Introduced. Latest step, Oct 9, 2026: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture. It would change 3 sections of existing law and would add 1 new provisions of its own.
How this bill changes the law
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H.R. 10774 would change 3 sections of existing law, and would create 1 new provision of its own. Read from the bill text as introduced in the House (Oct 9, 2026).
adds
changes words
removes or repeals
renumbers
Dashed lines: proposed, not law.
H.R. 10774Bill
Sec. 3(a)Prohibition on exportation1 change
Sec. 3(b)Prohibition on permits for taking or importation1 change
Sec. 4Prohibition on breeding of certain cetaceans1 change
(g)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it is unlawful to export any orca, beluga whale, false killer whale, or pilot whale except for the transport of such species—(A) to a marine mammal sanctuary with a determination by the Secretary that the transportation to such sanctuary is in the best interest of the individual marine mammal; or(B) for release to the wild.(2) In this subsection, the term "sanctuary" means a place of refuge where marine mammals—(A) live in a captive setting as close as possible to their natural environment;(B) are prioritized individually with respect to well-being and autonomy; and(C) are not used for profit or breeding for the purpose of public display.
The bill says: Section 102 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1372(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary may issue permits which authorize the taking or importation of any marine mammal.(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may not issue any permit that authorizes the taking or importation of any orca, beluga whale, false killer whale, or pilot whale for the purpose of public display.(3) The Secretary may issue permits for the incidental taking of marine mammals in the course of commercial fishing operations only as specifically provided for in section 101(a)(5) or 306, or subsection (h) of this section.
The bill says: Section 104(a) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1374(a)) is amended to read as follows:
17 U.S.C. 2131a new sectionadded 30by H.R. 10774 Sec. 4
30 Breeding of certain cetaceans.— It shall be unlawful for any person to breed or artificially inseminate any orca, beluga whale, false killer whale, or pilot whale for purposes of using the progeny of such species for public display.
The bill says: The Animal Welfare Act (17 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 29 the following new section:
From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.
What it does
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Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings Act of 2026 or the SWIMS Act of 2026
This bill establishes prohibitions on capturing, importing, exporting, or breeding of orcas, beluga whales, false killer whales, or pilot whales for the purpose of public display.
Specifically, the bill prohibits the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from issuing any permit under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 that authorizes the taking (e.g., capturing) or importation of such orcas or whales for the purpose of public display. The bill further revises the act to make it unlawful to export such orcas or whales, unless they are being transported to marine mammal sanctuaries or for release into the wild.
Further, the bill makes it unlawful under the Animal Welfare Act for any person to breed or artificially inseminate such marine mammals for purposes of using their progeny for public display.
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Oct 9, 2026).
Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.