Sponsors (197)
Official title: To amend the Animal Welfare Act to expand and improve the enforcement capabilities of the Attorney General, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 30, 2025 by Nicole Malliotakis · Last progress April 30, 2025
The bill strengthens federal enforcement and agency coordination to remove animals from harmful situations and make violators pay, but it raises the risk of heavy fines, seizures, and compliance burdens for owners and regulated entities while shifting penalty funds and leaving some expectations unenforceable without new resources.
People harmed by animal neglect/abuse and the public: federal prosecutors and courts gain clearer authority to pursue Animal Welfare Act violations and DOJ gains civil-enforcement tools, enabling faster removal of animals from harmful situations and more consistent nationwide enforcement.
Temporary caregivers and the public: individuals or organizations who temporarily care for seized or surrendered animals can be reimbursed for reasonable necessary costs, and courts can require violators to pay for care, transfer, and related expenses, shifting costs onto offenders.
Regulators and enforcement agencies: USDA and DOJ must execute a memorandum of understanding within 180 days to share timely information on repeat violators, improving coordination and oversight.
Small businesses and regulated dealers: civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation per day create a substantial financial exposure that could threaten operations.
Owners and custodians of animals: animals may be seized and permanently forfeited and owners can be charged for transfer and care costs, creating risk of property loss and expenses before final adjudication.
Regulated community and the justice system: expanded enforcement authority and possible DOJ priority shifts could increase prosecutions, compliance costs for dealers/exhibitors, and caseload pressure on DOJ and federal courts.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Strengthens Animal Welfare Act enforcement by clarifying covered acts, expanding DOJ civil authority (injunctions, penalties, seizure), and requiring a USDA–DOJ MOU.
Makes changes to the Animal Welfare Act to strengthen enforcement and coordination between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Justice. It clarifies definitions and covered acts, expands enforcement language to include rules and standards under the Act, authorizes the Attorney General to bring civil enforcement cases (including injunctions, license revocation, civil penalties, and animal seizure/forfeiture), allows penalty money to reimburse temporary caretakers, and requires an MOU between USDA and DOJ to share information on repeat violators. Also expresses the nonbinding sense of Congress that federal courts have jurisdiction to hear enforcement cases brought by the Attorney General under the Act and its implementing rules and regulations.