Summary#
This bill would ban farming mink for their fur in the United States. One year after the law is passed, mink may no longer be farmed for fur. Within 90 days after enactment, any mink that are killed must be done using methods that meet the federal definition of euthanasia and are listed as "acceptable" by the American Veterinary Medical Association. The bill sets civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for continuing to farm mink and up to $10,000 for each mink killed in a way that does not follow the required methods.
The bill creates a payment program run by the Secretary of Agriculture to pay owners of fur farms that raise mink. Payments must cover reasonable costs to comply with the ban and the market value (excluding land) of the mink-related portion of the farm, with the valuation date set to the day before the law is enacted. Recipients cannot use payment funds to operate a fur farm and must give a permanent easement that bars future fur farming on the paid area. The Treasury must transfer $100,000,000 to the Department of Agriculture within 60 days to carry out the payment program.
The bill includes definitions for fur, fur-bearing animals, fur farms, and mink. It also says these requirements do not preempt state or local rules that are more restrictive.
What it means for you#
- Mink farm owners: They must stop farming mink within one year and follow the euthanasia rules if mink are terminated. They can apply for payments to cover costs and certain market value losses, but must agree not to use funds to continue fur farming and must give a permanent easement preventing future mink farming on the property paid for.
- Workers and suppliers tied to mink farming: The bill does not detail transition support beyond payments to owners; specific worker or business assistance is not described in the bill text.
- General public and local officials: States and localities may keep or set rules that are stricter than this federal standard.
Expenses#
- The bill requires the Treasury to transfer $100,000,000 to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the payment program. These funds remain available until spent.
- Payments to owners must equal reasonable compliance costs plus the market value of the mink-related portion of the farm (excluding land), with market value measured as of the day before enactment.
- The bill does not provide estimates of total program costs beyond the $100,000,000 transfer, nor does it specify how payment requests that exceed the transferred amount would be handled.
- The bill states its budgetary effects should not be entered on certain PAYGO scorecards.
Proponents' View#
No publicly available information.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.