A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit harming animals used in law enforcement, and for other purposes.

Ashley Moody

Republican · FL · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

2026-05-21

Source: Congress.gov

The proposal would make it a federal crime to intentionally harm, kill, or injure animals that work for law enforcement agencies, such as police dogs and horses used by officers. Currently, harming these animals may only be prosecuted under state laws, which vary widely in their penalties. The bill would create uniform federal penalties for anyone who hurts these working animals during the course of their duties.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4643 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4643 To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit harming animals used in law enforcement, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 21, 2026 Mrs. Moody introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit harming animals used in law enforcement, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``LEO K9 Protection Act''. SEC. 2. HARMING ANIMALS USED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. Section 1368 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: ``(b) Whoever, in the commission of any act described in subsection (a), uses a deadly or dangerous weapon (including a weapon intended to cause death or danger but that fails to do so by reason of a defective component), shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both. ``(c) In this section, the term `police animal' means a dog or horse in the service of a Federal agency (whether in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch), or in the service of a State, county, or local agency that is assisting a Federal agency-- ``(1) for the principal purpose of aiding in the detection of criminal activity, enforcement of laws, or the apprehension of criminal offenders, the detection of flammable materials, the investigation of fires, the detection of missing persons (including persons who are lost, who are trapped under debris as the result of a natural, manmade, or technological disaster, or who are drowning victims); or ``(2) used in any official military capacity by the Department of Defense. ``(d) This section does not apply to a person who acts in good faith to provide emergency veterinary care to an injured police animal.''. SEC. 3. MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION FOR POLICE DOGS INJURED IN OFFICIAL DUTY. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Office of Emergency Medical Services Initiatives at the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, shall publish guidance for emergency medical services personnel in order to care for police dogs injured while such police dog is engaged in official duties of the dog. The Secretary shall develop such guidance using existing Federal guidelines of the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, the Canine Tactical Combat Casualty Care Guidelines, and other resources already available at Federal agencies. The Secretary may consult accredited veterinarians, as necessary, in developing the guidance under this section. SEC. 4. REGULATIONS FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. Not later than 240 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate regulations to ensure that-- (1) a police dog injured while such police dog is engaged in official duties of the dog may be transported to a veterinary clinic or similar facility if there is no individual requiring medical attention or transport at that time; and (2) a paramedic or an emergency medical technician may provide emergency medical care to a police dog while such police dog is engaged in official duties of the dog while at the scene of the emergency or while the police dog is being transported to a veterinary clinic or similar facility. SEC. 5. DEFINITION. In this…

Act, the term ``police dog'' means a police animal (as such term is defined in section 1368 of title 18, United States Code) that is a dog, and includes a similar dog working in the service of a State, county, or local agency. <all>

• SRES731A resolution recognizing the 175th anniversary of the founding of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-05-14
• S4446PRESS Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-04-30
• S4428No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-04-29
• SRES678A resolution prohibiting the use of funds for travel by Senators to or from their residence during Government shutdowns.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-04-16