LEASH Act of 2026

This bill would require states and local governments applying for federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grants to certify that they will report to the U.S. Attorney General data on state felony convictions for animal cruelty, including the names of the people convicted. It would also change how certain grant funds are directed so that they go to local governments with the highest violent crime counts that also submit animal cruelty felony conviction data, including names, to the National Incident-Based Reporting System. Within 2 years, the Attorney General would have to create a public database of the reported data and update it periodically. The grant changes would apply starting with the first fiscal year that begins 2 years after the bill becomes law.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• W. Gregory Steube Republican sponsor
• 9 cosponsors