PUPPS Act
Prohibits breeding and supplying dogs for research and requires dogs already held for research to be offered for adoption.
In the House Agriculture Committee since Sept. 21, 2026, 14 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 21, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Dogs may be bred and supplied for scientific and product-related research. The PUPPS Act would prohibit breeding dogs for research and restrict their commercial distribution and research use. It would also require dogs already held for research to be offered for adoption and set penalties for violations.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Prohibit breeding and use of research dogs
The bill would make it unlawful to breed dogs for research, commercially distribute them for research, or acquire, receive, or use a dog for research when the person knows or has reason to know it was bred for that purpose. Attempting any of those actions would also be prohibited.
- Require adoption offers for dogs already held
A person possessing a dog bred for research when the law takes effect could not euthanize the dog because of the new law and would have to offer it for adoption to an individual or an animal rescue organization specified by the Secretary.
- Suspend licenses and impose penalties
The Secretary of Agriculture could not issue or renew a license, or accept a registration, for an activity the bill prohibits, and would have to suspend or revoke a violator’s license or registration. Civil penalties could reach $10,000 per dog, or $40,000 per dog for repeated violations, with an aggregate cap of $500,000 for violations arising from a single inspection, investigation, or complaint.
- Set rules and an effective date
The Secretary of Agriculture would have to issue or revise regulations to carry out the changes. The changes would apply 180 days after enactment.
The bill would change which dogs may be bred, supplied, and used for research under the Animal Welfare Act. Its broad definition of research reaches scientific and commercial testing activities, so the change could affect both animal handling and access to dogs for research.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 21, 2026HOUSESEP 21, 2026By Rep. MaceReferred to Agriculture
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeeSEP 21, 2026AGRICULTURE NOWSEP 21, 2026In committee for 14 daysNo hearing yet
- 14 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 212026SEP 21, 2026REFERREDHOUSEReferred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- SEP 212026SEP 21, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 14, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
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