80% of polled voters in state back Pennsylvania’s ‘Beagle Bill’

A poll found that 80% of voters support Senate Bill 381, Pennsylvania’s “Beagle Bill,” while 5% oppose it.

July 9, 2026

A recent poll commissioned by Humane World for Animals also found that opposition from the pharmaceutical industry did little to weaken public support for Pennsylvania's "Beagle Bill." (Adobe Stock)

By Danielle Smith

Pennsylvania voters want stronger safeguards for animals used in laboratories, according to a recent poll commissioned by Humane World for Animals.

The poll found that 80% of voters support Senate Bill 381, known as the “Beagle Bill,” while 5% oppose it.

Kristen Tullo, Pennsylvania state director of Humane World for Animals, said Pennsylvania’s “Beagle Bill” is a bipartisan package of reforms designed to improve protections for dogs and cats used in research. She said that in 2024, more than 2,000 dogs and 1,000 cats were used in Pennsylvania for testing.

Tullo said the bill is about transparency and accountability, as well as giving animals a chance at life beyond the laboratory.

“This is really important,” Tullo said. “The majority of these animals will be killed once the experiments on them have ended. Senate Bill 381 gives these dogs and cats the opportunity for adoption after the experiments have ended.”

Tullo is urging House leadership to bring the bill forward without hesitation. Senate Bill 381 passed the Pennsylvania Senate unanimously last September and now awaits action in the House Judiciary Committee.

Tullo said the bill includes provisions such as prohibiting taxpayer-funded experiments on dogs and cats when no pain relief is provided. The poll found that 84% of those surveyed support that measure.

She said another provision would prevent facilities with serious federal Animal Welfare Act violations from supplying dogs for research in Pennsylvania.

“It will make Pennsylvania the 13th state to ban the sale of cosmetics newly tested on animals,” Tullo said. “It will increase transparency around animal research and taxpayer spending.”

Tullo said several rescued Envigo beagles joined advocates at Humane Lobby Day in Harrisburg to show support for the Beagle Bill.

The dogs were among the 4,000 beagles rescued in 2022 from a Virginia research breeding facility that was shut down after federal authorities found serious Animal Welfare Act violations. Tullo said some Pennsylvania-based shelters and rescue groups helped place about 200 of those beagles with families across the state.