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SB 344KANSASSession 2025-2026State Billpassed both

Passed

Kansas bill authorizes animal shelters to place neonate animals in foster homes and mandates online photograph displays

Original title: AN ACT concerning animals; relating to the pet animal act; authorizing animal shelters to move neonate animals needing treatment or care to a foster home; requiring shelters to display photographs of animals at a location other than the shelter during a holding period; requiring records of inspections to be maintained by the department of agriculture division of animal health for not less than five years; amending K.S.A. 47-1709 and 47-1710 and repealing the existing sections.

Last action · March 20, 2026: Stricken from Calendar by Rule 1507

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Would Do

Animal shelters are authorized to move sick, injured, or animals needing specialized care into foster homes during their mandatory . Shelters must display photographs of any relocated animals at the shelter facility and on its website. Additionally, the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health must maintain inspection records for at least five years.

Why it matters

Changes operational requirements for animal shelters and pounds by allowing temporary off-site foster placements for vulnerable young animals while guaranteeing public visibility through mandatory photo displays.

Background

The Kansas Pet Animal Act regulates animal shelters, pounds, and dealers across the state, establishing baseline standards for care, inspections, and animal disposition. context
SB 344 passed both legislative chambers during the 2025-2026 session but was ultimately stricken from the calendar by rule. context

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

Animal shelters and pounds

Shelters gain the authority to place young or sick animals in foster care during holding periods and must comply with new photographic display and record retention rules.

Directly affected

Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health

The division is required to maintain inspection records for at least five years.

Directly affected

Neonate animals

Newborn animals under eight weeks of age can be moved to foster homes for specialized care during mandatory holding periods.

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

Can an animal shelter move a newborn animal to a foster home before the holding period ends?

Yes. Shelters are authorized to move sick, injured, or animals needing treatment or care to a foster home at any time during the .

What happens if an animal is moved to a foster home during the holding period?

A photograph of the animal must be displayed at the shelter and on the shelter's website during the so the public can view and recover the animal.

How long must inspection records be kept by the state?

Records of inspections must be maintained by the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health for not less than five years.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

14 actions

Mar 20, 2026House
Stricken from Calendar by Rule 1507
Mar 11, 2026HouseFloor
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by
Mar 4, 2026House
Hearing: Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 3:30 PM — Room 112-N
Feb 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
Received and Introduced
Feb 13, 2026HouseCommittee
Referred to House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Feb 11, 2026Senate
Committee of the Whole - Now working on

Show 8 earlier actions

Feb 11, 2026SenateFloor
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
Feb 11, 2026SenateFloor
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
Feb 11, 2026Senate
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Feb 11, 2026SenateFloor
Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended
Feb 4, 2026SenateFloor
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by
Jan 27, 2026Senate
Hearing: Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 8:30 AM — Room 144-S
Jan 21, 2026SenateCommittee
Referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Jan 20, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced

Version history

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Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Related Legislation

State Bill

Kansas HB 2581 authorizes animal shelters to place neonate animals in foster homes and mandates off-site photo displays

Kansas animal shelters are authorized to move neonate animals needing specialized care to foster homes during the mandatory holding period and are req

State Bill