Captive Primate Safety Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3199
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Animals
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-05: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T08:06:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Captive Primate Safety Act of 2025 aims to protect public safety and animal welfare by restricting the trade, breeding, and possession of certain nonhuman primates (like monkeys and apes) in the United States. It builds on existing wildlife laws to prevent risks associated with keeping these animals as pets or in unregulated settings.
Key Provisions
- Definition of Prohibited Primate Species: Adds a new term to the Lacey Act (a federal law regulating wildlife trade) defining "prohibited primate species" as any live nonhuman primate, including chimpanzees, gorillas, lemurs, monkeys, orangutans, and their hybrids.
- Prohibited Activities: Makes it illegal for individuals to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, purchase, breed, or possess these species in interstate or foreign commerce (or activities that significantly affect such commerce), unless exceptions apply.
- Exceptions to the Prohibition:
- Licensed exhibitors (e.g., accredited zoos), USDA-licensed dealers or breeders, and wildlife sanctuaries that do not breed, sell, or allow public contact with the animals.
- Temporary transport to approved facilities.
- Possession of animals born before the law's enactment, if registered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) within 180 days, no further breeding/selling occurs, and public contact is prohibited.
- Registered research facilities under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that maintain good standing.
- Implementation and Enforcement: The Secretary of the Interior must issue regulations within 180 days of enactment to enforce these rules. The prohibitions take effect regardless of regulation delays.
- Technical Updates: Corrects minor errors in the Lacey Act, such as spelling ("subpena" to "subpoena") and outdated references to other laws (e.g., updating the name of a fishery act).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981, which previously focused on illegal wildlife trafficking, to explicitly include nonhuman primates as a protected category—similar to recent expansions for big cats under the Big Cat Public Safety Act.
- Introduces a registration system for pre-existing possessions, mirroring big cat rules, but adds stricter limits on breeding and public interaction.
- Broadens exceptions to align with accredited facilities and research, while closing loopholes for private ownership and commerce.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases enforcement responsibilities for the USFWS (under the Department of the Interior) and USDA, including processing registrations and inspections. This may require additional resources for monitoring and penalties.
- On Citizens: Private owners of prohibited primates must register existing animals or face penalties (fines up to $100,000 or imprisonment); new ownership becomes largely impossible outside approved settings, potentially leading to animal relocations or closures of unregulated facilities.
- On International Relations: Strengthens U.S. compliance with global wildlife treaties (e.g., CITES, which regulates endangered species trade), potentially improving cooperation with other countries on primate conservation but complicating imports for legitimate purposes like research.
- Broader Effects: Could reduce incidents of primate-related injuries or escapes, benefiting public safety, while promoting ethical treatment through sanctuaries and research.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Private Individuals and Owners: Those with pet primates or small collections face the most direct restrictions and registration burdens.
- Animal Welfare Organizations and Sanctuaries: Accredited groups may see an influx of relocated animals but gain legal protections for their operations.
- Research Institutions: Universities and labs with USDA registrations can continue work but must adhere to strict standards.
- Zoos and Exhibitors: Licensed facilities remain operational but cannot expand primate holdings without permits.
- Government Agencies: USFWS, USDA, and law enforcement (e.g., for seizures) will handle increased compliance and enforcement.
- Conservation Groups: Benefit from reduced illegal trade, supporting endangered species protection.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Enhances federal authority over interstate wildlife commerce under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, potentially preempting conflicting state laws. Penalties align with existing Lacey Act fines and forfeitures, emphasizing civil and criminal enforcement.
- Constitutional: May face challenges from owners claiming property rights violations (under the Fifth Amendment's Takings Clause), though exceptions for pre-existing animals mitigate this; courts have upheld similar wildlife restrictions as public safety measures.
- Political: Bipartisan support (introduced by a diverse group of representatives) reflects growing consensus on animal welfare, but could spark debates over federal overreach into personal freedoms or research autonomy. It advances broader environmental policy trends without major budget implications.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (49)
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-05: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-05-05: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Captive Primate Safety Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-05 — PDF (6 pages)