Sponsors (197)
The bill strengthens federal enforcement tools and coordination to remove animals from harmful situations and reimburse caregivers, but it raises the risk of substantial fines, seizures, and added compliance and caseload burdens for regulated parties and the courts.
Law enforcement, DOJ/federal prosecutors, and animal-protection groups can pursue Animal Welfare Act violations in federal court and obtain injunctions and civil penalties, enabling faster removals of animals and more consistent nationwide enforcement.
Nonprofits and others temporarily caring for seized or surrendered animals can be reimbursed from civil penalties for reasonable and necessary costs of care and transfer.
The USDA and DOJ will be required to sign a memorandum of understanding to share timely information on repeat violators, improving interagency coordination and oversight of regulated facilities.
Small businesses, exhibitors, and animal owners face large civil penalties (up to $10,000 per violation per day), risk of seizure and permanent forfeiture of animals, and being charged for care/transfer costs even before final adjudication.
Owners and custodians risk losing property (animals) and incurring significant expenses prior to resolution of adjudication, raising rights and due-process concerns.
Expanded DOJ authority and references to increased enforcement could raise prosecutions and administrative actions, increasing compliance costs for regulated dealers and exhibitors and potentially straining DOJ and federal courts if resources are not added.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Expands Animal Welfare Act enforcement: clarifies terms, requires Secretary-issued licenses for sale/transport/exhibit, gives the Attorney General federal civil enforcement and seizure powers, and mandates an AG–USDA MOU.
Introduced April 30, 2025 by Nicole Malliotakis · Last progress April 30, 2025
Updates the Animal Welfare Act to broaden and clarify enforcement tools: it tightens definitions, requires a Secretary-issued license for covered acts like exhibiting, selling, buying, offering, or transporting animals, and expands civil penalties and remedies. The measure gives the Attorney General explicit federal civil enforcement authority, including injunctions, license revocation, seizure and forfeiture of animals, and civil penalties (up to $10,000 per violation per day), and allows courts to issue warrants and assess costs for transfer and care of seized animals. The bill also authorizes penalty funds to reimburse people who must temporarily care for animals during proceedings, adds a severability clause, removes one existing sentence from the statute, and requires the USDA Secretary and Attorney General to enter a memorandum of understanding within 180 days to coordinate enforcement and share information about repeat violators. It expresses Congress’ nonbinding view that federal courts have jurisdiction over these enforcement actions and that the Attorney General may bring them in federal court, including for rules and regulations under the Act.