Virginia 2018 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 872 — Tethering animals; outdoor tethering of companion animals, definitions of adequate shelter and space

Last action — Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

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

This bill died with 2018 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” 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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis.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.

Summary

Provides that outdoor tethering of a companion animal shall not meet the requirement that an animal be given adequate shelter, unless the animal is actively engaged in an agricultural or hunting activity, when it is conducted(i) when the temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower or 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher; (ii) during a heat advisory; or (iii) during a severe weather warning. The bill provides that a tether shall meet the requirement that an animal be given adequate space if it is four times the length of the animal or 15 feet in length, whichever is greater, and does not cause injury or pain or weigh more than one-tenth of the animal's body weight. The bill exempts agricultural animals from existing provisions related to tethering. The bill also authorizes any locality to adopt ordinances that parallel and make more stringent the state law regarding the care of companion animals.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

87 added · 99 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to SB 872 updates the rules for tethering companion animals outside by removing provisions that allowed tethering during specified nighttime hours and when the owner is not present. Now, tethering is only permitted when the animal is engaged in specific activities like agriculture or hunting, and under certain temperature and weather conditions. This change is important as it aims to better protect animals from extreme weather and ensure their welfare when left outdoors.

→
Previous
Latest
SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version 18104860D SENATE BILL NO.
SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version 18106458D SENATE BILL NO.
872 Offered January 18, 2018 A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3.2-6500 and 3.2-6543 of the Code of Virginia, relating to tethering of animals.
872 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources on February 1, 2018) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Spruill) A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3.2-6500 and 3.2-6543 of the Code of Virginia, relating to tethering of animals.
---------- Patrons-- Spruill, Dance, DeSteph, Ebbin, Mason, McClellan, Reeves, Stanley, Sturtevant, Wagner and Wexton;
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
Delegates:
Ayala, Bell, John J., Helsel, Jones, S.C., Lindsey, Simon, Turpin, VanValkenburg and Yancey ---------- Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources ---------- Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
The outdoor tethering of an animal shall not constitute the provision of adequate shelter when it is conducted (a) between the hours of 10 p.m.
The outdoor tethering of a companion animal, unless the companion animal is actively engaged in an agricultural or hunting activity, shall not constitute the provision of adequate shelter when it is conducted (a) when the actual or effective outdoor temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, or 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher;
and 6 a.m., unless the animal is actively engaged in conduct that is directly related to agricultural activity on property whose zoning classification, if any, permits such agricultural activity;
(b) during a heat advisory issued by a local or state authority;
(b) when no owner is on the property;
or (c) during the effective period for a severe weather warning issued for the area by the National Weather Service, including a hurricane warning, tropical storm warning, or tornado warning.
(c) when the actual or effective outdoor temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, or 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher;
(d) during a heat advisory issued by a local or state authority;
or (e) during the effective period for a severe weather warning issued for the area by the National Weather Service, including a hurricane warning, tropical storm warning, or tornado warning.
and does not have weights or other heavy objects attached to it or contain metal chain links.
and does not have weights or other heavy objects attached to it.
The provisions of this definition that relate to tethering shall not apply to agricultural animals.
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

  2. Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2019 by voice vote

  3. Assigned ACNR sub: Subcommittee #1

  4. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

  5. Read first time

  6. Placed on Calendar

  7. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB872S1

  8. Committee substitute agreed to 18106458D-S1

  9. Reading of substitute waived

  10. Read second time

  11. Substitute bill reprinted 18106458D-S1

  12. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

  13. Presented and ordered printed 18104860D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 19 co-sponsors · 128 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Lionell Spruill, Sr.

Co-sponsors (19)

Not signed on (128)

128 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 128 →

"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

Votes

Subjects

public-safety agriculture
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

What does SB 872 do?
Provides that outdoor tethering of a companion animal shall not meet the requirement that an animal be given adequate shelter, unless the animal is actively engaged in an agricultural or hunting activity, when it is conducted(i) when the temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower or 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher; (ii) during a heat advisory; or (iii) during a severe weather warning. The bill provides that a tether shall meet the requirement that an animal be given adequate space if it is four times the length of the animal or 15 feet in length, whichever is greater, and does not cause injury or pain or weigh more than one-tenth of the animal's body weight. The bill exempts agricultural animals from existing provisions related to tethering. The bill also authorizes any locality to adopt ordinances that parallel and make more stringent the state law regarding the care of companion animals.
Who sponsors SB 872?
SB 872 is sponsored by Bryce E. Reeves, William M. Stanley, Jr., Jennifer L. McClellan, Marcus B. Simon, Lionell Spruill, Sr., Jennifer T. Wexton, Rosalyn R. Dance, Cheryl B. Turpin, David E. Yancey, Ayala, Hala S., Schuyler T. VanValkenburg, Joseph C. Lindsey, Frank W. Wagner, Gordon C. Helsel, Jr., Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty", Bill DeSteph, Adam P. Ebbin, Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr., Michael J. Jones, and Bell, John J..
What is the current status of SB 872?
This bill died with 2018 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” 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 872?
Track SB 872 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 872

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 872

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →