Our Legislative Work in the U.S.
FOUR PAWS advocates for animals on the local, state, and federal levels
In the United States, FOUR PAWS works to pass legislation that improves animal welfare on the local, state, and federal level. This session we are supporting bills that protect animals who are used for entertainment, those that live in the wild, those that are bred for the textile industry, as well as farm animals and companion animals. Learn more about the bills we support in 2025 below.
Learn About Bills we Support in 2025
Federal Bills We Support
Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act of 2025 (H.R. 1661, S. 775)
This bill aims to permanently ban horse slaughter in the U.S. and to prohibit the exportation of horses for slaughter abroad.
Latest Action: Senate bill has been read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. House bill has been referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
Mink: Vectors for Infection Risk in the United States Act (Mink VIRUS Act) (H.R. 2185)
This bill aims to protect public health and human safety by prohibiting factory farming of mink for fur and provide compensation for mink farmers to help them transition to a new business.
Latest Action: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture and to the Committee on the Budget
The Puppy Protection Act of 2025 (H.R. 2253)
The Puppy Protection Act would amend the Animal Welfare Act to require improved quality of care standards for USDA dog breeders, including: feedings at least twice a day, protection from weather, solid flooring, and more spacious dog runs.
Latest Action: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
Better CARE (Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement) for Animals Act of 2025 (H.R.3112/S.1538)
This bill will strengthen enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) by providing the Department of Justice (DoJ) with the same enforcement authority as the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the AWA. This enables the DoJ to seek stronger penalties for repeat offenders, including license revocations, civil penalties, and the use of seizure and forfeiture of animals experiencing harmful treatment.
Latest Action: Introduced in the House and Senate on April 30, 2025.
Don’t Feed the Bears Act of 2025 (H.R.4422 )
This bill will prohibit the intentional feeding of bears on federal lands, which would prevent the cruel practice of "bear baiting" where bears are lured with piles of food waste and then shot.
Latest Action: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and also the Committee on Agriculture on July 17, 2025.
Captive Primate Safety Act of 2025 (H.R.3199/S.1594)
This bill will crack down on the cruel nonhuman primate pet trade by banning the sale, breeding, and private possession of primates.
Latest Action: Referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works on May 5, 2025.
Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act (H.R.3732/S.1939)
This bill will encourage businesses to donate more excess pet food and supplies by providing liability protections, which will support shelters and reduce waste.
Latest Action: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary in the House and Senate on June 4, 2025.
Cease Animal Research Grants Overseas (CARGO) Act (H.R.1085/S.1802 )
This bill will increase protections for laboratory animals by prohibiting the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from awarding taxpayer-funded financial support to overseas research that uses live animals.
Latest Action: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on February 6, 2025; Referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on May 19, 2025.
The Federal Bird Safe Buildings Act (H.R. 3268)
This bill would require federal buildings to use bird-friendly design practices, such as window treatments and lighting, which are proven to reduce deadly collisions.
Latest Action: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management on May 28, 2025
The Humane Transport of Farm Animals Act (H.R. 5286)
This bill would increase the enforcement of the "Twenty-Eight Hour Law," which prohibits a transport longer than 28 hours of certain farm animals without offloading them for food, water, and rest. It would also prohibit the transfer of vulnerable animals unable to withstand these long journeys.
Latest Action: Introduced in the House on September 10, 2025
City and state bills we support
BILLS BANNING WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES
New York (S.3629A/A.5850): prohibits use of bears, wild cats, nonhuman primates, kangaroos, and wallabies in traveling shows
Latest Action: Passed the Senate
Washington (SB 5065): prohibits use of bears, wild cats, nonhuman primates, and elephants in traveling shows
Latest Action: Success! This bill was signed into law on April 22, 2025.
Bills Banning New Retail Fur Sales
Massachusetts (S. 551/HD 990): prohibit the sale of newly farmed fur products.
Latest Action: Referred to Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Rhode Island (H.5447/S.25): prohibits the sale of new fur-farmed products in Rhode Island
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Hawaii (SB 687/HB 719): It shall be unlawful to sell, offer for sale, possess with intent to sell, display for sale, distribute, or otherwise trade a fur product in the State.
Latest Action: Died in Committee/No longer active
Chicago (Ordinance SO2023-0002983): This ordinance targets fur production due to animal cruelty, environmental pollution, toxic chemicals, and zoonotic diseases like COVID-19.
Last Action: Failed to pass Chicago City Council on March 12, 2025
Bills Banning Private Ownership of Some Wild Animals
Illinois (SB 1192): prohibits private possession of servals, caracals, kangaroos, wallabies, and their hybrids
Last Action: Died in Committee/No longer active
Virginia (HB 1768): prohibits private possession of nonhuman primates
Last Action: Died in Committee/No longer active
Bills Related to Other Captive Wildlife Issues
Virginia (SB 1125): prohibits cruel breeding practices by captive wildlife holders, such as hybrid breeding of tigers and lions, and too early separation of babies from their mothers for entertainment purposes
Last Action: Governor Youngkin vetoed the bill
Bills We Oppose
Bills and amendments that weaken and defund the Endangered Species Act
There have been an unprecedented number of attacks on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2025. From delisting vulnerable animals such as grizzly bears and gray wolves to rolling back habitat protections, opening land to fossil fuel extraction, and allowing harmful substances on protected lands—these anti-wildlife and anti-science bills are harmful to animals, the environment, and people alike. Learn more about bills that are attacking the ESA and what we are doing to fight back.
Food Security and Farm Protection Act (S.1326) and Save Our Bacon Act (H.R. 4673) (rebranded versions of the 2023 EATS Act)
The “Food Security and Farm Protection Act”, (S.1326) and Save Our Bacon Act (H.R. 4673) are two dangerous bills that would undo democratically enacted, constitutionally sound state animal-welfare laws. Factory farming operations, known as “Big Ag” are pushing for laws that would expose millions of farm animals to cruelty, while condemning states’ rights and the voices of voters across America. These federal bills threaten animal welfare and food security by undermining states' abilities to enact agricultural laws, including the dismantling of state laws that prohibit the extreme confinement of farm animals. They also endanger states’ rights to set standards for disease and quarantine control and jeopardize states’ ability to protect the health of animals and people too.
Animal advocates across the country voted to protect farm animal welfare with the passage of extreme confinement bans, like California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3. These bans ensure that mother pigs, hens, and calves have enough room to stretch their limbs and lie down. Although these improvements are still modest, they greatly improve the lives of millions of farm animals across America. Additionally, these groundbreaking laws are popular with voters and have been upheld by courts, but bills S.1326 and H.R. 4673 would undue all that was gained. According to experts at Harvard, these bills could, “jeopardize over a thousand public health, safety, and welfare laws.” In fact, a recent legislative analysis of H.R. 4673 found that the potential scope of this one bill alone is broad enough to harmfully affect over 600 state laws and regulations.
FOUR PAWS is proud to be a member of the Defeat EATS Act coalition and is asking you to join us today!
Please contact your federal legislators and urge them to vote NO on all versions of the EATS ACT, which includes opposing bills S.1326 and H.R.4673. Tell them you care about farm animal welfare, and you oppose these destructive bills that hurt animals, farmers, consumers, the environment, and the rights of local governments.
Last Action: Introduced in the Senate
How you can get involved
- For Federal Bills, call or email your two Senators and House Representative and tell them you support the passage of these common sense bills for animals. Be sure to tell them the name of the bill and bill number you are calling about. Look up your elected officials.
- For State Bills, Call or email your state Senator and state House Representative to voice your support. Legislators are keen to hear from their constituents and want to know what topics matter most to voters. Attending a hearing for a bill is another great way to show your support. Look up your elected officials.
- For City Bills, call or email your local elected officials, and attend any local committee meetings where the bills are discussed. Look up your elected officials.
- Share your opinion on social media. This can help bring attention to a cause that is important to you and gain more supporters. When elected officials see an issue gaining traction online, they may be more likely to voice their support.
- Sign our petitions to raise your voice with millions of other animal supporters.
