Colorado Bill Prohibits Pet Store Dog and Cat Sales from 2027

CO Legislature Bill Search

Published January 1st, 2026

Detected February 28th, 2026

Summary

Colorado HB26-1011 prohibits pet stores from selling or transferring ownership of dogs and cats beginning January 1, 2027. The bill defines 'broker' and outlines several exceptions, including sales by shelters, rescue organizations, and original breeders.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

Colorado House Bill HB26-1011, introduced for the 2026 Regular Session, will ban pet stores from selling, leasing, bartering, or otherwise transferring ownership of dogs and cats starting January 1, 2027. The bill also defines 'broker' and prohibits them from selling or transferring dogs and cats. Several exceptions are detailed, including sales by animal shelters, rescue organizations, original breeders, and for specific categories like service animals or sales to government agencies. Pet stores may still provide space for adoption displays under certain conditions.

This legislation will require pet stores and brokers operating in Colorado to cease dog and cat sales by the specified date. Retailers must adjust their business models to comply with the new prohibition, focusing on adoption partnerships or other services. The exceptions provided allow for continued transfers by shelters, rescues, and breeders, but clarity on the definition of 'broker' and the 'bona fide owner' exception (limited to three instances per year) will be critical for compliance. No specific penalties are detailed in the provided summary, but non-compliance with state legislation typically carries legal consequences.

What to do next

Review business operations to ensure compliance with the ban on dog and cat sales by January 1, 2027.
Update inventory and sales practices to exclude dogs and cats.
Explore partnerships with animal shelters or rescue organizations for adoption display services if applicable.

Source document (simplified)

HB26-1011

Transfers of Certain Pet Animals

| Type | Bill |
| --- | --- |
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Agriculture |
Concerning the transfer of certain pet animals in Colorado.

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

Under current law, a pet store in Colorado is permitted to sell or offer for sale dogs or cats if the pet store abides by certain requirements. The bill removes the existing permission so that, beginning January 1, 2027, a pet store is no longer permitted to sell, lease, offer to sell or lease, barter, auction, or otherwise transfer ownership of a dog or cat. Nothing prohibits a pet store from providing space for the display of dogs or cats available for adoption if the pet store does not collect a fee from the display and if certain requirements are met.

The bill defines "broker" as a person that, for profit, sells, leases, offers to sell or lease, barters, auctions, or otherwise transfers ownership of, in person or online, a pet animal bred by another person. The bill states that a broker is not permitted to sell, lease, offer to sell or lease, barter, auction, or otherwise transfer ownership of a dog or cat. The bill clarifies that the following are still permitted:

The sale, transfer, or adoption of an animal, including a law enforcement animal, to a governmental agency;
The sale, transfer, or adoption of a guide, signal, or service dog;
The sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog or cat by an animal shelter or pet animal rescue;
The sale or transfer of a dog or cat by the original breeder of the dog or cat;
The sale or transfer of a dog or cat by, or on behalf of, the bona fide owner that is not the original breeder of the dog or cat to a new owner, so long as the bona fide owner does not sell or transfer a dog or cat more than three instances per each calendar year; and
The sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog or cat by a health-related research facility. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Prime Sponsors

Representative

Monica Duran
Representative

Karen McCormick
Senator

Robert Rodriguez

Committees

House

Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources

If you require reasonable accessibility accommodation to access this content, please email accessibility@coleg.gov.

Status

Under Consideration

Introduced

Under Consideration

Upcoming Schedule

1 meeting

Mon

Mar 2

House Third Reading of Bills - Final Passage

10:00 AM House Chamber

Related Documents & Information

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 02/26/2026 | Engrossed | PDF |
| 01/14/2026 | Introduced | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 02/25/2026 | PA1 | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 01/22/2026 | FN1 | PDF |

| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refer House Bill 26-1011, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. | The motion passed on a vote of 9-4. | Vote summary |
Committee Report: PDF
| Date | Amendment Number | Committee/ Floor Hearing | Status | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 02/26/2026 | L.009 | Second Reading | Lost [] | PDF |
| 02/26/2026 | L.007 | Second Reading | Lost [] | PDF |
| 02/26/2026 | L.008 | Second Reading | Lost [] | PDF |
| 02/26/2026 | L.006 | Second Reading | Lost [] | PDF |
| 02/23/2026 | L.003 | HOU Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources | Passed [] | PDF |
| 02/23/2026 | 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 02/27/2026 | House | House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments |
| 02/26/2026 | House | House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee |
| 02/23/2026 | House | House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 01/14/2026 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources |
Prime Sponsor

Rep. M. Duran | Rep. K. McCormick

Sen. R. Rodriguez

Sponsor

(None) Co-Sponsor

(None)