Rep. Steube Introduces LEASH Act
WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) introduced today the Law Enforcement Animal Safety Harm Reporting Act of 2026 or LEASH Act. This legislation would establish a standardized, publicly accessible database of felony animal cruelty offenders to help keep repeat abusers away from animals and strengthen public safety nationwide.
“Animal cruelty is a heinous crime that often signals a pattern of escalating violence,” said Rep. Greg Steube. “Florida has taken important steps to crack down on these crimes, and this legislation extends Florida’s model to better protect animals and help shelters place pets in safe homes.”
“Florida has proven to be a leader in legislation to prevent animal abuse. We applaud and support the efforts of Congressman Steube in filing the LEASH Act, and the membership of the Florida Police Chiefs Association is hopeful that a nationwide animal abuse registry will track offenders, prevent future abuse and aide both law enforcement and the public.” – Chief Robert Bage, President of Florida Police Chiefs Association
“Animal cruelty is a serious crime, and law enforcement can help prevent repeated offenses to better protect animals and our communities through tools like public databases,” said Tracie Letterman, Vice President of Humane World Action Fund. “The LEASH Act is a commonsense measure to help ensure that people convicted of felony animal cruelty cannot evade scrutiny simply by crossing state lines. This voluntary program is a practical step Congress can take help to stop cruelty before it happens again.”
“The LEASH Act of 2026 gives another layer of protection for animals against abusers. This bill extends the work of Florida’s statewide aggravated animal cruelty database on the national stage. Florida’s database went live on January 1, 2026, but our work to protect the voiceless against the pain and suffering they endure from repeat animal cruelty offenders remains unfinished. The Ponce Animal Foundation applauds Congressman Steube for working to combat animal abuse and urges Congress and other states across the country to follow in Florida’s footsteps.” – Debbie Darino, President and Founder of The Ponce Animal Foundation
This legislation is also supported by the Florida Sheriffs Association.
This bill is intended to strengthen enforcement against animal abuse, improve public awareness of felony animal cruelty offenders, and help prevent repeat offenders from continuing to own or care for animals.
The LEASH Act would add the identities of felony animal cruelty offenders to state crime reporting standards. The Department of Justice retains state-reported crime statistics through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. The LEASH Act would require the DOJ to publish abuser identities in a centralized, publicly accessibly database to help pet shelters and other organizations identify abusers before they own an animal ever again.
Background: Animal cruelty offenses are frequently associated with repeat offending and broader patterns of violent criminal behavior. Studies have shown particularly high recidivism rates among individuals convicted of animal hoarding and chronic abuse-related offenses.
Florida’s aggravated animal cruelty database officially went into effect on January 1, 2026. The LEASH Act builds on efforts already underway in states like Florida and Tennessee by establishing standardized nationwide reporting while allowing states flexibility in how information is collected and submitted.
Read the full bill text here.