Sponsors (14)
The bill protects federal funding for jurisdictions that allow dog ownership and affirms a right to own dogs, but it conditions grants in ways that could penalize jurisdictions with dog bans, provoke federal overreach disputes, and include language that may stigmatize Muslim Americans.
State and local governments that allow dog ownership will continue to receive federal grant funding, preserving services and programs those grants support.
Residents and taxpayers who own pets gain an affirmed broad right to own a dog, protecting pet ownership against local bans.
State and local governments that adopt dog-ownership bans could lose federal grant money, reducing funding for local services and programs.
Local and state governments face federal intrusion on animal-control policy by conditioning funding on dog-ownership rules, risking legal challenges and reduced local autonomy.
Muslim Americans and immigrants may be singled out and feel alienated because a non-binding statement condemns Sharia law, raising concerns about religious discrimination.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Conditions federal funding on state/localities not enacting bans on dog ownership and includes a non-binding statement opposing Sharia law while affirming a right to own dogs.
Introduced February 20, 2026 by Randy Fine · Last progress February 20, 2026
Prohibits the provision of Federal funds to any State or local government that enacts a ban preventing residents from owning dogs. It also includes a non-binding congressional statement opposing Sharia law as a foreign concept and asserting that Americans have a right to own a dog. The bill contains a short-title provision and a single operative funding restriction with an accompanying symbolic "sense of Congress."