Florida ALERT
UPDATE: Both Senate bills have their second hearings this week. USARK FL, USARK, and stakeholders will be there! Keep the opposition pouring in! Full details at the Alert link below. Florida residents who have not yet done so should follow USARK FL immediately!SB906: Senate Community Affairs Committee 2/10 @ 4:00PM
404 S Monroe St. Room 301
Tallahassee, FL 32399SB1414: Senate Agriculture Committee 2/11 @ 10:00AM
404 S Monroe St. Room 301
Tallahassee, FL 32399If you think a ban makes sense, please be sure to read our full alert. These bills would all yield many unintended consequences. These proposals are completely misguided and irrational.
It takes less than 10 minutes to learn what is happening and take action. Just click the links below!
ACTION ALERT direct link:www.usarkfl.org/post/2020ban
Facebook ALERT link: www.facebook.com/usarkfl/photos/a.166328888040966/166326754707846 West Virginia Alert
Bills to support!
Georgia Alert
Senate Bill 338 amends Georgia's current "pet dealer" law found at Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 4 of the Official Code of Georgia. The current law covers "dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, or other animals customarily obtained as pets." Fish would be excluded but the number of animals sold requiring someone to have a pet dealer license is decreased drastically (by 33%). Essentially, hobbyists having just one clutch or litter of some herps would be treated like pet shops and major businesses.
Full details at
www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/a.2656047597810510/2704162519665684.
Illinois Alert
Colorado ALERT
BAN on educational outreach programs and more with any animal non-native to Colorado! A hearing has been scheduled for February 13 at 1:30 PM. The language of this bill is confusing for many people, so it is important to read our full alert. Additionally, we have been made aware that, as usual, the animal rights group(s) who wrote and are pushing this bill are intentionally misleading legislators regarding the consequences and impacts.
Full details and alert at
www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/a.398227663592526/2696747393740530.
Washington State ALERT
A traveling animal act bill has been introduced. House bill 2824 (HB2824) will ban certain animals at "any exhibition, public showing, presentation, display, exposition, fair, animal act, circus, ride, trade show, petting zoo, carnival, parade, race, or similar undertaking..."
UPDATE: February 7 was the last day to pass bills out of committee and read them into the record on the floor in house of origin. This bill failed to meet the session cutoff calendar deadline! Thank you to everyone who educated legislators and opposed this bill.
Full details and alert at
www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/a.2656047597810510/2689083401173596/?type=1&theater.
South Carolina ALERT
Two bills have been introduced (and have passed committees) with the stated purpose of protecting South Carolina's native herp species, as there truly is a major problem with overcollection and animal trafficking in the state. The bills also affect activities by responsible keepers and breeders so stakeholders should be fully informed on what is happening and learn what they can do to be involved.
House Bill 4831 has passed the House and is headed to the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee.
Full details at
www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/a.2656047597810510/2656458114436125.
Indiana Update
Oklahoma ALERT
Los Angeles Alert
Crocodile Conservation Fundraiser and IgaunaFest Update
The awesome people behind CrocFest are at it again! They have been helping save crocodiles for 10 years and they want this to be the biggest and best fundraiser yet. To cap off their 20th anniversary of Croc School, they will be holding a huge benefit and auction on April 24 at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm.
All CrocFest proceeds will go to a project in Timor Leste concerning human-crocodile conflict issues involving the saltwater crocodile (
Crocodylus porosus). More details to follow but this will be the first time CrocFest has raised money for a project associated with Salties!
Get all of the details at
www.facebook.com/crocfests or
www.crocfest.org.
The 3rd IguanaFest has been postponed until next year. The new IguanaLand wlll welcome all iguana fans in 2021! Join the group below for updates.
IguanaFest Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/135371496972792 Donate to the USARK Legal Defense Fund
Find A Vet
Reptile Shows and Related Events
Visit our show page at
www.usark.org/list-of-reptile-shows.
Please note that our website is still undergoing work to resolve several issues. Thanks for your understanding and support!