Relating to the intake and disposition records of animal shelters and releasing agencies.

HB 471 requires animal shelters and "releasing agencies" (such as adoption centers) in Texas to maintain detailed records of animals in their care. Specifically, shelters must track intake reasons (e.g., owner surrender, strays, births), monthly animal counts by species/age, and final dispositions (e.g., adoption, euthanasia) for each animal. The law exempts small counties (under 75,000 population), veterinary clinics, and livestock facilities from these requirements. This bill, filed in 2024 and referred to the Public Health committee, creates standardized reporting for shelters to improve transparency in animal care operations.