Introduced in Senate — S. 4562

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4562

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 19, 2026

Mr. Peters (for himself and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To direct the Attorney General to conduct a study on animal cruelty, 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 Animal Violence Exposes Real Threat of Future Violence Act of 2026 or the AVERT Future Violence Act of 2026.

Sec. 2. Definitions

In this Act:

(1) Animal cruelty

The term animal cruelty—

(A)

means—

(i)

intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly harming or killing an animal, including maiming, mutilating, torturing, wounding, poisoning, engaging in animal fighting, and sexually abusing an animal, or attempting to do so; or

(ii)

intentionally or knowingly neglecting or depriving an animal of necessary sustenance or shelter, or attempting to do so; and

(B)

does not include any conduct that is—

(i)

customary and normal veterinary, agricultural husbandry, or other animal management practice;

(ii)

the slaughter of animals for food;

(iii)

hunting, trapping, fishing, a sporting activity not otherwise prohibited by Federal law, predator control, or pest control;

(iv)

medical or scientific research;

(v)

necessary to protect the life of a person; or

(vi)

performed as part of euthanizing an animal.

(2) Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means—

(A)

a State;

(B)

a unit of local government;

(C)

a State or local court (including a juvenile court);

(D)

an Indian Tribe; or

(E)

any other organization that has a documented history of effective work identifying, intervening in, preventing, reducing, or otherwise responding to animal cruelty, or animal cruelty as related to interpersonal violence (as determined by the Secretary), including—

(i)

any organization that works directly with or on behalf of pets, service animals, emotional support animals, or horses and collaborates with any organization referred to in subparagraphs (A) through (D), including—

(I)

an animal shelter; and

(II)

an animal welfare organization;

(ii)

any organization that provides mental health services to perpetrators and survivors of crime;

(iii)

any organization that develops and provides training programs for law enforcement, judges, prosecutors, other court personnel, veterinarians, or mental health professionals;

(iv)

a domestic violence and sexual assault victim service provider;

(v)

a domestic violence and sexual assault coalition;

(vi)

a child abuse victim service provider;

(vii)

a provider of services to families under the supervision of the courts or departments of child and family services;

(viii)

an elder abuse victim service provider;

(ix)

a community-based and culturally specific organization; and

(x)

any other nonprofit, nongovernmental organization.

Sec. 3. Study on animal cruelty, underlying factors, and future acts of human violence

(a) In general

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Justice, shall carry out a study—

(1)

on the underlying factors that contribute to acts of animal cruelty committed by individuals; and

(2)

that analyzes acts of animal cruelty as a predictor of future violence against humans.

(b) Content of study

In carrying out the study under subsection (a), the Director of the National Institute of Justice shall—

(1)

specifically examine, through a review of scientific literature, original research, and expert input, as appropriate—

(A)

evidence-informed risk factors associated or correlated with individuals who commit acts of animal cruelty;

(B)

whether certain acts of animal cruelty can be correlated with certain evidence-informed risk factors (such as whether the acts of animal torturing, tormenting, mutilation, maiming, poisoning, organized abuse, such as animal fighting, sexual abuse, abandonment, or neglect, are associated with the same or different evidence-informed risk factors);

(C)

whether certain acts of animal cruelty demonstrate a tendency or likelihood to commit a future act of violence against humans;

(D)

the types of violence against humans most commonly associated with certain acts of animal cruelty (such as domestic violence and assault); and

(E)

recommendations of areas in which future research on animal cruelty is needed; and

(2)

develop best practices for—

(A)

early interventions that prevent acts of animal cruelty; and

(B)

interventions with individuals who have committed acts of animal cruelty to prevent future acts of violence.

(c) Recommendations

The Director of the National Institute of Justice shall submit to Congress a report containing the specific policy recommendations, based on the study conducted under this section, for legislative and regulatory action at the Federal, State, and local levels to—

(1)

address the evidence-informed risk factors that may contribute to acts of animal cruelty committed by individuals; and

(2)

develop effective interventions and diversion strategies for both juvenile and non-juvenile offenders who have been convicted of criminal offenses involving animal cruelty that reduce the likelihood of offenders committing future violent acts against both humans and animals.

Sec. 4. Stop future violence grant program

(a) In general

The Attorney General is authorized to establish a grant program to provide assistance to eligible entities to develop and strengthen effective detection strategies, and early intervention or diversion resources, to stop acts of animal cruelty and rehabilitate offenders.

(b) Use of funds

A grant awarded under this section may be used to provide personnel, training, technical assistance, data collection, and other resources for the apprehension, prosecution, adjudication, and mental and behavioral health treatment of persons committing acts of animal cruelty, for the rehabilitation of perpetrators and the prevention of future acts of animal cruelty or violence against humans, and specifically, for the purposes of—

(1)

training law enforcement officers, judges, other court personnel, prosecutors, and mental health professionals to more effectively identify and respond to acts of animal cruelty;

(2)

developing, training, or expanding units of law enforcement officers, judges, other court personnel, prosecutors, and mental health professionals specifically addressing acts of animal cruelty;

(3)

developing and implementing more effective police, court, prosecution, mental health, and early intervention policies, protocols, orders, and services specifically devoted to preventing, identifying, and responding to acts of animal cruelty; and

(4)

developing, installing, or expanding data collection and communication systems, including computerized systems, linking police, prosecutors, and courts, or for the purpose of identifying, classifying, and tracking arrests, protection orders, violations of protection orders, prosecutions, and convictions for acts of animal cruelty.

Sec. 5. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated—

(1)

for the purposes of carrying out section 3, $2,000,000, to remain available until expended; and

(2)

for the purposes of carrying out section 4, $2,000,000, to remain available until expended.