Washington 2023-2024 Regular Session Status: Introduced 3 R cosponsors

SB 5976 — Controlling dogs at large.

Last action — Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 8:00 AM.

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  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

2 changes Share ↗

Compared against the Revised Code of Washington as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 2 section(s) of the Revised Code of Washington: RCW 16.08.070; RCW 16.08.100.

  • RCW 16.08.070

    owner having received notice of such and the dog again aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of humans. (3) "Severe injury" means any physical injury that results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery. (4) "Proper enclosure of a dangerous dog" means, while on the owner's property, a dangerous dog shall be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure, suitable to prevent the entry of young children and designed to prevent the animal from escaping. Such pen or structure shall have secure sides and a secure top, and shall also provide protection from the elements for the dog. (5) "Animal control authority" means an entity acting alone or in concert with other local governmental units for enforcement of the animal control laws of the city, county, and state and the shelter and welfare of animals. In the absence of an animal control authority, local law enforcement is the animal control authority.

    amended

  • RCW 16.08.100

    twenty → nd cer ie r the nf le for ym dog wi be iencie or 20 the burden of showing that the owner of the dog either knew or should have known that the dog was potentially dangerous as defined in this chapter. The state may not meet its burden of proof that the owner should have known the dog was potentially dangerous solely by showing the dog to be a particular breed or breeds. In addition, the dog shall be immediately confiscated by an animal control authority, quarantined, and upon conviction of the owner destroyed in an expeditious and humane manner. (4) An animal control authority may destroy any dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog found running at large if the owner cannot be determined using reasonable means. The animal control authority may also capture such a dog in an expeditious and humane manner. --- END ---

    amended

Action History

  1. Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 8:00 AM.

  2. First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

  3. Prefiled for introduction.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 148 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (148)

148 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 5976?
SB 5976 is sponsored by Judy Warnick (Republican), Phil Fortunato (Republican), and Shelly Short (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 5976?
This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 5976?
Track SB 5976 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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