HB 471

relating to the intake and disposition records of animal shelters
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 823, Health and Safety
Code, is amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 823.  ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RELEASING AGENCIES
SECTION 2.  Section 823.001, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subdivision (5) to read as follows:
(5)  "Releasing agency" has the meaning assigned by
SECTION 3.  Section 823.002, Health and Safety Code, is
Sec. 823.002.  EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN COUNTIES, CLINICS, AND
FACILITIES.  Except as provided by Sections 823.003(e) and 823.010,
this [This] chapter does not apply to:
(1)  a county having a population of less than 75,000;
(2)  a veterinary medicine clinic; or
(3)  a livestock commission facility.
SECTION 4.  The heading to Section 823.003, Health and
Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 823.003.  STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RELEASING
SECTION 5.  Section 823.003(e), Health and Safety Code, is
(e)  The executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall [may] require each person operating an
animal shelter or releasing agency to keep the records required by
Section 823.010.  The executive commissioner shall require the
shelter or agency [of the date and disposition of animals in its
custody,] to maintain the records on the business premises of the
[animal] shelter or agency[,] and to make the records available for
inspection at reasonable times.
SECTION 6.  Chapter 823, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Section 823.010 to read as follows:
Sec. 823.010.  INTAKE AND DISPOSITION RECORDS FOR ANIMAL
SHELTERS AND RELEASING AGENCIES.  (a)  Each animal shelter,
including a shelter operated by a municipality, or releasing agency
operated in this state shall prepare and maintain records on the
intake and disposition of animals in the custody of the shelter or
(1)  the total number of live animals for which the
shelter or agency has assumed custody, categorized by species and
(2)  the reason the shelter or agency assumed custody
of an animal, including whether the animal was:
(A)  surrendered by the animal's owner;
(B)  surrendered by the animal's owner and the
owner requested that the animal be euthanized;
(C)  impounded as a stray animal or an animal at
(E)  transferred to the shelter or agency from a
(F)  transferred to the shelter or agency from a
location outside this state; or
(G)  born in the shelter or under the care of the
(3)  the number of animals at the shelter or agency on
the last day of each month, categorized by species and age; and
(4)  the disposition of each animal in the custody of
the shelter or agency, categorized by species and age, including
(B)  was reclaimed by the animal's owner;
(C)  died in the shelter or under the care of the
(D)  was transferred from the shelter or agency;
(E)  was euthanized by the shelter or agency on a
decision of the shelter or agency;
(F)  was euthanized at the owner's request;
(G)  was returned to the field as part of a
(H)  was lost or stolen while in the shelter's or
(b)  In the records required by Subsection (a), an animal
shelter or releasing agency must use:
(1)  for species, the categories of dog, cat, or other;
(2)  for age, the categories of up to five months or
(c)  An animal shelter or releasing agency monthly shall
prepare the records required by Subsection (a).
(d)  An animal shelter or releasing agency shall maintain
records prepared under Subsection (a) until at least the third
anniversary of the date the record was prepared.
(e)  An animal shelter or releasing agency shall make the
records required by this section available to the public by:
(1)  posting the records on the shelter's,
municipality's, or agency's Internet website; or
(2)  for a shelter, municipality, or agency that does
not have an Internet website, making the records available for
inspection and copying in a form regularly maintained by the
shelter, municipality, or agency.
SECTION 7.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an animal placed at or disposed of by an animal shelter or releasing
agency or counted in the shelter's or agency's animal total on or
after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.