Pet Animal Care Facilities Licensing Continuation

Detected March 21st, 2026

Summary

The Colorado Legislature has passed HB26-1183 to continue the licensing of pet animal facilities under the "Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act" until 2041. The bill implements recommendations from the 2025 sunset report, adjusting committee membership, import requirements, holding periods, fee structures, and increasing maximum civil penalties.

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What changed

Colorado House Bill HB26-1183 extends the licensing authority for pet animal facilities by the commissioner of agriculture for 15 years, until 2041, as part of the state's sunset review process. Key changes include amendments to the pet animal advisory committee's membership and term limits, new requirements for importing certain pet animals with veterinary inspection certificates, clarification on minimum holding periods for animal shelters, removal of the maximum fee for facility licenses, and an increase in the maximum civil penalty for violations from $1,000 to $2,500 per violation. The bill also modifies the process for requesting hearings after a cease-and-desist order.

Regulated entities, including pet animal facilities, shelters, and those importing pet animals into Colorado, must review the updated provisions. Specifically, facilities should note the increased penalty amounts and the revised fee-setting process. Importers must ensure compliance with new veterinary inspection certificate requirements. The bill also establishes a 30-day window for requesting hearings following a cease-and-desist order. While no specific compliance deadline is provided in this summary, the changes are enacted as part of a legislative bill, implying they will become effective upon passage and signature.

What to do next

Review updated provisions of the "Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act" (PACFA).
Ensure compliance with new import requirements for pet animals, including veterinary inspection certificates.
Be aware of the increased maximum civil penalty for PACFA violations, now $2,500 per violation.

Penalties

Maximum civil penalty increased from $1,000 to $2,500 per violation.

Source document (simplified)

HB26-1183

Sunset Pet Animal Care & Facilities Act

| Type | Bill |
| --- | --- |
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Agriculture |
Concerning the continuation of the licensing of pet animal facilities by the commissioner of agriculture in accordance with the "Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act", and, in connection therewith, implementing the recommendations contained in the 2025 sunset report by the department of regulatory agencies.

Recent Bill (PDF) Recent Fiscal Note (PDF) Bill Summary:

Sunset Process - House Agriculture, Water, and Natural Resources Committee. The bill implements the recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies in its 2025 sunset review of the "Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act" (PACFA) as follows:

Sections 1 and 2 of the bill continue the commissioner of agriculture's (commissioner) function of licensing pet animal facilities in accordance with the PACFA for 15 years, until 2041;
Section 3 amends the PACFA's pet animal advisory committee (committee) membership structure by requiring the commissioner, on and after January 1, 2027, to appoint 15 members with certain specifications. Section 3 also specifies that members appointed to the committee on and after January 1, 2027, may serve no more than 2 consecutive terms of 4 years.
Section 4 prohibits the importation of certain pet animals into the state without a valid certificate of veterinary inspection issued by an accredited veterinarian in the state of origin within 10 days prior to the pet animal's arrival in Colorado;
Section 5 clarifies that the commissioner is authorized to adopt rules extending the required minimum holding periods for pet animals held by or in the custody of a licensed animal shelter;
Section 6 removes the current maximum fee amount of $700 for pet animal facility license application fees and permits the commissioner to establish the fee amount by rule, which amount must be based on the direct and indirect costs of processing license applications;
Section 7 raises the maximum civil penalty amount for a violation of the PACFA or of a rule adopted pursuant to the PACFA from $1,000 per violation to $2,500 per violation;
Section 8 states that a person that chooses to request a hearing in response to a cease-and-desist order issued by the commissioner for a violation of the PACFA or of a rule adopted pursuant to the PACFA must do so within 30 days after the issuance of the cease-and-desist order; and
Section 9 relocates the statute that establishes the pet overpopulation authority (authority) so the authority is no longer subject to sunset review as part of the PACFA. Sections 10 through 13 make conforming amendments. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) ## Prime Sponsors

Representative

Karen McCormick
Representative

Monica Duran
Senator

Lisa Cutter
Senator

Byron Pelton

Committees

House

Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Appropriations

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Status

Under Consideration

Introduced

Under Consideration

Upcoming Schedule

1 meeting

Tue

Mar 24

House General Orders - Second Reading of Bills

9:00 AM House Chamber

Related Documents & Information

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 02/09/2026 | Introduced | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/11/2026 | PA1 | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/03/2026 | Initial Fiscal Note | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/18/2026 | SA1 | PDF |

| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refer House Bill 26-1183 to the Committee of the Whole. | The motion passed on a vote of 9-2. | Vote summary |
Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adopt amendment L.002 | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Refer House Bill 26-1183, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. | The motion passed on a vote of 9-4. | Vote summary |
Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF
| Date | Amendment Number | Committee/ Floor Hearing | Status | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 03/09/2026 | L.002 | HOU Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources | Passed [*] | PDF |
* Amendments passed in committee are not incorporated into the measure unless adopted by the full House or Senate.

** The status of Second Reading amendments may be subsequently affected by the adoption of an amendment to the Committee of the Whole Report. Refer to the House or Senate Journal for additional information.

| Date | Location | Action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/20/2026 | House | House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 03/09/2026 | House | House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations |
| 02/09/2026 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources |
Prime Sponsor

Rep. M. Duran | Rep. K. McCormick

Sen. L. Cutter | Sen. B. Pelton

Sponsor

(None) Co-Sponsor

(None)

Quick Links

Named provisions

Pet Animal Advisory Committee Importation of Pet Animals Minimum Holding Periods for Pet Animals License Application Fees Civil Penalty Amounts Hearings on Cease-and-Desist Orders