AN ACT REQUIRING THE MICROCHIPPING OF CATS AND DOGS SOLD OR ADOPTED IN THE STATE.

HB 5481 requires that all cats and dogs sold by commercial breeders or shelters, or adopted from shelters within the state, be microchipped before the sale or adoption is completed. The bill directly affects pet sellers, shelters, and adoption agencies by mandating this identification step. Its key provision is the requirement for microchipping, which helps reunite lost pets with their owners and addresses the stated purpose of reducing abandonment. The bill does not apply to pets already owned or transferred between private individuals.