Bipartisan coalitions support low-cost spay/neuter services, strengthen legal recourse options for neglect, and empower counties to counteract roadside animal sales

Austin, Tx. (November 13, 2025)—Today Humane World Action Fund, formerly called Humane Society Legislative Fund, released its 2025 Texas Humane Scorecard. The scorecard, released by the nation’s leading political animal advocacy organization, evaluates Texas’s state lawmakers on their actions during the most recent legislative session to advance animal protection and serves to help voters understand where their elected officials stand on animal welfare issues.

Texas took major steps forward for animal welfare this legislative session with new laws that close cruelty statute loopholes, ban exploitative roadside animal sales in key counties, and fund low-cost spay/neuter programs to reduce pet overpopulation.

“These victories show what’s possible when legislators cooperate across the aisle to prioritize animal welfare,” said Alex Gamez, Texas state director for Humane World Action Fund. “We encourage county and local leaders across Texas to follow the state legislature’s lead—whether by adopting roadside sales bans where authorized, supporting spay/neuter programs in their communities, or strengthening enforcement of animal protection laws. Together we can build on this progress and create safer, more humane communities for animals throughout the state.”

Nearly all Texas Senators—27 in total—scored 100% on the scorecard, with two members scoring 75%. Additionally, 80 Texas Representatives received a perfect score. However, 29 state representatives scored below 33%, including the nine who scored 0%, highlighting a divide in support for animal protection legislation among Texas lawmakers in 2025 despite these promising victories.

About the scorecard

The 2025 Texas Humane Scorecard features the following bills. Humane World Action Fund only scores bills that receive roll-call votes to accurately reflect legislators’ actions. When reading the scorecard, a ✓ indicates a pro-animal action.

  • Pancho’s Law (HB 285): Named in memory of Pancho, a dog killed while in a trainer’s care, this Texas law closes a cruelty statute loophole by allowing prosecution of acts committed with criminal negligence. Previously, cases involving clear harm often went unpunished, leaving negligent trainers, boarders and groomers unaccountable. The law ensures more cases can be prosecuted while protecting veterinary professionals acting within their scope of practice. Sponsored by Rep. Claudia Ordaz (D-79) and passed into law.
  • Roadside Animal Sales Ban in Border Counties (HB 2731): Allows certain counties to prohibit transient sales of cats and dogs in parking lots or roadsides. These sales often result in impulse purchases of sick or poorly bred animals that end up in overburdened shelters. The law enables border counties including Webb, El Paso, Cameron and Hidalgo to stop these sales, reducing animal suffering and promoting responsible pet acquisition. A broader provision for counties with more than 500,000 residents was removed before passage. Sponsored by Sen. Juan Hinojosa (D-20) and Rep. Sergio Muñoz (D-36) and passed into law.
  • “Spay. Neuter. Adopt.” License Plate Program (SB 1568): Creates a new specialty license plate promoting responsible pet ownership, with $22 from each sale directed to a state fund for low-cost spay/neuter services, prioritizing rural and underserved areas. Paired with the legislature’s $13 million spay/neuter pilot appropriation, this program will significantly expand access and help reduce pet overpopulation. Sponsored by Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-21) and Rep. Pat Curry (R-56) and passed into law.
  • Roadside Animal Sales Ban in Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties (HB 2012): Grants Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties authority to prohibit roadside and parking lot sales of live animals in unincorporated areas. These sales often involve cats and dogs from unsafe, unregulated sources, leading to animal suffering, consumer deception, and increased shelter intakes. Targeting these high-population counties adjacent to Harris County, the law closes a state law loophole and supports responsible pet acquisition. Sponsored by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-4), Rep. Cecil Bell (R-3) and Rep. Janis Holt (R-18) and passed into law.

As the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal protection, Humane World Action Fund publishes state legislative and congressional scorecards to track the relevant votes, co-sponsorships and other actions of lawmakers. These scorecards highlight which lawmakers are leading on animal protection, and which ones need greater pressure to act. Explore all our scorecards online, including the 2023 version for Texas, at humaneaction.org/humane-scorecard.

Media Contact: 
Liz Bartolomeo: ebartolomeo@humaneaction.org, 240-472-0475