MichiganSB 02932025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Animals: care and treatment; forfeiture of seized animals and restitution for the animals' care; amend. Amends sec. 50 of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.50).Last Action: ASSIGNED PA 0087'26 WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

Sponsored By: Dayna Polehanki (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Animals: care and treatmentAnimals: domesticAnimals: dogsCrimes: animals

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Animal owners face case-cost payments

Effective immediately, courts may order people convicted of violating animal-care rules to repay costs related to the animal victim. These include investigation, prosecution, seizure, care, housing, veterinary treatment, and disposition. Owners or possessors are responsible unless the court finds the seizure was not substantially justified by law. Costs already paid through a deposit or bond cannot be charged again in the sentence. Courts must explain on the record why they order only some applicable costs or none.

Seized animals: owner hearings and costs

Effective immediately, agencies generally cannot return seized animal victims while an animal-care criminal case is pending, with statutory exceptions. Agencies must consider all the circumstances before seizing a service animal. Known owners must receive notice within 72 hours; authorized alternative notice applies when owners are unknown. The agency holds the animal for 14 consecutive days after notice, including weekends and holidays. Owners or possessors have those 14 days to post a deposit or bond, or serve a hearing request on the agency. The agency sets security within 72 hours of seizure, covering 30 days of costs after a veterinarian's exam. Security must be renewed in 30-day increments while the case continues; agencies can use it for actual, reasonable costs. Requested hearings must occur within 21 days, and prosecutors must show a violation was more likely than not. Courts must consider ability to pay when judging whether security is fair and reasonable. After an adverse hearing, owners have 72 hours to post approved security or lose the animal. Missing a hearing or required payments also leads to forfeiture. A separate court forfeiture process applies when the notice-and-security process was not used. After conviction for violating the animal-care rules, the court must award the animal to the agency for evaluation and disposition.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Dayna Polehanki

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Erika Geiss

    Democratic • Senate

  • Paul Wojno

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rosemary Bayer

    Democratic • Senate

  • Stephanie Chang

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sue Shink

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 113 • No: 28

House vote • 7/3/2026

passed; given immediate effect

Yes: 84 • No: 24 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 9/18/2025

PASSED

Yes: 29 • No: 4 • Other: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. ASSIGNED PA 0087'26 WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

    7/29/2026Senate
  2. FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE 7/27/2026 12:14 PM

    7/29/2026Senate
  3. APPROVED BY GOVERNOR 7/21/2026 1:08 PM

    7/29/2026Senate
  4. PRESENTED TO GOVERNOR 7/14/2026 10:48 AM

    7/15/2026Senate
  5. ORDERED ENROLLED

    7/3/2026Senate
  6. FULL TITLE AGREED TO

    7/3/2026Senate
  7. GIVEN IMMEDIATE EFFECT

    7/3/2026Senate
  8. returned to Senate

    7/3/2026House
  9. inserted full title

    7/3/2026House
  10. passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #292 Yeas 84 Nays 24 Excused 0 Not Voting 2

    7/3/2026House
  11. read a third time

    7/3/2026House
  12. placed on third reading

    7/2/2026House
  13. read a second time

    7/2/2026House
  14. placed on second reading

    7/2/2026House
  15. motion to discharge committee approved

    7/2/2026House
  16. rule suspended

    7/2/2026House
  17. referred to Committee on Judiciary

    9/18/2025House
  18. read a first time

    9/18/2025House
  19. received on 09/18/2025

    9/18/2025House
  20. PASSED ROLL CALL # 229 YEAS 29 NAYS 4 EXCUSED 4 NOT VOTING 0

    9/18/2025Senate
  21. PLACED ON ORDER OF THIRD READING

    9/17/2025Senate
  22. REPORTED BY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FAVORABLY WITHOUT AMENDMENT(S)

    9/17/2025Senate
  23. REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

    9/16/2025Senate
  24. REPORTED FAVORABLY WITHOUT AMENDMENT 9/11/2025

    9/16/2025Senate
  25. SENATE CO-SPONSOR(S) NAMED: PAUL WOJNO

    6/11/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Public Act

    7/27/2026

  • As Passed by the House

    7/3/2026

  • As Passed by the Senate

    9/18/2025

  • Introduced

    5/13/2025

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