Massachusetts · 194th Legislature (2025-2026) · Bill
H 967: An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in new pet shops
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
H 967 is a bill introduced in the Massachusetts House on February 27, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in new pet shops. It lists 76 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (April 13, 2026): Placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting (under the last sentence of Rule 7A) for a second reading.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
By Representatives Higgins of Leominster and Ferguson of Holden, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 967) of Natalie M. Higgins, Kimberly N. Ferguson and others for legislation to further regulate to sale of certain domestic animals. Environment and Natural Resources.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 63 · Republican 11
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Arciero | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2nd Middlesex |
| James Arena-DeRosa | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8th Middlesex |
| Jenny Armini | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8th Essex |
| Brian Ashe | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2nd Hampden |
| Bruce Ayers | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1st Norfolk |
| Michelle Badger | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1st Plymouth |
| Christine Barber | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 34th Middlesex |
| John Barrett | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1st Berkshire |
| Natalie M. Blais | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Mike Connolly | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 26th Middlesex |
| Manny Cruz | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 7th Essex |
| Leigh Davis | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 3rd Berkshire |
| Marjorie Decker | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 25th Middlesex |
| David DeCoste | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 5th Plymouth |
| Mindy Domb | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 3rd Hampshire |
| Michelle DuBois | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 10th Plymouth |
| Jamie Eldridge | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | Middlesex and Worcester |
| Rodney M. Elliott | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Tricia Farley-Bouvier | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2nd Berkshire |
| Kim Ferguson | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 1st Worcester |
| Mike Finn | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 6th Hampden |
| Carole Fiola | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 6th Bristol |
| Paul Frost | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 7th Worcester |
| Dennis Gallagher | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8th Plymouth |
| Bill Galvin | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 6th Norfolk |
| Colleen Garry | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 36th Middlesex |
| Carmine Gentile | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 13th Middlesex |
| Jessica Giannino | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 16th Suffolk |
| Homar Gomez | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2nd Hampshire |
| Jim Hawkins | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2nd Bristol |
| Chris Hendricks | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 11th Bristol |
| Natalie Higgins | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 4th Worcester |
| Kevin Honan | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 17th Suffolk |
| Tara Hong | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 18th Middlesex |
| Vanna Howard | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | First Middlesex |
| Steven Howitt | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 4th Bristol |
| Brad Jones | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 20th Middlesex |
| Hannah Kane | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 11th Worcester |
| Kristin Kassner | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2nd Essex |
| Patrick Kearney | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 4th Plymouth |
| Meg Kilcoyne | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 12th Worcester |
| Mike Kushmerek | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 3rd Worcester |
| Kathy LaNatra | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 12th Plymouth |
| David LeBoeuf | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 17th Worcester |
| Jack Lewis | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 7th Middlesex |
| Jay Livingstone | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8th Suffolk |
| Hadley Luddy | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 4th Barnstable |
| Billy MacGregor | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 10th Suffolk |
| Adrian Madaro | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1st Suffolk |
| John Marsi | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 6th Worcester |
| Joe McGonagle | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 28th Middlesex |
| Joe McKenna | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 18th Worcester |
| Paul McMurtry | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 11th Norfolk |
| Thomas Moakley | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket |
| Sam Montaño | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 15th Suffolk |
| John Moran | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 9th Suffolk |
| Brian Murray | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 10th Worcester |
| Steve Owens | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 29th Middlesex |
| Angelo Puppolo | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 12th Hampden |
| Adrianne Ramos | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 14th Essex |
| Sean Reid | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 11th Essex |
| Estela Reyes | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 4th Essex |
| Dave Rogers | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 24th Middlesex |
| Lindsay Sabadosa | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1st Hampshire |
| Amy Sangiolo | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 11th Middlesex |
| Adam Scanlon | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 14th Bristol |
| Margaret Scarsdale | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1st Middlesex |
| Greg Schwartz | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 12th Middlesex |
| Dan Sena | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 37th Middlesex |
| Tom Stanley | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 9th Middlesex |
| Bruce Tarr | Co-sponsor | Republican | Senate | First Essex and Middlesex |
| Erika Uyterhoeven | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 27th Middlesex |
| Marcus Vaughn | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 9th Norfolk |
| Tommy Vitolo | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 15th Norfolk |
| Steve Xiarhos | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 5th Barnstable |
| Jon Zlotnik | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2nd Worcester |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting (under the last sentence of Rule 7A) for a second reading
- Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling
- Accompanied by H893 and H943
- Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- Hearing scheduled for 10/21/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
- Senate concurred
- Referred to the committee on Environment and Natural Resources