BY DAN HILDEBRAN
General manager
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Sen. Jennifer Bradley is making a second attempt to get animals legal representation in Florida courts.
The Fleming Island Republican filed a similar bill last year, but the measure failed to make it out of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee. In 2022, Democratic Sen. Jason Pizzo filed a bill for animal representation, but his proposal also got nowhere.
Bradley represents all of Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Gilchrist, and Union counties in the Senate and a portion of Alachua County.
The proposed law allows judges to appoint an animal advocate in cases where an animal’s welfare or custody is being determined.
The advocate would monitor court proceedings, attend hearings, and present information to the judge relevant to the case.
Under the bill, attorneys or law students could volunteer for the role.
This year, Bradley has filed an additional bill requiring research laboratories to offer animals no longer needed for research to provide the animals to a society or association to prevent animal cruelty. The bill also adds reporting requirements for the labs.
