Pennsylvania 'Beagle Bill' Becomes Law: Lab Dogs and Cats Must Be Offered for Adoption, Animal-Tested Cosmetics Banned From Sale
The Pennsylvania General Assembly in Harrisburg announced on October 23 that Governor Josh Shapiro has signed Senate Bill 381, known as the 'Beagle Bill,' into law as Act 92 of 2026, effective April 20, 2027. The bipartisan bill, sponsored by state Senators Doug Mastriano and Carolyn Comitta, passed both the state House and Senate unanimously.
The new law creates an adoption pathway for dogs and cats used in research and testing: once experiments end, animals assessed as suitable for adoption must be offered to the public through a releasing agency or the facility's own adoption program, rather than simply being disposed of when studies conclude.
The law also prohibits the sale of cosmetics newly tested on animals; requires animal testing facilities to post a conspicuous link on their websites to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Care public search tool, where the public can look up facilities' annual reports, inspection reports and federal enforcement actions; and bars the use of state funds for dog or cat experiments unless the facility complies with federal research oversight requirements, including review and approval of protocols by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and supervision by an attending veterinarian.
According to the most recent USDA data, laboratories in the United States reported using more than 40,000 dogs and 10,000 cats in 2024, and 12 facilities in Pennsylvania reported using more than 3,000 dogs and cats in experiments. State Rep. Melissa Shusterman said lawmakers had spent years advocating for the legislation, which gives dogs and cats the chance to be adopted into loving homes after experiments end and creates greater transparency in animal testing facilities. State Sen. Nick Pisciottano said animals across Pennsylvania deserve these protections. According to Humane World for Animals, Pennsylvania becomes the 18th state to provide adoption opportunities for research dogs and cats and the 13th state to prohibit the sale of animal-tested cosmetics.
（Source: Pennsylvania House of Representatives）
Source: Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：一只比格犬（资料图）。Nickolas Titkov 摄，CC BY-SA 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: A beagle (file photo). Photo by Nickolas Titkov, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
