Issue hub
Animal welfare law decides how animals may be kept, sold, transported, and treated, and who enforces those rules. Follow the bills that touch cruelty and neglect, companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife.
Live bill results for “animal welfare” across the regions we cover, using the same search as the rest of the site.
Bill HR-10910, Companion-animal protections expand nationwide, a bill would amend the Animal Welfare Act to protect companion animals at certain facilities; details on duties and enforcement are not provided. It is at Introduced as of October 26, 2026. Sponsored by James Gallagher (R).
Bill S-4872. Sponsored by Carmen Amato (Republican).
Bill HB-2857, Bill penalizes unlawful entry into animal enclosures, a Pennsylvania bill would criminalize knowingly entering a locked animal enclosure or bypassing its protective structure, with restitution for facility costs and tiered penalties up to a felony. It is at Referred to Labor & Industry as of October 16, 2026. Sponsored by Melissa Shusterman (Democratic), Carol Hill-Evans, Daniel Deasy, Ben Sanchez, Milou Mackenzie, Jeanne McNeill, Tarah Probst, and Zachary Mako.
Bill CD2026-0805, City to tighten dangerous-animal rules, calgary council committee backs a motion to amend the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw to allow animal designations and hold during review. It is at Committee decision as of October 15, 2026.
Bill SB-1201, Animal research grants proposed to boost economy, michigan would create an animal research grant program funded by a new state treasury account, with at least $3 million appropriated each year. It is at Referred To Committee On Appropriations as of October 14, 2026. Sponsored by Roger Victory (Republican), Kevin Daley, Ricky Outman, Ed McBroom, Joseph Bellino, and Dan Lauwers.
Bill SB-1202, Budget funds for animal agriculture alliance, a bill would set aside $2.5 million in general fund appropriations for the Michigan Animal Agriculture Alliance for FY 2027. It is at Referred To Committee On Appropriations as of October 14, 2026. Sponsored by Roger Victory (Republican), Kevin Daley, Ricky Outman, Ed McBroom, Joseph Bellino, and Dan Lauwers.
Bill HR-10774, Cetaceans display ban would curb trade and breeding, house bill would amend two acts to ban cetacean taking, importing, exporting, and breeding for public display. It is at Introduced as of October 9, 2026. Sponsored by Suzan DelBene (D), Maxine Dexter, Suzanne Bonamici, Salud Carbajal, Ed Case, Sean Casten, Kathy Castor, Yvette Clarke, Diana DeGette, Daniel Goldman, Jared Huffman, Val Hoyle, Raja Krishnamoorthi, James McGovern, Seth Moulton, Kevin Mullin, Jerrold Nadler, Eleanor Norton, Andrea Salinas, Mary Gay Scanlon, Adam Smith, Dina Titus, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, and James Walkinshaw.
Bill HRES-1598, Support for Animal Agriculture, house resolution praises animal agriculture and calls on governments to suspend rules affecting livestock production. It is at Introduced as of October 1, 2026. Sponsored by Gabe Evans (R), Jeff Crank, Jeff Hurd, Dan Newhouse, Tracey Mann, Claudia Tenney, Adrian Smith, Kat Cammack, Daniel Webster, Randy Fine, James Baird, and August Pfluger.
Bill HR-1661, SAFE Act of 2025, adds horses and other equines to a federal ban on slaughter for human consumption under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. It is at Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry. as of March 28, 2025.
Bill HR-10627, Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act, sets stricter licensing, inspection, veterinary-care, and public reporting rules for covered animal dealers and exhibitors. It is at Introduced as of September 28, 2026. Sponsored by Raja Krishnamoorthi (D) and Michael Lawler.
Bill HR-10617, VET CARE Act, grants would support high school veterinary work-based learning in areas with veterinarian shortages. It is at Introduced as of September 28, 2026. Sponsored by Shontel Brown (D).
Bill S-4562, Animal cruelty prevention study and grants, a study on risk factors for animal cruelty and a grant program to prevent violence through training, data systems, and rehabilitation. It is at Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. as of May 19, 2026.
Bill HR-9327, Shelter Dogs for CBP Support Program, creates a three-year pilot to adopt shelter dogs and train them as support animals for CBP staff. It is at Received in the Senate. as of September 16, 2026.
Bill HR-3965, PEARL Act Support Dogs, creates a three-year CBP pilot to adopt shelter dogs and train them as support dogs; must start within 60 days of enactment. It is at Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. as of November 20, 2025.
Bill HR-10532, Beagle Liberation Act, would require federally funded research facilities to seek homes for retired dogs and cats when practicable. It is at Introduced as of September 24, 2026. Sponsored by Gus Bilirakis (R), Troy Carter, Brian Mast, Nancy Mace, Nicole Malliotakis, and Randy Fine.
Bill HR-6514, Protecting Animals in Military Training Act, stops use of live animals in Department of Defense live-fire trauma training; requires simulators, mannequins, cadavers, or actors instead. It is at Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. as of December 9, 2025.
Bill HR-4356, Wild Horse and Burro Protection, phases out helicopter and fixed-wing roundups, requires cameras on aircraft, and directs a GAO report on alternatives for managing wild horses and burros. It is at Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. as of July 10, 2025.
Bill HR-10523, Prohibit Dog Breeding for Research, proposes amending the Animal Welfare Act to ban breeding of dogs for research purposes. It is at Introduced as of September 21, 2026. Sponsored by Nancy Mace (R).
Bill HR-10522, Ban HHS Funding for Dog and Cat Research, prohibits HHS spending on using live dogs and cats in biomedical research; seeks stronger federal research spending oversight. It is at Introduced as of September 21, 2026. Sponsored by Nicholas Langworthy (R), Mark Pocan, Eleanor Norton, Randy Fine, Mike Quigley, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Veronica Escobar, Dina Titus, Anna Paulina Luna, Jefferson Van Drew, Lloyd Doggett, Young Kim, Rashida Tlaib, James McGovern, Claudia Tenney, Eugene Vindman, Michael Lawler, Patrick Ryan, J. Correa, and Paul Gosar.
Creates a DOJ section to enforce federal animal cruelty laws and require annual reporting to Congress.
