A new bill introduced in Colorado could impose a ‘pet tax’ on all non-livestock animals, sparking widespread criticism for its financial implications on pet owners.
By yourNEWS Media Staff
Colorado’s state legislature is under scrutiny for introducing a bill that could mandate a ‘pet tax’ on every non-livestock animal within the state. Democrat Regina English sponsors the bill, HB24-1163, which necessitates all pet owners to register their animals in a state-administered system, attracting backlash for the proposed steep fees.
The ‘Pet Animal Registration Act’ suggests an annual registration requirement for pets, featuring a fee structure that disproportionately affects those unable to afford it. Fees are set at $8.50 for pets with a designated caregiver, $16 for unneutered or unspayed pets with a caregiver, and $25 for pets lacking a caregiver. This fee schedule extends to a wide range of animals, including dogs, cats, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and even invertebrates, leaving no pet owner exempt.
Critics argue that the financial burden could be overwhelming for families with multiple pets or breeders and sellers, who may face this tax for each animal older than six months in their care. For example, a household with 100 aquarium fish could face up to $2,500 annually in taxes without designated caregivers, as highlighted by US Ark. A diverse collection of 20 pets could incur annual taxes ranging between $170 to $500, not sparing even a child’s ant farm from this wide-reaching legislation.
The Department of Agriculture is tasked with creating and managing an “online pet animal registration system,” setting fines up to $100 per unregistered animal for non-compliance. This could lead to significant penalties for pet owners unaware of the registration requirement, potentially facing up to $10,000 in fines for unregistered aquarium fish.
While the bill aims to connect pets with their owners or designated caregivers during emergencies, the approach—a tax—has faced significant opposition. Many pet owners view this registration system as an unnecessary state intrusion into private lives, fearing it may deter individuals from adopting pets and increase the burden on animal shelters.
The hearing for the bill is scheduled for February 22 at the State Capitol, with opponents preparing to challenge what they perceive as a revenue-generating measure rather than an authentic attempt to enhance animal welfare.
By implementing this ‘pet tax,’ Colorado risks establishing a precedent that animal companionship is a privilege only available to those willing to submit to government oversight of their pets. The bill’s summary outlines the development and maintenance of the pet animal registration system by the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, detailing fees, responsibilities, and penalties associated with non-compliance.
This controversial legislation has sparked a debate on the balance between ensuring animal safety and the financial and privacy concerns of pet owners, with many calling for a reconsideration of the bill’s provisions.
Read the bill summary:
The bill requires the commissioner of the department of agriculture (commissioner) to develop, implement, and maintain an online pet animal registration system (system).
The bill establishes the pet animal registration enterprise (enterprise) in the department of agriculture to provide business services to pet animal owners who pay pet registration fees to the enterprise by developing, implementing, maintaining, and administering the pet animal registration system, connecting pet animals with their owners and designated caregivers when and after emergencies occur, and protecting pet animals by supporting animal shelters that are caretakers of last resort.
A pet animal owner must register the pet animal in the system annually for a fee set by the enterprise, which must be no more than $8.50 annually per pet animal with a designated caregiver, $16 annually per pet animal that is a dog or cat that is not neutered or spayed and has a designated caregiver, and $25 annually per pet animal without a designated caregiver. The fee set by the enterprise is in addition to any pet registration or licensing fee assessed by any other jurisdiction. The enterprise will collect both state and local fees and transmit any fee levied by another jurisdiction to that jurisdiction and the fee levied by the state to the newly created pet animal registration cash fund. The state’s fee will be used to develop, implement, maintain, and administer the system and reimburse animal shelters for the cost of taking custody of a pet animal for which a caregiver cannot be located or has refused to take custody.
The bill also requires a pet animal owner to designate a caregiver for the owner’s pet animal. The caregiver is responsible for the care and safekeeping of the pet animal during an emergency that incapacitates the pet animal owner. First responders will use the system to identify the designated caregiver of the pet animal and notify the caregiver of the incapacitation of the pet animal’s owner. A caregiver must agree to be responsible for the pet animal. If a caregiver later refuses to take custody of the pet animal or cannot be located, a first responder will place the pet animal in an animal shelter. Only first responders and the department of public health and environment are allowed to use the system.
The bill specifies that to own a pet animal without registering the pet animal; to refuse or fail to comply with the provisions of the bill; to make a material misstatement in a registration application, a registration renewal application, or to the department of agriculture; or to refuse or fail to comply with any rules or regulations adopted by the commissioner is unlawful. An unlawful act is punishable by a civil penalty in an amount set by the commissioner but not to exceed $100 per unlawful act. If the commissioner is unable to collect the civil penalty, the commissioner may sue to recover the civil penalty or refuse to renew a registration.
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