SB 1356 Florida Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Handling of Animals

Summary

Handling of Animals; Requiring the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to develop and adopt rules, best management practices, and other measures for dog breeding in this state; deleting a limit on veterinary costs under certain provisions; specifying requirements for retail stores that offer animals for sale; requiring dog breeders to apply to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation for a certificate of registration and to renew the certificate at specified intervals, etc.

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action Mar 13, 2026

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What changed between versions

S 1356 Filed → S 1356 c1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to remove a new section that would have given the state Department of Agriculture oversight of local animal shelters, reverting that authority to local control. Additionally, the definition of a 'pet dealer' was expanded to include anyone selling more than two litters or 20 animals per year, broadening the scope of businesses subject to new registration and consumer protection rules.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing state-level preemption of local animal shelter regulations, and broadened by expanding the definition of 'pet dealer' to cover more small-scale sellers.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the creation of a new statute (Section 2) that would have transferred regulatory and operational oversight of local animal shelters from local governments to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Updated the legislative summary to reflect the removal of the shelter oversight provision and the addition of the expanded pet dealer definition.

DEFINITION

Added a new subsection (13) defining 'pet dealer' to include any person selling more than two litters or 20 dogs or cats per year, whichever is greater, thereby expanding the number of businesses required to register and comply with consumer protection rules.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Now in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Commerce and Tourism, 02/04/26, 10:30 am, 110 Senate Building

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced

upper

Jan 16, 2026

Committee

Referred to Commerce and Tourism; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Rules

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor