The Missouri Senate has given first-round approval to a bill that would reverse portions of Proposition B, a ballot measure narrowly approved by voters last year to regulate dog breeders.
The bill would do away with Proposition B’s limit of 50 dogs per breeder, and changes the name of the law from “Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act” to “Canine Cruelty Prevention Act.”
It’s sponsored by State Senator Mike Parson (R, Bolivar).
“We’re gonna have more supervision over the bad operators, and actually the breeding facilities (themselves)," Parson said. "Everybody understands the real problem is the unlicensed breeders, it’s not the licensed breeders, and that’s the people we need to go after.”
The bill’s opponents, including State Senator Jolie Justus (D, Kansas City), decided not to block it.
“The reality is that there weren’t enough people who were opposed to it in the Senate to mount a filibuster," Justus said. "For those of us that are in the minority party and for those of us who are opposed to the changes, it was really important that we get some allies, and there just weren’t any allies out there to help us.”
Justus added that there are several “worse bills” on other issues that may warrant filibuster attempts, although she didn’t name which ones those were.
The Proposition B rollback bill needs one more Senate vote before moving to the Missouri House.
