House Business Affairs & Labor

It. Good afternoon or good morning still. Welcome to House committee on Business affairs and labor and our committee will come to order. Ms. Haroja, please call the roll. Representatives Brooks. Present. English Gonzalez. Here. Kelty. Here. Leader. Present. Mabry. Here. Marshall. Here. Morrow. Richardson. Here. Ryden. Here. Sukla. Here. Camacho. Here. Madam Chair? Present. Thank you. I see our bill sponsors are here. Who would like to begin? Majority Leader Duran had to pause there a minute. Thank you Madam Chair, and thank you. Committee. House Bill 1133 is a bill that is near and dear to me. I ran legislation back in 2021 that enacted the Traveling Animal Protection Act. The law prohibited using certain wild animals such as lions, tigers, elephants and other non native animals from being used in performances for entertainment, including like circ parades, animal rides and primarily used for photo opportunities. Since 2021, we have seen startling evidence of groups utilizing an inadvertent loophole. In 2021, we had carved out environmental education programs which are sadly being used to exploit the law claiming elephant performances, for example, at the Larkspur Renaissance Fair qualify under the exemption. This loophole has led to not only…