S. 1725 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, May 13, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryStricter health rules for imported dogs
This bill sets up new requirements for dogs coming into the United States. Before a dog arrives, the USDA needs to receive electronic paperwork from a veterinarian showing the dog is healthy, vaccinated, treated for parasites, and has a permanent ID (like a microchip). Dogs being brought in for sale, adoption, or other transfer also have to be at least six months old and need a USDA permit.
How it affects you
If you're planning to import a dog, adopt one from abroad, or bring a dog into the U.S. for any reason other than a personal pet returning home, you'll need to go through stricter USDA screening and get the required veterinary documentation beforehand. There are some exceptions—like for military working dogs, dogs for medical treatment, and personal pets of U.S. origin coming back—but most imported dogs will face these new requirements.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, May 13, 2025)
Healthy Dog Importation Act
This bill expands Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements for the importation of live dogs.
Prior to a dog's arrival into the United States, USDA must receive electronic documentation about the dog's health. The documentation must demonstrate that the dog (1) is in good health; (2) has received all necessary vaccinations and parasite treatments and demonstrated negative test results as evidenced by a certificate from a licensed veterinarian; and (3) is officially identified by a permanent method approved by USDA. Additionally, a dog entering the United States for transfer (e.g., for sale, adoption, exchange, or donation) must be at least six months old and accompanied by a USDA permit.
USDA must promulgate regulations to, among other things, deny entry of any dog in violation of the new requirements, require USDA to maintain a centralized database of imported dogs, and establish fees for verifying required documentation and issuing transfer permits.
USDA must provide an exception to any requirements under the bill for dogs that are transferred
• as a personal pet of U.S. origin returning to the United States;
• as a U.S. military working dog;
• for research purposes;
• for veterinary treatment under certain conditions, including appropriate quarantining; or
• for lawful importation into the state of Hawaii (from the British Isles, Australia, Guam, or New Zealand) if the dog is less than six months old and is not transported out of Hawaii for transfer at less than six months old.
USDA also has enforcement authority under the bill.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 1725
A BILL
Healthy Dog Importation Act
Sponsor: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) · Introduced May 13, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 13, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.”