HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4910        FILED ON: 7/11/2025

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Shirley B. Arriaga

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to protecting Avian rights and restricting ongoing trade.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Shirley B. Arriaga

8th Hampden

7/11/2025

Rodney M. Elliott

16th Middlesex

7/28/2025

Natalie M. Higgins

4th Worcester

8/1/2025

John J. Marsi

6th Worcester

8/1/2025

Margaret R. Scarsdale

1st Middlesex

8/1/2025

Michelle M. DuBois

10th Plymouth

8/11/2025

James K. Hawkins

2nd Bristol

8/11/2025

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

8/28/2025

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

8/28/2025

Steven George Xiarhos

5th Barnstable

9/3/2025

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

9/15/2025

James C. Arena-DeRosa

8th Middlesex

9/15/2025

Patrick M. O'Connor

First Plymouth and Norfolk

10/8/2025

Michelle L. Badger

1st Plymouth

10/22/2025

Tara T. Hong

18th Middlesex

11/7/2025

Kristin E. Kassner

2nd Essex

11/7/2025

Erika Uyterhoeven

27th Middlesex

11/7/2025


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4910        FILED ON: 7/11/2025

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By Representative Arriaga of Chicopee, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Shirley B. Arriaga relative to the sale of parrots.  Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

_______________

 

An Act to protecting Avian rights and restricting ongoing trade.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 140 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 141D the following section: -

Section 141E. (a) For purposes of this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Animal rescue organization”, a non-profit organization engaged in the rescue and placement of animals that: (i) is registered with the department of agriculture; (ii) does not breed animals and is not located on the same premises as any person or entity that breeds animals; and (iii) does not obtain animals in exchange for payment or compensation from a person or entity that breeds or brokers animals.

“Parrot”, a bird belonging to the order Psittaciformes.

(b) No person shall sell, offer to sell, exchange, trade, barter, lease or transfer for permanent physical placement a parrot. A person may surrender or otherwise transfer for permanent physical placement without compensation a parrot to: (i) an animal rescue organization; or (ii) a public animal control facility or shelter. An animal rescue organization or a public animal control facility or shelter may transfer a parrot to an individual for permanent physical placement without compensation.

(c) A violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000. Each parrot sold, exchanged, traded, bartered, leased or transferred for permanent physical placement in violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense.

(d) A city or town shall enforce this section through its animal control officers or police officers in a manner consistent with the disposition provisions in section 21D of chapter 40.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect 180 days following its passage.