As landmark pet policy transparency legislation awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature, new research from the Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative finds that California’s rental market routinely leaves renters without critical information about pet policies until after they have invested time and money pursuing a property.

Historic legislation to bring greater transparency to California’s rental housing market has cleared the state Legislature and is headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature.

Michelson Center for Public Policy applauds the California State Assembly’s passage of SB 1296, the Pet Policy Transparency Act, marking a major step toward establishing a more transparent and efficient rental application process for California renters and housing providers alike.

With the California Legislature entering the final stretch of the 2026 legislative session, the Michelson Center for Public Policy (MCPP) has secured a significant policy milestone: a $5 million state budget investment to expand justice-involved workforce development in Los Angeles County. Meanwhile, sponsored legislation advancing workforce pathways, housing transparency, and economic mobility—and support for additional measures that expand opportunity and protect consumers—continues to move through the legislative process.

Thousands more dogs and cats will gain access to affordable spay/neuter services under the 2026-27 Los Angeles City budget, which includes a $1.7 million total increase for life-saving spay/neuter services. This critical investment will support an estimated 10,000–13,000 additional surgeries annually and help reduce shelter overcrowding.

 Michelson Center for Public Policy applauds the Assembly Judiciary Committee’s passage of SB 1296, the Pet Policy Transparency Act, a commonsense transparency bill that requires landlords to clearly disclose rental pet policies before charging an application fee.

Mayor Karen Bass’s proposed 2026–27 City budget increases Los Angeles Animal Services’ (LAAS) budget by just $465,640 (+1.6%) and the City’s spay/neuter fund by less than $1 million. These are marginal adjustments that leave a chronically underfunded system without the resources needed to function effectively. 

Los Angeles incurs millions of dollars each year in avoidable costs related to its animal welfare system. A targeted, near-term investment in spay/neuter and Animal Services staffing through LA’s budget can begin to stabilize the system and address the underlying drivers of these expenses.

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) has released a feasibility study exploring how pet-inclusive housing policies can help address housing and equity challenges across the county.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 519 into law, banning exploitative online pet dealers in California. Authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman, the law closes a major enforcement gap that allowed brokers to sidestep the state’s 2019 ban on pet-store sales of dogs from inhumane commercial breeders. 

The Los Angeles City Council voted 13-0 to exclude shelter animal spay & neuter providers and the Citywide Cat Program from increased coverage newly offered through the City’s Spay and Neuter Voucher Program—an unexpected reversal of their recent vote to expand access to the free voucher.

Los Angeles City Council raises spay/neuter voucher amounts, but underfunding threatens impact. MCPP urges full funding to tackle pet overpopulation and shelter overcrowding.

Colorado makes history with the passage of H.B.25-1207, a groundbreaking pet-inclusive housing law ending breed discrimination and expanding access to pet-friendly, affordable housing. Backed by Michelson Center for Public Policy, the bill supports housing stability for vulnerable renters and their pets.

SB 1233 aims to address the veterinary shortage and reduce pet overpopulation in California, ensuring more timely and accessible spay/neuter services.

Assembly Bill 2012 would require the Department of Public Health to resume collecting specified data, including in-take figures and categories of outcomes such as adoptions and euthanasia, from public animal shelters as part of their annual rabies control activities reporting.

Last week, individuals and organizations advocating for animals rallied at Los Angeles City Hall and asked our city leaders to do more to fix the overcrowding crisis afflicting our local shelters. As the largest private animal welfare foundation in Los Angeles for the past two decades, we feel compelled to weigh in.

Welcome to the Fall 2023 edition of our Michelson Center for Public Policy (MCPP) newsletter. Government is the great lever of change to catalyze sustainable, scalable, and replicable solutions.

Michelson Center for Public Policy applauds Governor Gavin Newsom and California State Legislature for enacting legislation to improve the lives of Californians and their pets

A Key Component to Addressing California’s Homelessness Crisis is Pet-Inclusive Affordable and Temporary Housing. The following is an opinion piece published in Capitol Weekly and authored by Brett Yates, CEO of Michelson Found Animals.

Michelson Found Animals Foundation lauded the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for passing a motion to significantly reduce animal shelter euthanasia