In committee
Goldie’s Act
This bill requires federal inspectors to conduct at least yearly checkups on commercial animal dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities, and to immediately remove any animals suffering harm from welfare violations. Federal officials must share evidence of these violations with local law enforcement and animal control agencies within 24 hours. Facilities that break animal welfare standards will face mandatory follow-up inspections, faster formal hearings, and fines of up to $10,000 per violation for each day and each animal affected.
People affected—not determinable from the text provided; applies to all USDA-regulated dealers, exhibitors, research facilities, intermediate handlers, and auction operators without providing numerical estimates.
Fiscal magnitude—no CBO estimate published
Reach52provisional · pending reviewrigor: heuristic llm
What this bill touches.
Animal protection+58
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- State and local animal control and law enforcement agenciesReceive copies of all records documenting Animal Welfare Act violations from federal inspectors within 24 hours of an inspection or investigation.
Who it burdens
- Regulated animal dealers, exhibitors, and research facilitiesMust undergo at least annual inspections and follow-up inspections until violations are resolved, face prompt confiscation of suffering animals, are barred from destroying animals without written consent during confiscations, and face civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation per day and cease-and-desist orders.
- Department of AgricultureMust inspect all covered facilities at least annually, carry out follow-up inspections, confiscate or euthanize suffering animals, send violation records to local authorities within 24 hours, and hold penalty appeal hearings within 21 days using specified panel members.