People who harm animals would face tougher federal penalties for crushing, abandonment, and endangerment.
This bill would increase the maximum jail time for people convicted of animal crushing. It would also create a new federal crime for knowingly abandoning or violently endangering domesticated animals on federal land or in ways that affect other states or countries. Those convicted of these new crimes could face up to 10 years in jail for a first offense.
Today, federal law prohibits animal crushing, but the maximum jail sentences are lower than what this bill proposes. There is no specific federal law against knowingly abandoning or violently endangering domesticated animals on federal land or across state lines. If this bill passes, the maximum jail time for animal crushing would increase to 10 years for a first offense and 15 years for repeat offenses. A new federal crime would be created for abandoning or violently endangering domesticated animals, carrying similar penalties.
HR 8480 · 119th Congress · April 23, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 10/10
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