet animals takes effect from 2027 to 2030.

The start date for the law is moved three years later, changing it from 2027 to 2030.

This amendment was voted down and did not pass, so this change will not happen.
The text only shows a date change and does not explain the full details of what the law requires pet stores to do.

L.008

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: This amendment would have allowed pet stores with a valid license issued by July 1, 2026, to skip the rule requiring them to give buyers written information about dogs and cats before selling them.

It creates an exception for specific licensed pet stores so they do not have to follow the new disclosure rules.

The amendment was voted down (lost) in the House, so it did not become part of the final law.
The text does not explain what happens if a store gets its license after July 1, 2026.

L.009

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: This amendment would require pet stores to end the lives of all puppies in a litter except for two, using any method and at any time.

Pet stores must reduce every puppy litter down to exactly two surviving pups.
Stores are allowed to kill the extra puppies by any means they choose.
The law would permit this action to happen at any time for any reason.

This amendment was voted on and lost, so it did not become part of the final bill.
The text uses unclear terms like 'abort' in a way that is confusing when applied to animals already born or living at a store.

L.012

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: This amendment changes the year a new rule about selling pet animals takes effect from 2027 to 2028.

The start date for the law is moved one year later, changing it from 2027 to 2028.

Bill History

2026-04-29 Governor
Governor Signed
2026-04-23 Governor
Sent to the Governor
2026-04-22 Senate
Signed by the President of the Senate
2026-04-22 House
Signed by the Speaker of the House
2026-04-02 House
House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
2026-03-31 House
House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
2026-03-30 Senate
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-03-27 Senate
Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
2026-03-24 Senate
Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
2026-03-06 Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
2026-03-02 House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-02-27 House
House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
2026-02-26 House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
2026-02-23 House
House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
2026-01-14 House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Under current law, a pet store in Colorado is permitted to sell or offer for sale dogs or cats if the pet store abides by certain requirements. The act removes the existing permission so that, beginning January 1, 2028, a pet store is no longer permitted to sell, lease, offer to sell or lease, barter, auction, or otherwise transfer ownership of a dog or cat. Nothing prohibits a pet store from providing space for the display of dogs or cats available for adoption if the pet store does not collect a fee from the display and if certain requirements are met.
The act defines 'broker' as 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. A broker does not include a person that transfers no more than 3 single pet animals per each calendar year if the person transfers each single pet animal no more than once. The act states that a broker is not permitted to sell, lease, offer to sell or lease, barter, auction, or otherwise transfer ownership of a dog or cat. The act clarifies that the following are still permitted:
The sale, transfer, or adoption of an animal, including a law enforcement animal, to a governmental agency;
The sale, transfer, or adoption of a guide, signal, or service dog;
The sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog or cat by an animal shelter or pet animal rescue;
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;
The sale or transfer of a dog or cat by the original breeder of the dog or cat; and
The sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog or cat by a health-related research facility.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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) "GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY" MEANS A STATE AGENCY OR AN
OFFICE, 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:
PAGE 2-HOUSE BILL 26-1011
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 v ious two years on a
PAGE 3-HOUSE BILL 26-1011
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
PAGE 4-HOUSE BILL 26-1011
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state
institutions.
Ju~
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
James Rashad Coleman, Sr.
PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE
Esther van Mourik
SECRETARY OF
THE SENATE
APPROVED Oh W-e.oll"l.4ol~ ~l'Ytl 2.,9t\.-i z.o~ aj /o:a:Jnm
(Da and t ime)
PAGE 5-HOUSE BILL 26-1011