HF 1296

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/24/2025 04:28 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to state government; modifying the classification of commercial dog and
cat breeder data collected and maintained by the Board of Animal Health; modifying
kennel and dealer advertising requirements; requiring the Board of Animal Health
to post certain kennel, dealer, and commercial breeder information; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 13.643, subdivision 6; 347.36; 347.37; 347.58,
subdivisions 2, 5.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 13.643, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Animal premises data.

(a) Except for farmed Cervidae premises location data
collected and maintained under section 35.155, the following data collected and maintained
by the Board of Animal Health related to registration and identification of premises and
animals under chapter 35, are classified as private or nonpublic:

(1) the names and addresses;

(2) the location of the premises where animals are kept; and

(3) the identification number of the premises or the animal.

deleted text begin (b) Except as provided in section 347.58, subdivision 5, data collected and maintained
by the Board of Animal Health under sections 347.57 to 347.64 are classified as private or
nonpublic.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (b) new text end The Board of Animal Health may disclose data collected under paragraph (a) deleted text begin or
(b) deleted text end to any person, agency, or to the public if the board determines that the access will aid
in the law enforcement process or the protection of public or animal health or safety.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 347.36, is amended to read:

347.36 ADVERTISING.

All advertising new text begin pertaining to the sale of animals new text end by any person, firm, or corporation
licensed hereunder shall include the number of the current license issued to such licensee new text begin
or a link to a website that includes the number of the current license new text end .

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 347.37, is amended to read:

347.37 PUBLIC ACCESS; NOTICE; INSPECTION; ENFORCEMENT.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Inspection and enforcement. new text end

new text begin (a) new text end The Board of Animal Health shall
cause to be inspected from time to time all kennels and dealers licensed hereunder and all
records required by sections 347.31 to 347.40 to be kept by the licensees.

new text begin (b) new text end Any duly authorized agent of the board, any sheriff, or sheriff's deputy, or police
officer, or humane agent appointed pursuant to section 343.01 is granted the power and the
authority to enter upon the premises of any kennel or dealer at any time during the daylight
hours for the purposes herein set forth, and for the purposes of inspecting the compliance
with the provisions of sections 346.55, 347.31 to 347.40 and the rules issued pursuant
thereto, and for the purposes of enforcing sections 346.55, or 347.31 to 347.40; except that
humane agents shall not enter upon the premises of a licensed veterinarian acting as a kennel.

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Notice. new text end

new text begin (a) new text end Each dealer shall post a conspicuous notice in a format no less than
24 by 36 inches and easily readable by the general public, that states: (1) that the person is
a licensed dealer in dogs and cats; (2) that dogs and cats left with the dealer may be used
for research purposes; and (3) the hours the dealer is open to the public. The notice must
be placed in at least two locations on the premises, one of which must be on or near the
exterior mail delivery point and one of which must be at the regularly used point of exchange
of dogs and cats. A person may view dogs and cats in the custody of a dealer during the
time the premises is open to the public. Dealers are required to be open to the public on a
regular basis at least four hours between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on at least four of the
seven days of each week including at least one Saturday or Sunday. Any advertisement
placed by a dealer seeking dogs or cats must inform the public that dogs and cats brought
to the dealer may be used for research purposes.

new text begin (b) The board must maintain and post in a timely manner on the board's public website
the following information:
new text end

new text begin (1) a list of kennels and dealers licensed and in good standing under sections 347.31 to
347.40, including all business names that the licensee uses in connection with the sale or
adoption of dogs or cats and the total number of animals kept, congregated, or confined in
the previous calendar year;
new text end

new text begin (2) copies of all annual reports, inspection records, and enforcement records from the
last five years for each kennel or dealer; and
new text end

new text begin (3) a list of kennels or dealers whose licenses have expired or have been revoked by the
board during the last five years, including all business names that the licensee used in
connection with the sale or adoption of dogs or cats and any reasons for revocation.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 347.58, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Inspections.

(a) The board must inspect each licensed facility at least annually.
The inspection must be with the commercial breeder or an agent of the commercial breeder
present. The inspector must submit an inspection report to the board within ten days of each
inspection on a form prepared by the board. The inspection report form must list separately
each law, rule, regulation, and ordinance the facility is not in compliance with and what
correction is required for compliance. The inspection report form must document the animal
inventory on the date of the inspection new text begin and must contain all business names used by the
commercial breeder in connection with the sale of dogs or cats, the facility identification
number, the name of the facility, and the city or township in which the facility is located new text end .

(b) If, after the prelicense inspection, the commercial breeder has two consecutive years
of inspections with no violations, the board must inspect the commercial breeder at least
every two years. If the commercial breeder has any violations during an inspection or if the
board has cause, the board must inspect the commercial breeder at least annually.

(c) If a license to operate is suspended, revoked, or denied, the board must be granted
access to the facility during normal business hours to verify that it is not operating.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 347.58, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Posting of information.

The board must maintain and post in a timely manner
on deleted text begin its deleted text end new text begin the board's public new text end website new text begin the following information:
new text end

new text begin (1) new text end a list of commercial breeders licensed and in good standing under this section new text begin ,
including all business names that the licensee uses in connection with the sale of dogs or
cats and the total number of animals produced and sold in the previous calendar year;
new text end

new text begin (2) copies of all annual reports, inspection forms, and enforcement records from the last
five years for each commercial breeder; and
new text end

new text begin (3) a list of commercial breeders whose licenses have expired or have been revoked by
the board during the last five years, including all business names that the licensee used in
connection with the sale of dogs or cats and any reasons for revocation new text end .