PIGS Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 2626

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Animals

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-18: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Last Updated

2025-06-11T20:15:06Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill, titled the "Pigs In Gestation Stalls Act of 2025" or "PIGS Act of 2025," aims to improve animal welfare by prohibiting the use of small, restrictive enclosures (often called gestation crates) for pregnant and breeding pigs in commercial farming. It addresses concerns about physical and psychological harm to pigs from intensive confinement, aligning federal standards with growing public and industry trends toward humane treatment.

Key Provisions

• Prohibition on Confinement: It becomes unlawful to confine a breeding pig (defined as any female pig six months or older kept for commercial breeding, or any pregnant pig) in a way that prevents the animal from lying down, standing up, or turning around in a full circle without touching enclosure sides or other animals, including via tethers. Starting December 31, 2025, each pig must have at least 24 square feet of usable floor space, calculated by dividing the total enclosure space by the number of pigs.
• Exceptions: The ban does not apply during transportation, veterinary procedures (supervised by a licensed veterinarian), the five days before giving birth (farrowing), or slaughter under the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (a law ensuring humane killing of livestock).
• Enforcement and Penalties: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary will enforce the rules using authorities from the Animal Health Protection Act, with violators facing civil penalties like fines (up to $10,000 per violation, adjusted for inflation).
• No Preemption of State Laws: The bill does not override stricter state or local animal welfare rules; it allows them to remain in place or add to federal requirements.
• Financial Assistance Program: The USDA must create a program to help pig producers transition to compliant housing, funded by at least $10 million from pork industry assessments (fees paid by producers under the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act). Priority goes to independent producers (those who own their own pigs, not contracted to raise others' pigs).
• Applicability: The changes take effect one year after the bill becomes law.
• Other Elements: Includes a severability clause (if one part is ruled invalid, the rest stays in effect) and clarifies it does not limit other USDA animal welfare powers.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill adds a new Section 30 to the Animal Welfare Act (a 1966 federal law regulating the treatment of animals in research, transport, and commerce, but previously without specific rules for farm animals like pigs). This introduces the first federal ban on gestation crates for breeding pigs, expanding the Act's scope to commercial livestock housing practices. It also redirects pork industry funds for compliance aid, amending promotion laws without creating new taxes.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The USDA gains new responsibilities for enforcement, inspections, and a financial aid program, potentially increasing administrative workload and costs, offset partly by redirected industry funds.
• On Citizens and Consumers: May lead to higher pork prices short-term due to industry adjustments, but supports public demands for humane farming, potentially boosting consumer confidence in pork products. Benefits animal welfare advocates by reducing pig suffering.
• On the Pork Industry: Producers must retrofit or redesign facilities, incurring costs (estimated in billions industry-wide), but financial aid could ease the burden, especially for smaller operations. Encourages a shift to group housing systems.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could influence U.S. pork exports if trading partners adopt similar standards or view U.S. practices as more aligned with global animal welfare norms.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Pig Producers and Farmers: Directly impacted, especially large factory farms using gestation crates; independent producers get funding priority to adapt.
• Pork Industry Groups: Including the National Pork Board, which must redirect assessment funds for compliance aid.
• Consumers and Retailers: Benefit from welfare-aligned products; many major retailers already phasing out crate-sourced pork.
• Animal Welfare Organizations: Gain federal backing for their advocacy, building on state-level successes.
• State Governments: Can maintain or expand their own bans (e.g., in states like California and Massachusetts that prohibit crate-raised pork sales).

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: Strengthens federal animal welfare enforcement by applying penalties from animal health laws to farm housing, potentially leading to more lawsuits or inspections. The no-preemption clause preserves state authority, reducing federal-state conflicts.
• Constitutional Implications: The severability provision protects the law's overall validity if challenged (e.g., under commerce clause arguments about regulating agriculture). It avoids takings claims by providing financial assistance for compliance.
• Political Implications: Reflects bipartisan animal welfare trends, with findings citing public support, state actions (over 10 states have phased out crates), and retailer policies. Could pressure the industry to modernize but face opposition from large agribusiness over costs and federal overreach in farming.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16]

Cosponsors (1)

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-18: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
• 2025-04-03: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2025-04-03: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-03: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Pigs In Gestation Stalls Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-03 — PDF (6 pages)