Legislation - HB0912

Title: Local Government - Trap-Neuter-Return Policies for Community Cats - Requirements and Restrictions (Ash's Law)
Sponsored by: Delegates Guyton, Palakovich Carr, Ruth, Terrasa, Healey, Lewis, and Ziegler
Status: In the Senate - First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
Analysis: Fiscal and Policy Note (Revised)

Synopsis

Establishing that certain provisions of law prohibiting the abandonment or certain neglect of an animal do not apply to a person who is providing care to a community cat under a trap-neuter-return policy; establishing that a local law that establishes a trap-neuter-return policy is subject to certain requirements and restrictions; and providing that the Act supersedes and preempts any law, ordinance, policy, regulation, or rule of any local government body, person, or corporation that restricts the practice of trap-neuter-return; etc.

Committees

Original:: Environment and Transportation Click to view Recorded Media

Opposite:: Education, Energy, and the Environment

Committee Testimony

Witness List

Details

Cross-filed with: SB0750

Bill File Type: Regular

Effective Date(s): October 1, 2026

History

Legislation History
Chamber House Calendar Date 2/05/2026 Legislative Date 2/05/2026 Action First Reading Environment and Transportation Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - First - Local Government - Trap-Neuter-Return Policies for Community Cats - Requirements and Restrictions (Ash's Law) Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 2/10/2026 Legislative Date 2/10/2026 Action Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Vote - House - Committee - Environment and Transportation Proceedings Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/20/2026 Legislative Date 3/20/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/21/2026 Legislative Date 3/09/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments {443425/1 Adopted Proceedings 46 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/21/2026 Legislative Date 3/09/2026 Action Second Reading Passed with Amendments Proceedings 46 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - Third - Local Government - Trap-Neuter-Return Policies for Community Cats - Requirements and Restrictions (Ash's Law) Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/23/2026 Legislative Date 3/11/2026 Action Third Reading Passed (131-0) Proceedings 48 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/23/2026 Legislative Date 3/07/2026 Action Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment Proceedings 46 Click to view Recorded Media

Chamber	Calendar Date	Legislative Date	Action	Proceedings
House	2/05/2026	2/05/2026	First Reading Environment and Transportation
			Text - First - Local Government - Trap-Neuter-Return Policies for Community Cats - Requirements and Restrictions (Ash's Law)
House	2/10/2026	2/10/2026	Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
			Vote - House - Committee - Environment and Transportation	Click to view Recorded Media
House	3/20/2026	3/20/2026	Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation
House	3/21/2026	3/09/2026	Favorable with Amendments {443425/1 Adopted	46 Click to view Recorded Media
House	3/21/2026	3/09/2026	Second Reading Passed with Amendments	46 Click to view Recorded Media
			Text - Third - Local Government - Trap-Neuter-Return Policies for Community Cats - Requirements and Restrictions (Ash's Law)
House	3/23/2026	3/11/2026	Third Reading Passed (131-0)	48 Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	3/23/2026	3/07/2026	Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment	46 Click to view Recorded Media

File Code

Subjects

Statutes