SB00318 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING ANIMAL WELFARE.

Agriculture

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Environment Committee
Last action: 2026-06-04
Official status: Signed by the Governor
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text specifies that officials must study the feasibility of a phone line and identify contact persons, but it does not mandate the immediate creation or funding of these services.

Animal Welfare Act: Domestic Violence Pet Placement and Disease Control

This law requires a study on helping domestic violence victims find care for their pets, updates rules to let officials stop animal diseases that can spread to people, and forms a group to look at funding for the pet population control program.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Commissioner of Agriculture to study how hard it is for domestic violence victims to place their companion animals in new care.
Asks officials to find existing resources and identify contact persons or phone lines available at all times for these victims, but does not immediately create them.
Changes state law so the State Veterinarian can issue orders to stop diseases among animals that might spread to humans.
Creates a working group within the Department of Agriculture to study ways to improve funding for the animal population control program.
Sets deadlines in 2027 for officials to send their findings and recommendations on these topics to the state legislature.

Who It Names or Affects

Victims of domestic violence who need temporary or permanent care for their companion animals
The Commissioner of Agriculture and the State Veterinarian
Members of a new working group, including leaders from humane societies and veterinary associations

Terms To Know

Companion animal: A pet kept for friendship or emotional support rather than work.
State Veterinarian: The top official in the state responsible for protecting public health from diseases carried by animals.

Limits and Unknowns

This law requires studies and recommendations but does not immediately create a new phone line or fund specific programs.
The final report on domestic violence resources is due to lawmakers in January 2027, so the results are not yet known.

Bill History

2026-06-04 Connecticut General Assembly
Signed by the Governor
2026-05-27 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted to the Secretary of State
2026-05-27 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
2026-05-20 LCO
Public Act 26-112
2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly
House Passed
2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly
In Concurrence
2026-04-09 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
2026-04-09 Connecticut General Assembly
House Calendar Number 380
2026-04-08 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Passed
2026-03-30 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-30 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
2026-03-30 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Calendar Number 176
2026-03-30 LCO
File Number 221
2026-03-23 LCO
Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/30/26 12:00 PM
2026-03-13 ENV
Joint Favorable Substitute
2026-03-13 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-02-27 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 03/04
2026-02-26 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Environment

Official Summary Text

To identify resources for persons needing to place their companion animal in another person's care due to a domestic violence situation and to clarify the authority of the State Veterinarian to combat disease among companion animals and establish a working group to study ways to improve the funding of the animal population control program.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Substitute Senate Bill No. 318

Public Act No. 26-112

AN ACT CONCERNING ANIMAL WELFARE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) ( Effective October 1, 2026 ) The Commissioner of
Agriculture, in consultation with the Office of Victim Services, shall
study the impact of the need for placement of companion animals on
victims of domestic violence. Such study shall include, but not be
limited to, the: (1) Existing resou rces available for victims of domestic
violence to find temporary or permanent placements for a companion
animal, (2) identification of one or more persons who may serve as a
contact person for victims of domestic violence in the state who need to
place their companion animal in the care of another person due to such
circumstance, and (3) feasibility of establishing a phone number or other
electronic communication line that is accessible twenty-four hours a day
for victims of domestic violence in the state who need to place their
companion animal in the care of another person due to such
circumstance. Not later than January 1, 2027, the commissioner shall
submit the findings and any associated recommendations concerning
such study to the joint standing commi ttee of the General Assembly
having cognizance of matters related to the environment, in accordance
with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.
Sec. 2. Subsection (d) of section 22 -26f of the 2026 supplement to the
Substitute Senate Bill No. 318

Public Act No. 26-112 2 of 2

general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026):
(d) The State Veterinarian may issue orders to prevent the spread of
[contagious and infectious diseases] disease among animals and poultry
and may protect the public from such diseases as may be transmissible
to human beings, either directly or through the products of such
animals.
Sec. 3. ( Effective from passage ) Not later than July 1, 2026, the
Commissioner of Agriculture shall convene a working group within the
Department of Agriculture to study the animal population control
program, established pursuant to section 22-380g of the general statutes,
and develop recommendations concerning such program, including,
but not limited to, ways to augment and stabilize the funding of such
program. Such working group shall consist of: (1) The Commissioner of
Agriculture, or the commissioner's designee, (2) the executive director
of the Connecticut Humane Society, or the executive director's designee,
(3) a representative from an animal welfare organization, as appointed
by the commissioner, (4) a representative from the Connecticut
Veterinary Medical Association, (5) a representative of an organization
that represents animal control officers, and (6) any additional members,
as deemed necessary by the commissioner. The commissioner, on or
before January 1, 2027, shall submit the recommendations of such
working group to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly
having cognizance of matters related to the environment, in accordance
with section 11-4a of the general statutes.