Washington state law issues

Please read this:

House Bill 1725 will make ownership of many snakes and lizards in Washington State a crime. Larger species of pythons, boas, monitors as well as helodermas have been singled out in this bill.

People owning animals listed in this bill prior to its effective date could only continue to keep their animals after complying with impossibly complex and expensive restrictions.
These restrictions include $250,000.00 liability per animal, permits, fees, warning signs at all entrances, inspections and much more.

There could be no new owners and if there were any grandfathered animals still alive, breeding those animals could become very problematic.

Full Story here:

http://www.blarg.net/~boa/hb1725.html

Note:
This bill has stalled in committee
While no one has yet driven a stake through the monsters heart it hasn't moved in some time now.

i was a part of that, as i'm part of PNHS.. There was a huge uproar about that bill, and it was not passed.. there is word of them bringing the bill back up under the table so to speak, but nothing has come of it...

Unfortunately, a bill like this must be watched and tracked very carefully. Oftentimes bills like this that get tabled will be piggybacked as part of another bill(a herp restriction law being an ammendment to a forestry bill for instance)so that it flies in under the radar so to speak.
However, if your group had a strong enough voice to help get it tabled the first time around, hopefully you will be able to continue keeping it off the books.

Hey Kestrel,

I am joining PNHS after xmas. Didn't know you posted here.

Even tho this bad boy has stalled...like it has been said before we need to keep a watch over it so it dos not sneak up on us.

Ciao

oh are ya? whats your name? do i know you?

yeah.. but what happened the first time around, its unlikely that it'll ever pass.. lol.. the ASPCA sent these 2 16 year old kids to defend their side of the arguement, while "our" side sent one of the leading herp and exotics vets.. he argued a very good case.. "So are you going to ban Cheeseburgers, and pittbulls too? they kill ALOT more people then herps do".. lol.

We have been keeping an eye on a similiar bill here in NYS. Even though our bill has also stalled, we have to keep on top of it every second because they rewrite it and try again. The legislaters are sneaky buggers, watch your back.