Bill Text: TX HB662 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the adoption of cats and dogs previously used for research.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB662 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB662-Introduced.html
89R2365 MCF-D | ||
By: Flores | H.B. No. 662 |
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relating to the adoption of cats and dogs previously used for | ||
research. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Research Animal | ||
Retirement Act. | ||
SECTION 2. Title 10, Health and Safety Code, is amended by | ||
adding Chapter 830 to read as follows: | ||
CHAPTER 830. ADOPTION OF CERTAIN RETIRED RESEARCH ANIMALS | ||
Sec. 830.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: | ||
(1) "Animal rehoming organization" means a nonprofit | ||
charitable organization established primarily to place rescued | ||
animals in adoptive homes. | ||
(2) "Animal shelter" means a facility operated by a | ||
nonprofit charitable organization established primarily to shelter | ||
and care for stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted animals and | ||
place those animals in adoptive homes. | ||
(3) "Executive commissioner" means the executive | ||
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. | ||
(4) "Research facility" means a research facility as | ||
defined by the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2132(e)) that is | ||
licensed by or registered with the United States Department of | ||
Agriculture under that Act to conduct experiments on dogs or cats | ||
for education, research, science, or testing purposes. | ||
(5) "Retired animal" means a dog or cat a research | ||
facility previously used in experiments conducted for education, | ||
research, science, or testing purposes and no longer needed for | ||
those purposes. | ||
Sec. 830.002. LIMITATION. This chapter does not apply to a | ||
retired animal a research facility's attending veterinarian | ||
identifies as: | ||
(1) not suitable for rehoming; or | ||
(2) having a substantial medical condition that | ||
prevents the animal from successfully integrating into an adoptive | ||
home. | ||
Sec. 830.003. ADOPTION OF RETIRED ANIMALS. (a) A research | ||
facility, or its authorized employee or an authorized student of an | ||
institution of higher education associated with the facility, on | ||
retirement of a retired animal shall offer the animal for adoption: | ||
(1) through an animal rehoming organization or animal | ||
shelter; or | ||
(2) by an individual through an arrangement between | ||
the facility and individual. | ||
(b) A research facility may not offer any retired animal to | ||
an animal rehoming organization or animal shelter unless the | ||
facility has entered into a written agreement with the organization | ||
or shelter addressing the transfer of the facility's retired | ||
animals to the organization or shelter. | ||
(c) A research facility may establish guidelines for | ||
determining whether: | ||
(1) a retired animal is suitable for adoption; and | ||
(2) an animal rehoming organization, animal shelter, | ||
or individual is qualified to accept a retired animal for adoption. | ||
(d) A research facility must post on the facility's Internet | ||
website any guidelines adopted under Subsection (c). | ||
Sec. 830.004. IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL LIABILITY. A research | ||
facility that in good faith and in compliance with this chapter and | ||
rules adopted under this chapter provides a research animal to an | ||
animal rehoming organization, animal shelter, or individual is | ||
immune from civil liability with respect to a claim based on: | ||
(1) the facility's transfer of a retired animal to the | ||
organization, shelter, or individual; or | ||
(2) the adoption of a retired animal by an individual | ||
through the organization or shelter. | ||
Sec. 830.005. RULES. The executive commissioner may adopt | ||
rules necessary to implement this chapter. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |