Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the treatment of animals other than agricultural animals by providing for the inspection or monitoring of commercial establishments by the department of agriculture and land stewardship, and making penalties applicable
Sponsored by Sen. Janice Weiner (D)
Topics:Agriculture
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 12, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 18, 2026
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
BACKGROUND —— GENERAL.1). The Code chapter is administered and enforced by the department of agriculture and land stewardship (DALS).2B).6); and a dealer, commercial breeder, or public auction may elect to be issued a state license or a permit.9A). BACKGROUND —— REQUIREMENTS. A registrant or state licensee (registrant/state licensee) is required to maintain business records (records) while a permittee may but is not required to maintain those records.10A). A commercial establishment must comply with DALS’s rules.
Read the full explanation
However, the standard of care for a permittee cannot be more restrictive than the federal Animal Welfare Act. BACKGROUND —— ENTERING ONTO THE BUSINESS PREMISES OF A COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT.10B).10C). In order to enter onto the premises of a permittee, DALS must have reasonable cause supported by an oral or written complaint or a report filed by the USDA. BACKGROUND —— REGULATION OF COMMERCIAL BREEDERS. A commercial establishment that possesses or controls dogs or cats as a commercial breeder operates either as a registrant/state licensee or permittee. A commercial breeder is a person engaged in the business of breeding dogs or cats, or who sells, exchanges, or leases dogs or cats, in return for consideration.2). BILL’S PROVISIONS —— INSPECTION OR MONITORING OF COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS OPERATING AS A REGISTRANT/STATE LICENSEE OR PERMITTEE. The bill provides for inspecting a commercial establishment operated by a registrant/state licensee, or monitoring a commercial establishment operated by a permittee, on both a priority and scheduled basis. DALS inspects or monitors a commercial establishment on a priority basis according to its criteria, which is the same process that exists under current law, with one exception. If DALS enters onto the business premises of a commercial establishment, it must determine whether the registrant/state licensee or permittee is complying with the respective standard of care requirements. For inspecting or monitoring a commercial establishment on a scheduled basis, DALS must enter onto the business premises of each commercial establishment operating as a commercial breeder (state licensee or permittee) once each 12-month period to determine compliance with applicable standard of care requirements. There is no reasonable cause requirement that must support DALS’s entry onto the permittee’s commercial establishment. APPLICABLE PENALTIES.12A).10D).
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
Senate subcommittee
Named February 18, 2026. It hasn’t reported yet.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Iowa Code it changes
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
1 for · 0 against · 0 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
Tried before
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- HF 2039 Relating to the treatment of animals other than agricultural animals by providing for the …90th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- HF 474 Relating to the treatment of animals other than agricultural animals by providing for the …91st General Assembly · In committeeNearly identical
Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.