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119-hr-4755119th Congress

LEO K9 Protection Act

Sponsored By: Representative Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4]

Introduced

Summary

Strengthens federal penalties for harming police dogs and other working police animals. This bill would broaden who counts as a police animal, create tougher criminal penalties for attacks using dangerous weapons, and require federal guidance and rules so emergency responders can treat and transport injured police dogs.

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  • Broadens who is protected. It expands the definition of 'police animal' and defines 'police dog' to include dogs and horses working for federal, state, county, local, or military agencies in roles like detection, enforcement, fire investigation, or finding missing people.
  • Raises the criminal stake for attackers. Using a deadly or dangerous weapon against a covered police animal during the listed acts would be a federal offense punishable by a fine or up to 15 years in prison.
  • Directs EMS guidance and rules. The Transportation Secretary, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, must publish emergency medical services guidance within 180 days and issue regulations within 240 days so paramedics and emergency medical technicians can provide care and transport for injured police dogs; the bill allows consulting accredited veterinarians and exempts good-faith emergency veterinary care.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Stronger protections for police animals

If enacted, the bill would raise penalties when someone uses a deadly or dangerous weapon against a police animal. A person could be fined under title 18, imprisoned for up to 15 years, or both. The bill would define "police animal" as a dog or horse serving a federal agency, or serving a state, county, or local agency that is assisting a federal agency, when used to find crime, enforce laws, catch offenders, detect flammable materials, investigate fires, or find missing people; it would also cover animals used in an official Department of Defense military role. The bill would not apply to a person who acts in good faith to give emergency veterinary care to an injured police animal.

Emergency medical rules for police dogs

If enacted, the Transportation Secretary would publish EMS guidance within 180 days on caring for police dogs, using existing DHS, DoD, and Canine Tactical Combat Casualty Care guidelines and other federal resources. The Secretary could consult accredited veterinarians when making the guidance. The Secretary would also issue regulations within 240 days to let EMS transport an injured police dog to a veterinary clinic if no person needs transport, and to allow paramedics or EMTs to give emergency care to a police dog at the scene or during transport.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4]

FL • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 7/25/2025

  • Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 1/8/2026

  • Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 1/8/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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