SENATE ECONOMIC GROWTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 261

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 11, 2025

      The Senate Economic Growth Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 261.

      As reported, this bill, designated as the “Compassion for Community Cats Law,” provides for the spaying and neutering of stray or feral cats.

      In particular, the bill provides, with limited exceptions, that:

      (1)  no cat may be released for adoption from an animal rescue organization facility, shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound unless the cat has been spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian; and

      (2)  any community cat trapped and impounded at a shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound, or trapped and taken to an animal rescue organization facility, must be spayed or neutered, ear-tipped, and vaccinated against rabies before being returned to the location where the community cat was trapped or given to a person assuming ownership of the community cat.

      The spaying and neutering requirements do not apply to a cat or a community cat that:

      (1)  is less than two months old;

      (2)  a licensed veterinarian determines cannot be spayed or neutered for other health reasons affecting the cat;

      (3)  is placed in a foster home or transferred to another shelter, pound, kennel operating as a shelter or pound, or animal rescue organization facility by a shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound; or

      (4)  is to be euthanized in accordance with State law.

      The bill authorizes an animal rescue organization facility, shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound to charge the cost of spaying or neutering the cat to the person assuming ownership of the cat. 

      The bill also amends various sections of existing law to allow for the implementation of the new spaying and neutering requirements established by the bill and other provisions of the bill.  The bill authorizes the Department of Health (DOH) to adopt regulations necessary to implement grant programs and fund the spaying and neutering requirements established in the bill.

      The bill establishes the “Compassion for Community Cats Fund” in the DOH to provide grants to municipalities and counties to establish programs to humanely trap community cats, and sterilize, ear-tip, and vaccinate them against rabies, and return each community cat to the location where the cat was trapped.  The “Compassion for Community Cats Fund” is to be credited with the monies collected for violations of the bill, the surcharge on dog licenses, any moneys appropriated by the Legislature, and any return on investment of moneys deposited in the fund.

      Finally, the bill repeals N.J.S.A.4:19-15.30 and N.J.S.A.4:19-15.31, known as the “Pet Sterilization Pilot Program."

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.