HB 1648 – Impoundment of abused or neglected animals. Prohibits a farm animal weighing more than 50 pounds from being impounded until a district state veterinarian of the Department of Agriculture has examined the animal and determined the animal to be in imminent danger of loss of life, or has determined that the condition or conditions deemed to be in violation cannot reasonably be rectified before the disposition hearing.

HB 1652 (See also HB 1803, HB 1884, SB 931) – National Animal Identification System. Prohibits the Department of Agriculture from requiring participation in the National Animal Identification System without authorization from the General Assembly.

HB 1777 – Animal neglect. Changes the laws regarding the crime of animal neglect by specifying that a person is guilty of the crime when the person acts with negligence in failing to provide adequate care or control over an animal in which he or she has custody or ownership. Eliminates the cap on monetary limits on fines and the penalty of imprisonment for this crime.

HB 1797 – Termination of equine life. Permits the owner of equine to transfer the animal to an animal shelter or rescue ranch for care or humane termination of life.

HB 1931 (See also SB 738) – Concentrated animal feeding operations. Modifies the requirements for the issuance of permits for concentrated animal feeding operations.

HB 1941 (See also SB 941) – Redefines livestock. Adds farm-raised quail and pheasant to the list of animals considered as livestock as it applies to the crime of stealing.

SB 819– Dog fighting. Modifies various provisions relating to dog fighting.

(1) Adds dog fighting to the list of offenses which are subject to the Criminal Activity Forfeiture Act.

(2) Increases the penalty for being a spectator at a dog fighting event from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony for a second or subsequent offense.

(3) Allows any authorized public health official or law enforcement officer to seek a warrant to allow him or her to enter private property to inspect, care for, or impound dogs that are the subject of a dog fighting violation.

(4) Requires any law enforcement officer, who has probable cause to believe a violation of the dog fighting provisions has occurred and who has the authority to make a lawful seizure, to take possession of the dogs and other property used in the violation, and to file with the court an affidavit verifying certain information relating to the violation and stating that he or she has reason to believe a violation has or was about to occur.

(5) Repeals provisions requiring dogs that are subject to a dog fighting violation be kept until a conviction or final discharge occurs with the case.

SB 847– Seed Availability and Competition Act. Creates the Missouri Seed Availability and Competition Act. Requires farmers who want to retain certain patented seed from a current harvest for planting the following season to register with the Department of Agriculture and pay a fee of $7 per bushel of saved seed. A violation of this act is considered a crime of misappropriation of patented seed and is a Class D felony. All other legal remedies are available to the owner of the misappropriated seed.

SB 862 - Private investigations for farm commodities. Establishes notification requirements for entities who conduct private investigations on farms to evaluate the origins of agricultural commodities or to enforce trade agreements or contracts associated with genetically-modified agricultural products. Requires the landowner and appropriate local law enforcement to be notified in writing at least 48 hours prior to the visit, and the landowner shall also be notified on the day of the visit. Violators of the act shall be guilty of trespass and fined no less than $10,000 per violation.

SB 886– Dangerous dogs. Allows any municipality to adopt ordinances, orders, or regulations to control dangerous dogs, provided that no such ordinance, order, or regulation is specific to a certain breed.

SB 898 – Agriculture incentives and programs. Modifies provisions pertaining to the administration of agriculture incentives and programs.

SB 942 – Large Animal Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and Loan Program. Modifies provisions pertaining to the Large Animal Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and the Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Program.

SB 1032 – Dangerous animal registration. Modifies provisions relating to dangerous animal registration by removing the exemption from filing for animal refuges. Requires any animal required to be registered to be identifiable by a microchip or other reliable identification device. Prohibits bringing dangerous animals to a public, commercial, or retail establishment other than a veterinary clinic.