HB 834 — ANIMALS: Provides relative to animal shelters

HLSENROLLED 26RS-1298 ENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.

834 BY REPRESENTATIVE MCMAHEN ANIMALS:AN ACT ToenactR.S.3:2467,relativetodesignationandoperationofanimalshelters;toprovidefor the care, holding, and disposition of lost, stray, or at-large domestic animals;

Provides relative to animal shelters AN ACT ToenactR.S.3:2467,relativetodesignationandoperationofanimalshelters;toprovidefor the care, holding, and disposition of lost, stray, or at-large domestic animals;

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HLS 26RS-1298 ENGROSSED HB NO.

834 ENROLLED (3) A designated shelter shall comply with applicable state and local laws pertaining to animal shelters.

ThesheltershallscantheanimalforamicrochipandcheckforThesheltershall scantheanimalforamicrochipandcheckfor anyother identifying information, including tattoos or collars with tags or anyother registration information at least twice, with the scans or checks conducted at least twenty-four hours apart.

If the owner is located, the owner shall have seven days Pagefrom 2notification ofto 6reclaim CODING:the animal unless the owner relinquishes the animal to the shelter or another person.

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HLS 26RS-1298 ENGROSSED HB NO.

834 fromENROLLED notification(b) toMaintainscontinuouspossessionoftheanimal. reclaim the animal unless the owner relinquishes the animal to the shelter or another person.

(b)Possessionbytheshelter Maintainscontinuouspossessionoftheanimal.maybeconstructive, andshall includeallowingpersonsto foster animals, provided that any such foster shall return the animal to the shelter upon the shelter's request, unless the hold period has expired and the shelter transfersownershipoftheanimal.

Possessionbytheshelter maybeconstructive, and shall include allowingpersons to fosteranimals, provided that any such foster shall return the animal to the shelter upon the shelter's request, unless the hold period has expiredandthesheltertransfersownership of the animal.

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Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-1298 ENGROSSED HB NO.

834 E.

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This Section shall be construed to promote humane treatmentofanimals, preserve local governmental flexibility, and avoid unnecessaryregulatory burden.

DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.

It constitutes nopart of the legislative instrument.

The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 834 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session McMahen Abstract:

Authorizesandgivesfulldiscretiontoanylocalgovernmentalsubdivisionofthis state to designate an animal shelter to provide services for lost, stray, unowned, or at-large domestic animals.

Requires hold periods, diligent owner notification, and continuous or constructive possession, with the option of shelters to acquire ownership of unclaimed animals.

Proposed law authorizes the local governmental subdivision to designate an animal shelter to provideshelteringservicesforlost,stray,unowned,andat-largedomesticanimalswithin its respective jurisdiction.

Authorizes a designated animal shelter to be owned or operated by a local governmental subdivision, private entity, nonprofit organization, licensed veterinarian, or any other entity reasonably competent to provide sheltering services.

Requires the shelter to comply with the minimum standards of care and operating requirements set forth in present law and anyother applicable state or local law.

Proposed law requires a designated shelter to comply with state and local laws pertaining to animal shelters and gives full discretion to a local governmental subdivision to do the following:

select, contract with, or operate a shelter;

determine the scope of services provided;

enter into cooperative agreements with other local governmental subdivisions;

adopt other local standards or ordinances;

establish longer holding periods by local ordinance;

and revoke anydesignations.

Proposed law authorizes a designated animal shelter to acquire sole ownership of animals undercertainconditions.

Requiresadesignatedanimalsheltertocomplywithallapplicable state and local laws, regulations, or ordinances regarding hold periods.

Further establishes ahold period of at least threedays, exclusiveoflegalpublicholidays, onlyifnohold period is established by a parish or municipality.

Proposed law requires a designated shelter during the hold period to make diligent efforts to identify and notify the owner, including scanning for a microchip, collar, or any other identifying or registration information, including tattoos or collars with tags, at least twice hoursapart and maintaining records.