S2720 • 2025

An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops

Active

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

Sponsor: Environment and Natural Resources (J)
Last action: 2026-03-19
Official status: New draft substituted, see S3014
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops

An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops Senate November 19, 2025 -- The committee on Environment and Natural Resources, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No.

What This Bill Does

An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops Senate November 19, 2025 -- The committee on Environment and Natural Resources, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No.
618) of Jason M.
Lewis, Michael O.
Moore, Michael D.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-03-19 Senate
Read second
2026-03-19 Senate
New draft substituted, see S3014
2026-03-12 Senate
Committee recommended ought to pass with an amendment, substituting a new draft, see S3014
2026-03-12 Senate
Also based on S640 , S1022 and S1190
2026-03-12 Senate
Order relative to subject matter adopted
2026-03-12 Senate
Placed in the Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 19, 2026
2025-11-19 Senate
Reported from the committee on Environment and Natural Resources
2025-11-19 Senate
New draft of S618 , S650 and S651
2025-11-19 Senate
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means

Official Summary Text

An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops
Senate November 19, 2025 -- The committee on Environment and Natural Resources, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 618) of Jason M. Lewis, Michael O. Moore, Michael D. Brady, James K. Hawkins and other members of the General Court for legislation to ban the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 650) of Patrick M. O'Connor, Michael O. Moore, Michael D. Brady, James K. Hawkins and other members of the General Court for legislation banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 651) of Patrick M. O'Connor, Michael O. Moore, Marcus S. Vaughn, Michael D. Brady and other members of the General Court for legislation to ban the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in new pet shops, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2720).

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Bill S.2720

SECTION 1. Section 39A of chapter 129 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 1, before the word “Every”, the following letter:- (a).

SECTION 2. Said section 39A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 13, the word “section”, and inserting in place thereof the following word:- subsection.

SECTION 3. Said section 39A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after subsection (a) the following 4 subsections:-

(b) No person engaged in the business of operating a pet shop for which a license must be obtained pursuant to subsection (a) shall sell or offer for sale a dog, cat, or rabbit.

(c) Subsection (b) shall not be construed to prohibit a pet shop from offering space to an animal rescue or shelter organization to showcase dogs, cats, or rabbits for adoption; provided, however, that the pet shop shall not have an ownership interest in the animals offered for adoption.

(d) Nothing in subsections (b) or (c) shall affect the authority of any town, city, or other locality to regulate or prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, or rabbits consistent with this section.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 43 of this chapter, a person who violates subsection (b) of this section shall be: (i) assessed a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for the first offense, not more than $2,500 for the second offense, and not more than $5,000 for third and subsequent offenses; and (ii) subject to suspension or revocation of the person’s pet shop license. Each advertisement or offer for sale or actual sale of an animal in violation of subsection (b) shall constitute a separate violation.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect 90 days after its passage.

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.