UPDATE: After receiving overwhelming opposition from concerned Coloradans and animal welfare and interest organizations, the bill sponsor heard the opposition loud and clear and pulled the bill. Thank you to everyone who opposed this pet tax and informed legislators about its unjust consequences!
Colorado House Bill 24-1163 enters a new level of big government and big taxes. The bill will add a new tax of up to $8.50 (but actually up to $25) on EACH pet and it includes ALL animals, even invertebrates. The tax is paid every year. It also requires every pet to be registered with the State and assigned a “designated caregiver.” If you do not name a “designated caregiver,” the cost for each pet is $25 annually. There is no cap or per household type of maximum taxation. This will also be in addition to any local taxes (like dog licenses).
To summarize how outrageous that is, if someone has 100 aquarium fish or koi in a water garden, they could be paying $850 annually to have those fish. If you do not register a “designated caregiver” with the State that means having 100 aquarium fish will cost you $2,500 annually! Ten pet reptiles will cost $85 to $250 annually. 20 assorted pets (dog, cat, hamster, parakeet, tarantula, 2 snakes, three frogs, and 10 fish) would be $170 to $500 each year for this new tax. This tax would apply to all “pet animals.” A child with an ant farm (ants are invertebrates)… get ready to pay big for those pet ants, parents!
The new “online pet animal registration system” will be created and maintained by the Department of Agriculture. The penalty for not registering your animals is up to $100 per animal (“per unlawful act or violation”). If a good citizen is unaware of this new law, those 100 unregistered aquarium or water garden fish could cost $10,000 in fines!
Per the bill, “pet animal” means: A DOG, CAT, RABBIT, GUINEA PIG, HAMSTER, MOUSE, RAT, GERBIL, FERRET, BIRD, FISH, REPTILE, AMPHIBIAN, INVERTEBRATE, OR ANY OTHER SPECIES OF WILD OR DOMESTIC OR HYBRID ANIMAL SIX MONTHS OF AGE OR OLDER, THAT IS SOLD, TRANSFERRED, OR RETAINED FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING KEPT AS A HOUSEHOLD PET.
The bill does not state any exemption for Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA) Program registered animal breeders/sellers. So the tax could apply to each animal in those facilities that is over six months old. However, those animals under PACFA should not be included since the definition of “pet animal” includes the text, “THAT IS SOLD, TRANSFERRED, OR RETAINED FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING KEPT AS A HOUSEHOLD PET.”
The only animals exempt are “livestock”: COW, HORSE, MULE, BURRO, SHEEP, POULTRY, SWINE, LLAMA, OR GOAT, other working animals on a farm or ranch, and animals raised for “food or fiber production.”
The bill claims it will “connect pet animals with their owners and designated caregivers when and after emergencies occur, and protect pet animals by supporting animal shelters that are caretakers of last resort.” Sounds noble but it will accomplish none of that when people cannot afford to register their pets and also may not want the government taking up more seats in their living rooms. Basically, this bill claims that no person is a responsible pet owner and that people should only be allowed to have pets if they pay more taxes to the government to monitor their pets for them. It is more collective punishment. Because someone abandons their pet, it means that everyone else must pay for it while the people causing any issues will simply not pay the tax.
The bill is titled the “PET ANIMAL REGISTRATION ACT” and it was introduced by Representative Regina English.
The bill has a hearing on Feb. 22 with the House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee. Location: State Capitol, Committee Hearing Room 0107 (basement), 200 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203
Read the bill at https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024A/bills/2024a_1163_01.pdf.
Get full bill details at https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1163.
House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee details: https://leg.colorado.gov/committees/agriculture-water-natural-resources/2024-regular-session
Sample Messaging and Information
Remember to be civl and professional at all times!
Committee email list: UPDATE: We have been informed that this bill has been pulled by the Sponsor due to overwhelming opposition and hearing about the problems that would be caused! Thank you to everyone who opposed this pet tax and informed legislators about its unjust consequences!
Find and contact your Colorado Legislators: Go to this link and find your Colorado Representative and Senator. You can send them the sample email below and call them. If you have a Representative on this Committee (link above), make sure you email and call to tell them that you oppose this bill! The Committee members will be the first to vote. If the bill gets stopped in Committee, then it is dead for the year. https://leg.colorado.gov/find-my-legislator
UPDATE: We have been informed that this bill has been pulled by the Sponsor due to overwhelming opposition and hearing about the problems that would be caused! Thank you to everyone who opposed this pet tax and informed legislators about its unjust consequences!
Email subject line: NO to HB24-1163
Sample Email
As a responsible pet owner and Colorado resident, I oppose HB24-1163. This bill goes too far and creates an overreaching new tax. For many Colorado pet owners, the new tax would be several hundred to more than $1,000 annually just to own the pets that they already have! Many people have more than 100 pet fish or they may be propagating saltwater corals. Both are included as “pet animals” per this bill. Many more Colorado residents have more than 20 combined pets when you include all reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, small mammals, and invertebrates as “pet animals.” This tax is excessive and unjust.
While the intent may be noble, this bill misses the mark by a mile. This does not solve any problems other than taxing responsible pet owners. The irresponsible owners who abandon pets will continue to be there and not paying this tax while the responsible owners will be the only ones paying the tax. It is collective punishment and bad government policy. I have made my own plans for my pets should I unexpectedly pass away or have another emergency and I do not need the government intervening through this invasive and forced act.
While I understand the claimed intent, this bill is nothing more than certain Colorado legislators saying I am unfit as a pet owner and should not be allowed to have pets unless the State oversees me. Thank you for your time. Have a good day.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME and COLORADO ZIP CODE
Sample Phone/Voice Message
A phone call message can be as short as this, or you could read our sample letter above. This is most important for Colorado residents with Representatives on the House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources. (details above).
I am your constituent and I want my opposition to HB24-1163 to be recorded. Have a good day.
