Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S672 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1898 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 672
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Bruce E. Tarr
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act further protecting research animals.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1898 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 672
18	18	By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 672) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to
19	19	further protect research animals. Environment and Natural Resources.
20	20	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
21	21	SEE SENATE, NO. 580 OF 2023-2024.]
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
25	25	(2025-2026)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act further protecting research animals.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 Section 174D½ of chapter 140 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the
31	31	2second through eighth paragraphs and inserting in place thereof the following 7 paragraphs:-
32	32	3 “Animal rescue organization”, an organization licensed by the department of agricultural
33	33	4resources under section 39A of chapter 129 and the rules and regulations promulgated under said
34	34	5section 39A.
35	35	6 “Product testing facility”, a facility that is using animals for the testing of consumer
36	36	7products, including, but not limited to, cosmetics, pesticides, medical devices, food additives,
37	37	8and ingredients for use in such products. 2 of 3
38	38	9 “Research institution”, any facility employing dogs or cats in scientific investigation,
39	39	10experiment or instruction or for the testing of drugs or medicines licensed by the commissioner
40	40	11of public health under section 174D.
41	41	12 (b) A research institution or product testing facility shall, after the completion of any
42	42	13testing or research involving a dog or cat that does not require euthanasia of the dog or cat upon
43	43	14the termination of the study, as defined and approved by the research or testing protocol, assess
44	44	15the health of the animal and determine whether the dog or cat is suitable for adoption. Except as
45	45	16otherwise provided in subsection (c), a research institution or product testing facility that intends
46	46	17to euthanize a dog or cat shall, before euthanizing the dog or cat, make a reasonable effort to
47	47	18offer the dog or cat to an animal rescue organization to facilitate the adoption of the dog or cat to
48	48	19a permanent adoptive home. A research institution or product testing facility shall enter into a
49	49	20collaborative agreement with an animal rescue organization to carry out this subsection;
50	50	21provided, however, that a research institution or product testing facility that is also a licensed
51	51	22operation under section 39A of chapter 129 may accomplish the goals of this section directly
52	52	23without entering into a collaborative agreement. Any such collaborative agreement shall provide
53	53	24that the parties make reasonable efforts to adhere to the principles of: (i) facilitating permanent
54	54	25adoptions and discouraging post-adoption transfers; and (ii) selecting adopters who demonstrate
55	55	26a willingness and ability to keep the animal permanently, provide an appropriate living space and
56	56	27accept lifelong responsibility for the animal’s care.
57	57	28 (c) A research institution or product testing facility shall not be required to offer a dog or
58	58	29cat to an animal rescue organization pursuant to subsection (b) if the dog or cat: (i) manifests a
59	59	30behavioral or medical defect that poses a risk to the health and safety of the public; (ii) manifests
60	60	31symptoms of a disease, injury, congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects, or is 3 of 3
61	61	32likely to adversely affect, the health of the dog or cat; or (iii) the research institution or product
62	62	33testing facility provides the dog or cat to an employee of the research institution or product
63	63	34testing facility for purposes of keeping the dog or cat permanently. The attending veterinarian of
64	64	35the research institution or product testing facility or the attending veterinarian’s designee shall
65	65	36assess the suitability of the dog or cat and determine its availability for adoption under this
66	66	37section.
67	67	38 (d) A research institution or product testing facility that is required to offer dogs and cats
68	68	39for adoption under this section shall not owe a duty of care to an animal rescue organization that
69	69	40accepts a dog or cat or to a person or entity that adopts such dog or cat, through such
70	70	41organizations. A research institution or product testing facility shall not be responsible or liable
71	71	42for any injury, property damage or other damage or loss that results from the adoption or
72	72	43placement of a dog or cat pursuant to this act.
73	73	44 (e) Research institutions and product testing facilities shall, annually, report to the
74	74	45department of agricultural resources data on the use and disposition of dogs and cats after the
75	75	46completion of any testing or research including, but not limited to, the number of dogs and the
76	76	47number of cats who were (i) euthanized upon the termination of the study, as defined and
77	77	48approved by the research or testing protocol; (ii) determined to be suitable and unsuitable for
78	78	49adoption and, if determined to be unsuitable for adoption, the reason why and their disposition;
79	79	50(iii) offered for adoption through a collaborative agreement with an animal rescue organization;
80	80	51and (iv) offered for adoption directly, without entering into a collaborative agreement with an
81	81	52animal rescue organization. The department shall, annually, make such data publicly available, in
82	82	53an electronic format.