Massachusetts House Bill 138 excludes commercial dog and cat breeding, raising, and grooming from the legal definition of livestock

Original title: An Act relative to the definition of livestock

Last action · December 1, 2025: Read second and ordered to a third readingSponsors: Adam Scanlon and 7 others

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What This Bill Would Do

Massachusetts Bill H.138 explicitly excludes the raising and keeping of dogs or cats for breeding or other commercial uses, as well as commercial dog and cat grooming, from the legal definition of under chapter 128 of the General Laws.

Why it matters

The change alters the regulatory framework and oversight standards applied to commercial dog and cat operations by removing them from agricultural classifications.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Commercial dog and cat breeders

Their operations are explicitly removed from the legal definition of livestock under chapter 128.

Directly affected

Commercial dog and cat groomers

Commercial grooming activities are explicitly excluded from being classified as livestock operations.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does House Bill 138 change?

It excludes commercial dog and cat breeding, keeping, and grooming from being classified as under state law.

Does this bill affect agricultural livestock other than dogs and cats?

The text only specifies exclusions for dogs and cats regarding breeding, commercial use, and grooming.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

8 actions

Dec 1, 2025House
Read second and ordered to a third reading
Dec 1, 2025House
Rules suspended
Dec 1, 2025House
Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
Nov 12, 2025HouseCommittee
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling
Aug 28, 2025Joint
Hearing scheduled for 09/16/2025 from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM in B-1
Jun 27, 2025JointFloor
Referred, pursuant to an order adopted by the two branches, to the committee on Agriculture and Fisheries

Show 2 earlier actions

Feb 27, 2025Senate
Senate concurred
Feb 27, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to the committee on Agriculture

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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