Welcome to Senator Linda Holmes legislative website

Holmes bans abusive traveling animal exhibitors from exploiting wild animal species

• Traveling Animal Acts
• Severe and Chronic Stress
• HB4255

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Linda Holmes maintains her ongoing commitment to lead legislation that would restrict owners of traveling animal acts from using wild animals in their shows through a measure she passed Wednesday to add specific breeds to the banned species list.

“I passed legislation in 2017 to ban the use of elephants in circuses and other traveling exhibitions that cannot provide the animals adequate living conditions, and we’ve added more species to the ban over the years,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “These animals spend most of their lives in cramped, filthy cages under severe and chronic stress. It is cruel and heartbreaking to witness.”

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Holmes drives statutory guidance for courts to resolve splitting domestic partners’ disputes over pet custody

• Pet Possession Conflicts
• HB4540
• Companion Animals
• Separation

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Linda Holmes remains a leader in Illinois legislation to eliminate hazardous conditions for animals of all sizes, as evidenced by a measure approved this week that would provide statutory guidance to Illinois courts to resolve pet possession conflicts when their unmarried parents separate.

“Laws are revised over time to reflect changing norms in every aspect of our daily lives. Family roles change, and families see pets as adored family members rather than property,” Holmes (D-Aurora) said. “If the future residence of a companion animal is in question when family members separate, the courts need guidance in considering the best outcome for the animal’s consistent caregiving and comfort.”

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Holmes’ growing list of banned species wrangles exploited wild animals away from traveling exhibitors

• Traveling Animal Acts
• Banned Wildlife Breeds
• Inadequate Living Conditions
• Severe and Chronic Stress
• HB4255

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Linda Holmes continues to lead measures to restrict species from owners of traveling animal acts by adding more specific breeds to the list of wildlife banned for this use.

“In 2017, I passed legislation to ban the use of elephants in circuses and other traveling exhibitions that cannot provide the animals adequate living conditions, and we have added more and more species to the ban over the years,” Holmes (D-Aurora) said. “These animals spend most of their lives in cramped, filthy cages under severe and chronic stress. This cruelty must stop.”

House Bill 4255 would add specific breeds to the offense of unlawful use of animals in traveling acts to include cougars, jaguars, leopards, lions, tigers, non-human primates, bears, and all elephants, not just endangered species. It also adds any hybrids of these animals. Anyone knowingly using a covered animal would be committing a Class A misdemeanor.

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Holmes measure sets statutory guidance for courts resolving pet custody in domestic partnerships

• Pet Possession Conflicts
• Unmarried Partners
• Modern Animal Welfare Standards
• HB4540

SPRINGFIELD – A consistent advocate for legislation to end unsafe conditions for animals, State Senator Linda Holmes is leading a proposal that would bring statutory guidance to Illinois courts to resolve pet possession conflicts when their unmarried parents separate.

“Laws need to reflect how family roles change over time, and how more people see their pets as beloved family members rather than property,” Holmes (D-Aurora) said. “If those roles change and the future residence of a companion animal is in question, the courts need guidance to reflect that not every family starts with a married man and woman whose pet is considered an asset rather than a furry family member whose wellbeing is at stake.”

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