Puppy mill bill still stalled in Ohio House

COLUMBUS

The chairman of a state Senate committee considering long-debated legislation to regulate Ohio’s dog breeders said he would take no further action on the bill unless the two sides of the issue make headway on a compromise.

Sen. Cliff Hite, a Republican from Findlay, made the comments before the Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee had yet another hearing on Senate Bill 130, legislation that has been in the Statehouse for more than five years without final action.

“I’m going to tell you, I’m not fed up, but I’m close,” Hite told committee members Thursday. “I want some type of common ground that we can come closer to.”

SB 130 would require higher-volume dog breeders to obtain state licenses and meet care and housing standards for their animals. Annual licensing fees would range from $150-$750, depending on the number of litters sold.

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