Greyhound Protection Act

Summary#

This bill would add a new section to the Animal Welfare Act called "Protection of Greyhounds." It would make it illegal, in cases involving interstate or foreign commerce, to hold or take part in commercial greyhound racing, live lure training, or open field coursing. The bill also would ban betting or wagering on greyhound races, the use of live (non-inanimate) bait in training or coursing, the sale or transport of greyhounds for those activities, and simulcast betting on greyhound races. The Secretary named in the Act may investigate violations and may work with other federal and state law enforcement. Violators could be fined, imprisoned for up to 7 years, or both. The bill defines "commercial greyhound racing" and "simulcast," adds "hare" to the Animal Welfare Act's definition of animal, and says the new rules apply to conduct on or after October 1, 2027. The bill also says it does not preempt state laws that prohibit gambling or protect animals, and it does not change how the Interstate Horseracing Act applies to horse racing.

What it means for you#

  • If you move greyhounds in interstate or foreign commerce, you could not knowingly use them for commercial racing, live lure training, or open field coursing after October 1, 2027.
  • Organizing or running racing events where people bet on greyhounds would be prohibited.
  • Using live animals (not inanimate objects) as bait in training or coursing would be prohibited.
  • Facilitating simulcast betting on greyhound races across state or national lines would be prohibited.
  • People who buy, sell, transport, train, or receive greyhounds for those purposes could face criminal penalties under the bill.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on an official federal cost or budget estimate is included in the bill text. The bill's findings include state-level figures (for example, cited track losses and state expenditures), but the text does not provide a federal cost estimate or Congressional Budget Office score.

Proponents' View#

The bill's findings describe harms and risks associated with greyhound racing and live lure training. Those findings say some racing greyhounds suffer serious injuries, may be confined for long hours in stacked cages, may test positive for drugs, and that live lure training and open field coursing can involve live bait animals being chased or mauled. The findings also state that most greyhound racing now uses online and simulcast systems and that the commercial industry has declined in many States. The bill frames the prohibitions as protections for greyhounds and other animals.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text describes views opposing the measure or specific counterarguments.