H 4919 Massachusetts House · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act to increase kennel safety, aka Ollie's Law

This law, known as Ollie's Law, strengthens regulations for commercial kennels and boarding facilities to improve animal safety and public oversight. It requires these businesses to obtain licenses that are contingent on passing inspections, limits the number of animals allowed based on facility capacity, and mandates annual reviews of license fees and terms. The bill also establishes a formal process for citizens to petition local officials if a kennel causes a nuisance, such as excessive barking, and requires the state to create detailed rules covering staff training, injury reporting, and emergency planning. Additionally, kennels must maintain records of all dogs in their care and face specific fines for operating without a license or after a license has been revoked.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jul 2024
Committee Review
Jul 2024
House Passage
Sep 2024
Senate Passage
Sep 2024
Signed into Law
Sep 2024
Introduced Jul 25, 2024 Signed Sep 20, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
8
Committee
2
Amendments
1
Sep 20, 2024
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor, Chapter 213 of the Acts of 2024
executive
Sep 12, 2024
Upper · Passed
Enacted and laid before the Governor
upper
Sep 12, 2024
Lower · Passed
Enacted
lower
Sep 12, 2024
Lower · Passed
House concurred in the Senate amendment
lower
Jul 31, 2024
Committee
Referred to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading
lower
Jul 31, 2024
Upper · Passed
Passed to be engrossed -see Roll Call # 228 (Yeas 39 to Nays 0)
upper
Jul 31, 2024
Upper · Passed
Amended by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of S2929
upper
Jul 25, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed to be engrossed - 159 YEAS to 0 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 146 )
lower
Jul 25, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported from the committee on House Ways and Means
lower
0 primary · 61 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.