H.R. 10910 · 119th Congress
Where it stands
Introduced. Latest step, Oct 26, 2026: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. It would change 2 sections of existing law.
H.R. 10910 would change 2 sections of existing law. Read from the bill text as introduced in the House (Oct 26, 2026).
7 U.S.C. 2132 Definitions
7 U.S.C. 2149 Violations by licensees
Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.
7 U.S.C. 2132(g)changedby H.R. 10910 Sec. 2(a)
(g) The term "animal" means any live or dead dog, cat, monkey (nonhuman primate mammal), guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, sentient being, or such other warm-blooded animal, as the Secretary may determine is being used, or is intended for use, for research, testing, experimentation, or exhibition purposes, or as a pet; but such term excludes (1) birds, rats of the genus…
The bill says: Section 2(g) of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2132(g)) is amended by inserting "sentient being," after "rabbit,".
7 U.S.C. 2132added (p)by H.R. 10910 Sec. 2(b)
(p)(1) The term sentient being means a domesticated mammal customarily kept as a household companion, including dogs, cats, and rabbits.(2) Such term does not include livestock, poultry, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, and arachnids.(q) The term boarding facility means a commercial establishment that houses companion animals overnight for compensation.(r) The term daycare operation means a commercial establishment that supervises companion animals during daytime hours for compensation.(s) The term training facility means a commercial establishment that provides behavioral or obedience training services for companion animals for compensation.(t) The term commercial pet facility means a facility that provides, with respect to sentient beings, one or more of the following services:(1) Boarding.(2) Daycare.(3) Training.(4) Grooming.(5) Overnight care.(6) Any other commercial service in which a companion animal is held or cared for in exchange for compensation.
The bill says: Section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2132) is amended by adding at the end the following:
7 U.S.C. 2149added (e)by H.R. 10910 Sec. 2(c)
(e)(1) An owner of a sentient being who suffers harm or neglect or dies while held or cared for by a commercial pet facility may bring an action in the appropriate Federal court and recover the damages suffered, court costs, and reasonable attorneys fees and expenses.(2) An entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 28(a)(2) shall be considered a commercial pet facility for purposes of applying paragraph (1) in any case in which such entity is convicted for the euthanization of a sentient being that is conducted in violation of the laws of the State or locality in which such entity is located.(3) In this subsection, the term ‘damages suffered’ means the economic and noneconomic damages arising from the harm, neglect, or death of a sentient being, including veterinary expenses, replacement value, the sentient being’s pain and suffering, and the owner’s emotional distress, as determined by the Federal court in which an action under paragraph (1) is brought and in such amounts as may be determined by such court.
The bill says: Section 19 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2149) is amended by adding at the end the following:
From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.
The Congressional Research Service hasn't published a summary of this bill yet. They usually follow within weeks of introduction.
Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.