Sponsors (2)
The bill strengthens and standardizes retirement and placement protections for many federal research animals—notably nonhuman primates—and channels placements to accredited sanctuaries and nonprofits, but it raises costs and administrative burdens, risks placement delays if sanctuary capacity is limited, and specifically excludes mice and rats so the majority of lab animals remain uncovered.
Federal research animals (other than mice and rats), especially nonhuman primates, will be eligible for retirement and placement in accredited sanctuaries, rescues, or shelters, increasing their chances for lifetime, specialized care.
Federal research facilities will be required to follow Animal Welfare Act standards and adopt standardized placement rules within a short timeline, creating clearer and more consistent protections across federal labs.
The bill encourages collaboration with 501(c)(3) nonprofits to handle retirements, leveraging experienced organizations to manage placements and reducing the operational burden on federal facilities.
Excluding mice (Mus) and rats (Rattus) from the definition of 'covered animal' leaves the vast majority of laboratory animals without retirement or placement protections.
Requiring placement of nonhuman primates in accredited sanctuaries could create bottlenecks and delays if sanctuary capacity is limited, postponing retirements and transfers.
Meeting new placement, transport, and long‑term care requirements will increase costs for federal agencies and taxpayers for transport, veterinary care, and sanctuary contracts.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires federal research/exhibit agencies to adopt rules to retire animals no longer needed and place them with rescues, sanctuaries, shelters, or individuals, mandating sanctuaries for nonhuman primates.
Introduced March 24, 2026 by Susan Margaret Collins · Last progress March 24, 2026
Requires federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities that operate laboratory animal facilities or exhibit animals to follow Animal Welfare Act standards and to issue, within 90 days of enactment and after public notice-and-comment, regulations to retire animals that are no longer needed for research. Animals determined "suitable for retirement" must be facilitated for adoption or placement with rescue organizations, sanctuaries, shelters, or individuals, with a requirement that nonhuman primates be placed in sanctuaries when retired. Adds several definitions (for example, "animal sanctuary," "covered animal," and "nonprofit organization"), directs agencies to collaborate with nonprofit organizations and to consider national placement beyond the immediate vicinity, and clarifies that the new rules do not preempt state or local laws that are more protective of animal welfare. It also makes technical changes to related Animal Welfare Act citations.