Dogs and cats used in Pennsylvania research laboratories would have a path to adoption under legislation that cleared the state House Judiciary Committee unanimously and now awaits consideration by the full House.
Senate Bill 381, known as the Beagle Bill, would require laboratories to make dogs and cats available for adoption after their use in research ends. The amended measure also would prohibit the sale of cosmetics tested on dogs and cats.
The legislation is sponsored by Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Adams/Franklin, and supported by Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-Chester. Supporters say animals that can transition from laboratories to homes should have that opportunity.
“The pups, their adopters and others have become strong advocates for protecting all animals from abuse in testing,” Comitta said.
Mastriano said the proposal addresses both the use of public money for animal experiments and the future of animals once research concludes.
“We agree that we should not experiment on dogs and cats, especially using taxpayer dollars, and that animals being used for legitimate considerations and the legitimate labs should be given a home afterwards,” Mastriano said.
The committee’s approval followed changes to the version the Senate unanimously passed in September 2025. Those amendments drew criticism from Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Franklin, the committee’s minority chairman, who nevertheless voted to advance the measure.
“It was a well-done, well-thought out bill,” Kauffman said. “I’m very frustrated we can’t pass out a clean bill.”
Rep. Tim Briggs, D-Montgomery, the committee’s majority chairman, defended the revisions, saying they balance animal welfare concerns with the interests of the biosciences industry.
The proposal also would bar state funding from directly supporting research that causes animals pain and distress while intentionally withholding anesthesia. Facilities would face federal compliance requirements and would have to prominently display a website link to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Care public search tool.
The tool provides access to annual reports, inspection records and enforcement actions, allowing the public to review information about facilities that use animals in research.
More than 2,100 dogs and 1,100 cats are used for testing in Pennsylvania. The bill’s name refers to beagles, a breed commonly used in laboratory testing.
The House is expected to vote on the legislation this week. If representatives approve the amended bill, it would return to the Senate for a concurrence vote.
