The 2024 Washington legislative session is officially adjourned! Our team worked hard advocating for animals throughout the legislative process, including testifying in Olympia, meeting with legislators, mobilizing our networks, and providing timely opportunities to take action.
We are proud to share that four important animal bills PASSED and will soon become law! From preventing the farming of octopus and ending the sale of cosmetics tested on animals, to improving the sentencing of animal cruelty crimes and providing services to people and pets during extreme weather events; this achievement represents years of work and tremendous progress for animals in Washington state.
- HB 1961 makes animal cruelty a ranked felony, creating a clear framework for prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges who work on animal cruelty crimes. This bill honors the legacy of Pasado the Donkey, 30 years after the passing of Pasado’s Law in 1994.
- HB 1153 prohibits octopus farming in Washington and is the first of its kind in the world! Octopus farming is a luxury product industry that is unsustainable, environmentally destructive, and inhumane. We are proud to see Washington set a precedent on this issue.
- HB 1097 prohibits the sale of cosmetics that are subject to new testing on animals. There are already thousands of ingredients with a history of safe use, allowing companies to create and sell cosmetics without the need for cruel animal testing.
- HB 1012 helps keep pets and people together by creating a grant program to assist Washington communities and federally recognized tribes provide animal friendly shelters and transportation when they are impacted by extreme weather and/or wildfires.
These wins will make a difference for animals for years to come and we could not have done it without your support!
We are extremely grateful to our partners Animal Rights Initiative, The Humane Society of the United States, The Northwest Animal Rights Network, and others for their dedication to making Washington a better place for animals. Their commitment is a huge part of this year’s success.
As always, we continue advocating for animals everywhere and look forward to future legislative sessions. Thank you for your dedication to ending animal cruelty and supporting our work!
After a very busy session, our team was present when Governor Inslee signed HB 1961 into law. Thanks to the leadership of Representative Sam Low, this new legislation will help get justice for innocent victims and deter reoffending.
