State Law Affects Pet Sales Regulations in Texas City

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — The Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, known by opponents as the “Death Star Act,” would strip city governments of the power to regulate pet sales.

HB 2127 does not allow local governments to impose stricter regulations on business and commerce. Local regulations removed by the bill include mandatory water breaks for construction workers, a moratorium on evictions, and protections against predatory financing.

Opponents of the law argue that it targets progressive ordinances passed in each city, while supporters of the law argue that it makes it easier for businesses to comply with statewide regulations. ing.

The bill is generally broad and A city of Austin spokeswoman told KXAN that it could take years before the full law is known..

However, the proposed amendments to the bill are very specific regarding the sale of pets. A provision of this Act states that “local governments may adopt, enforce, or enforce any ordinance or regulation that restricts, regulates, restricts, or otherwise interferes with any business involving the breeding, care, treatment, or sale of animals or animal products. or shall not be maintained.” ”

Will this affect me?

As for the City of Round Rock, this section of the law will have an effect. He has two private businesses that sell pets in the city.

In 2018, the city passed an ordinance This created requirements that businesses must meet in order to sell pets commercially. They include:

• Animals must be at least 8 weeks old or sold with their mother
• Animals must be from Williamson or Travis counties
• If the animal is housed in a cage, the cage should be large enough to allow the animal to move around comfortably within it.
• Cages must have access to food and water
• The cage should be located near heating and cooling and should be made of solid, impermeable metal.

Two privately-owned companies in Round Rock have come under fire. An online petition posted in February called for those types of businesses to be removed from the city.

Mayor Craig Morgan said a group had lobbied the city to ban these types of businesses. Morgan said the city is in very early talks about the possibility of banning future stores from opening in the city, but the new law leaves the city unable to do anything.

The mayor calls the law an attack on local control.

“For me, I think cities need to focus on their core responsibilities, and states should focus on their core responsibilities. It’s gone,” Mayor Morgan said.

What will happen next?

The law has already been signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott and will not go into effect until September 1st. Until then, the city cannot change the ordinance.

The law says cities can keep ordinances passed before April 1 this year. However, the 2018 ordinance will be repealed if the state adopts statewide regulations on pet sales.

Houston leaders sued the state on Monday Try to prevent the enforcement of laws.