2023 Legislative Session Priority List
The following are the bills in the 2023 legislative session that OHS supports/opposes. Click the name of the bill to learn more.
Supported by OHS
Designates rescued shelter dogs and cats as official state pet.
Bill Supported by OHS
Prohibits retail pet store from offering to sell or selling dogs or cats. Specifies exceptions. Provides that violation is subject to civil penalty not to exceed $500. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Supported by OHS
Amends allowable purposes of Emergency Housing Account to include account moneys to be used for grants to assist pets] companion animals of individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Appropriates moneys to account from General Fund for those purposes. Requires Housing and Community Services Department to report on use of funds to interim committee of Legislative Assembly on or before September 15,] December 31, 2024. Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2023.
Supported by OHS
Appropriates moneys to Department of Justice out of General Fund to fund animal cruelty-focused attorney within department’s Criminal Justice Division. Declares emergency, effective on passage.
Bill Supported by OHS
Establishes immunity from prosecution for theft in first degree and civil liability for nonprofit animal rescue entity that takes possession of, keeps and disposes of cat or dog as provided in Act. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Video testimony from Sharon Harmon, OHS President and CEO, Shayna Roger, OHS Board Member, and BJ Anderson, former Executive Director, Willamette Humane Society. (Note – OHS testimony is at 45:15)
Bill Supported by OHS
Prohibits Department of Environmental Quality and State Department of Agriculture from issuing or renewing license or permit to allow construction or operation of new industrial confined animal feeding operation, addition to or expansion of existing industrial confined animal feeding operation or addition to or expansion of livestock farm that would cause livestock farm to become industrial confined animal feeding operation. Declares emergency, effective on passage.
Bill Supported by OHS
Prohibits person from using dogs to hunt or pursue lynx or bobcats. Provides that violation is subject to maximum of 364 days’ imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both, and suspension of privilege to apply for hunting license.
Bill Supported by OHS
Prohibits manufacturer from selling or offering to sell cosmetic developed through use of cosmetic animal test. Provides certain exemptions. Provides exemption for cosmetic developed through use of cosmetic animal test, or containing ingredient used in cosmetic animal test, before effective date of Act. Allows donation of noncomplying cosmetic to food bank, homeless shelter, hospital, animal shelter, corrections facility or emergency shelter. Allows receiving entity to distribute cosmetic to individual receiving services from entity. Authorizes Attorney General to bring civil action to impose civil penalties or obtain injunction for violations of Act.
Bill Supported by OHS
Prohibits person from using specified types of animals in traveling animal act. Provides certain exemptions from prohibition. Punishes by maximum of six months’ imprisonment, $2,500 fine, or both. Authorizes court to require person convicted of violation to forfeit animal used in violation.
Bill Supported by OHS
Update April 4, 2023: HB 3384 with the -3 amendment was adopted and passed out of committee, and will be referred to Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
Creates crime of aggravated animal neglect in the first degree. Punishes by maximum of five years’ imprisonment, $125,000 fine, or both. Creates crime of interfering with an investigation into an offense against an animal. Punishes by maximum 364 days’ imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both. Prohibits person convicted of violating certain animal cruelty statutes from owning, exerting control over or residing on same property as animal of same genus against which crime was committed or domestic animal for certain period of time. Requires court to impose fine of $100 for each animal on person convicted of certain offenses against animal. Provides that moneys paid as fines must be deposited in Proper Animal Husbandry Fund. Requires Department of State Police to establish program for awarding grants to organizations that teach proper animal husbandry to youths. Establishes Proper Animal Husbandry Fund, separate and distinct from General Fund. Appropriates moneys in Proper Animal Husbandry Fund to department for purposes of grant program.
Bill Opposed by OHS
Allows electors of county to approve measure allowing use of dogs for hunting, pursuing or taking cougars within county. Authorizes State Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue resident of approving county special cougar tag that allows use of dogs for hunting, pursuing or taking cougars within county.
Bill Opposed by OHS
Allows electors of county to approve measure allowing use of dogs for hunting, pursuing, or taking cougars within county. Authorizes State Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue resident of approving county special cougar tag that allows use of dogs for hunting, pursuing, or taking cougars within county.
Bill Opposed by OHS
Authorizes person to use dogs to hunt or pursue cougars on private property owned by person or with consent of property owner or owners. Instructs State Fish and Wildlife Commission to assess cougar depredation of livestock, establish threshold for chronic depredation and reduce cougar populations as needed to address chronic depredation.
Bill Opposed by OHS
Requires veterinarians to participate in prescription drug monitoring program. Directs Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board to provide Oregon Health Authority with information of individuals licensed by board authorized to prescribe or dispense controlled substances for purposes of qualifying individuals to report information to and receive information from program. Adds practicing veterinarian as member of Prescription Monitoring Program Advisory Commission. Reduces number of public members on commission from two members to one member
Bill Opposed by OHS
Requires State Department of Fish and Wildlife to make special cougar tags available that allow use of dogs to hunt cougars.
Bill Opposed by OHS
Allows electors of county to approve measure allowing use of dogs for hunting, pursuing or taking cougars within county. Authorizes State Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue resident of approving county special cougar tag that allows use of dogs for hunting, pursuing or taking cougars within county.
How You Can Help
One of the most important things individuals can do to advocate for animals is to contact your local legislators. Let them know which animal rights issues concern you and your community.
