Senate advances eviction-notice bill to require animal-control notice and 5-day hold

Senator Plumb sponsored a substituted Senate Bill 116 aimed at improving outcomes when animals are impounded during evictions. The substitute removes certain fee limits from the original draft, clarifies the term “personal animal” so pets are not treated as ADA-related service animals, and adds a requirement for animal-control officers to respond and a five-day hold for impounded animals following eviction-related impounds.

Plumb told the Senate the bill grew from input from animal-control and property-management stakeholders and was intended as a practical compromise to help both tenants and property owners. She cited data reported to sponsors that showed a tripling of eviction-related impounds in Davis County between 2022 and 2023.

Senators asked how long shelters must hold animals and the sponsor said the substitute clarifies a five-day hold, aligning eviction impounds with standard stray-impound timelines to avoid creating extended holding obligations for shelters. Supporters said the change would smooth reunification and reduce calls to landlords and animal-control agencies.

The Senate adopted the substitute and recorded a favorable roll call; the clerk reported 26 yay votes, 0 nay votes and three senators absent. The bill will proceed in the legislative process.