BARK Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
Introduced
Summary
Provides legal immunity for good-faith donations of pet food and supplies. This bill would protect donors, nonprofits, and government programs that give or redistribute pet food and pet supplies for qualified animals, so long as the donation was made in good faith and not the result of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
Show full summary
- Donors: Businesses and individuals who donate apparently fit pet food or supplies would be shielded from civil and criminal liability for harm tied to the donated item's nature, age, packaging, or condition, except for gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
- Recipients: Nonprofits and state or local government programs that receive donations would get the same liability protection. A safe harbor applies for items that do not meet all quality or labeling rules if the donor warns the recipient, the recipient agrees to recondition the item, and the recipient knows the applicable standards.
- Pets and owners: More donated food and supplies could flow to pets, emotional support animals, and service animals through redistribution channels.
- Definitions and scope: The bill defines key terms, including “apparently fit pet-related product,” and relies on definitions from the Child Nutrition Act for donate and nonprofit. It also clarifies the measure operates alongside state and local health rules.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Liability shield for pet donations
If enacted, this bill would shield people, nonprofits, and state or local governments from lawsuits when they donate pet food or supplies in good faith. The protection would apply when items meet all federal, state, and local quality and labeling rules, even if they look old or are surplus. It would not cover injuries or deaths caused by gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Donors could still be protected for imperfect items if they tell the recipient about the defect, the recipient agrees to fix it before giving it out, and knows the standards. This section would not override state or local health rules.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
CA • R
Sponsored 6/4/2025
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
NY • R
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
NY • R
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Schmidt
KS • R
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
IN • R
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]
FL • R
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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