Sponsors (195)
The bill increases federal enforcement tools to protect animals and reimburse rescuers, improving consistency and speed of action, but does so by expanding seizure powers, penalties, and federal litigation authority—raising costs, legal exposure, and potential pre-adjudication burdens on owners, small businesses, and taxpayers.
People and organizations that rescue or temporarily care for animals seized under the Act (e.g., nonprofits, local animal control) can be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary costs while animals are held pending proceedings.
Animals at risk and the public benefit from stronger, faster enforcement because the Attorney General and DOJ have clearer authority (injunctions, seizure/forfeiture, expanded inspections, and clarified licensing prohibitions) to stop ongoing welfare abuses and make enforcement more consistent.
The Attorney General can bring federal lawsuits to enforce the Animal Welfare Act nationwide, enabling DOJ to pursue uniform, nationwide remedies rather than being limited to narrower administrative actions.
Small animal dealers and exhibitors face much larger potential civil penalties (up to $10,000 per violation per day), materially increasing financial risk and the chance that small operations could be driven out of business.
Owners and organizations whose animals are seized may incur significant costs pre-adjudication because the government can seize animals and charge fees for their care, transfer, or forfeiture before final court decisions.
Expanded Attorney General enforcement and clearer federal-suit authority could shift more disputes into DOJ litigation, increasing federal legal costs and imposing greater litigation burdens on taxpayers and potentially on state/local governments.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Introduced April 30, 2025 by Nicole Malliotakis · Last progress April 30, 2025
Expands and sharpens federal enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by giving the Attorney General clear civil enforcement powers alongside the Secretary of Agriculture. It creates new tools for federal enforcement—injunctions, temporary restraining orders, license revocation, seizure and forfeiture of animals, warrants, and civil penalties (up to $10,000 per violation per day)—and allows penalty proceeds to reimburse people who temporarily care for animals while cases are resolved. The Secretary and Attorney General must adopt a memorandum of understanding within 180 days to coordinate these authorities and share timely information on serious violators. Also clarifies and tightens several statutory definitions and licensing rules (including an explicit ban on dealing or exhibiting animals without a valid federal license), expands inspection authority to cover enforcement of rules and standards, and affirms Congress’s view that federal courts have jurisdiction over violations and enforcement of regulations under the Act.