AVERT Future Violence Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4562
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-16T17:45:04Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4562: Animal Violence Exposes Real Threat of Future Violence Act of 2026 (AVERT Future Violence Act of 2026)
Purpose
This legislation directs the Attorney General to study the underlying factors of animal cruelty and its potential link to future violence against humans. It also creates a grant program to support prevention, early intervention, and rehabilitation efforts aimed at reducing such acts.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Establishes clear terms for "animal cruelty," which includes intentional harm, killing, neglect, or related acts, while excluding routine veterinary, agricultural, hunting, research, and euthanasia practices. It also defines "eligible entities" broadly to include states, local governments, courts, Indian Tribes, animal shelters, domestic violence service providers, mental health organizations, and other nonprofits with relevant experience.
- Study Requirement: Within three years of enactment, the National Institute of Justice must examine risk factors for animal cruelty, correlations with specific acts (such as torture or neglect), links to future human violence (like domestic assault), and best practices for early interventions and offender rehabilitation. A report with policy recommendations for federal, state, and local action must be submitted to Congress.
- Grant Program: Authorizes the Attorney General to create the STOP Future Violence Grant Program, providing funds to eligible entities for training law enforcement and professionals, developing specialized units, improving policies and data systems, and supporting mental health treatment to prevent animal cruelty and related human violence.
- Funding: Authorizes $2 million for the study and $2 million for the grant program, both available until expended.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new federal requirements for research and funding mechanisms focused on animal cruelty. It does not amend or repeal any existing statutes but creates standalone authorities under the Department of Justice for the study and grants.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Expands responsibilities for the Department of Justice and National Institute of Justice in research and grant administration; may increase workload for law enforcement, courts, and prosecutors in identifying and addressing animal cruelty cases.
- Citizens: Could lead to improved early interventions that reduce incidents of violence, benefiting victims of domestic abuse, child abuse, or other interpersonal crimes linked to animal cruelty patterns.
- International Relations: No direct effects anticipated, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. research and programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies such as the Department of Justice.
- State, local, and tribal governments, courts, and law enforcement.
- Animal welfare organizations, shelters, and related nonprofits.
- Domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and elder abuse service providers.
- Mental health professionals and organizations working with offenders or victims.
- Individuals convicted of animal cruelty offenses and their communities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill operates within established federal authority over criminal justice and public safety research, with no apparent conflicts to constitutional principles such as federalism or due process. It reflects a bipartisan approach to linking animal welfare with violence prevention, potentially influencing state-level policies on offender diversion and data tracking without mandating changes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Animal Violence Exposes Real Threat of Future Violence Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-19 — PDF (8 pages)