H.R. 3946: FIGHT Act of 2025
Sponsor
Don Bacon
Republican · NE-2
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jun 12, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Cockfighting bill lets you sue and seize the venues
Why it matters
H.R. 3946 hands enforcement tools to private citizens. The bill would let any person file a federal lawsuit to stop alleged cockfighting, authorize courts to impose fines up to $5,000 per violation, and allow seizure of the property used to host fights. Federal animal fighting law has been on the books for decades, but only USDA and the Justice Department could bring cases. This bill changes that.
Federal law already bans animal fighting under the Animal Welfare Act, but enforcement has historically depended on USDA inspectors and federal prosecutors deciding to take a case. H.R. 3946 — the FIGHT Act of 2025 — adds new tools and new pressure points.
The biggest change is the citizen suit provision. Any person could file in federal district court to stop alleged violations after giving 60 days' notice to the Agriculture Secretary and local law enforcement. Courts could impose fines up to $5,000 per violation. The Attorney General can intervene on the government's side, and judges can award attorney's fees and litigation costs to either party.
The bill also goes after the infrastructure around fighting. Gambling on animal fighting ventures would become a federal offense, including bets on live events and broadcasts. Using the Postal Service or any other interstate channel to transport a rooster would be prohibited — the bill defines a rooster as any male Gallus domesticus older than six months.
The most aggressive piece is property seizure. Real property used or intended to be used to commit or facilitate sponsoring or exhibiting animal fights would be subject to seizure — including land, leasehold interests, and any improvements. That targets the venues themselves, not just the operators.
State and local cockfighting laws stay in place unless they directly conflict with the federal rules, and the bill adds no new federal funding. Enforcement would still rely on existing USDA, DOJ, and Postal Service resources — plus whatever private litigants decide to file.
H.R. 3946 Bill Summary
What H.R. 3946 actually does.
You can sue cockfighting operations in federal court
Any person could file a civil suit in federal district court to enjoin alleged animal-fighting violations after giving 60 days' notice to the USDA Secretary and local law enforcement.
Property used for animal fights can be seized
Real property used or intended to facilitate sponsoring or exhibiting animal fights — including land, buildings, and any leasehold interest — would be subject to federal seizure.
Gambling on animal fights becomes a federal offense
Betting on any animal fighting venture would be illegal, including wagers placed on in-person events and on broadcast events.
Shipping a rooster across state lines becomes illegal
Using the Postal Service or any interstate channel to transport a rooster would be prohibited under the bill.
Federal law gets a definition of 'rooster'
The bill defines a rooster as any male member of the Gallus domesticus species older than six months. The definition would be added to the Animal Welfare Act.
Citizen-suit fines run up to $5,000 per violation
Federal courts could impose fines of up to $5,000 for each violation in a citizen-filed case, with separate counts for separate violations. Attorney's fees and litigation costs can be awarded to either party.
Who benefits from H.R. 3946?
Animal welfare organizations and concerned neighbors
They would get a direct path to federal court without waiting for USDA or DOJ to take a case. Citizen-suit models like this drive most enforcement under the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act.
Communities near suspected fighting operations
Residents could push cases forward when local sheriffs lack the resources or interest to investigate cockfighting in their jurisdiction.
Federal animal-fighting investigators
USDA and DOJ would gain a parallel civil enforcement track that doesn't depend on a prosecutor accepting the case, plus the Attorney General can intervene in citizen suits on the government's side.
Roosters and other animals used in fights
Animals used in organized fighting would gain stronger protection through broader enforcement infrastructure aimed at the gambling, transport, and venue networks behind the activity.
Who is affected by H.R. 3946?
Cockfighting organizers and exhibitors
They would face a new layer of risk: civil suits brought by private citizens, $5,000 per-violation fines, and seizure of land or buildings used to host fights.
People who bet on animal fights
Gambling on animal fighting ventures would become a federal offense, whether the bet is placed at a live event or on a broadcast.
Property owners hosting fights
Land or buildings used or intended to be used to commit or facilitate animal fights could be seized — including leasehold interests.
Heritage and game fowl breeders
The rooster transport ban is written broadly. Breeders who ship adult male chickens across state lines have argued in past versions of similar legislation that the language reaches lawful poultry shipping, not just trafficking tied to fighting.
USDA and local law enforcement
They would receive 60-day notices from prospective citizen-suit filers and could either commence their own action — which preempts the citizen suit — or let it proceed in federal court.
What Congress Is Saying
H.R. 3946 hasn't been debated on the floor yet.
This section updates when a legislator speaks about it on the floor or in committee.
HR3946 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Jun 12, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
About the Sponsor
Don Bacon
Republican, Nebraska's 2nd congressional district · 9 years in Congress
Committees: Agriculture, Armed Services
View full profile →
Cosponsors (145)
This bill has 145 cosponsors: 82 Democrats, 63 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 37 states: Arkansas, Arizona, California, and 34 more.
Glenn Grothman
Republican · WI
Ryan Zinke
Republican · MT
Andrew Garbarino
Republican · NY
Jack Bergman
Republican · MI
Brian Fitzpatrick
Republican · PA
Juan Ciscomani
Republican · AZ
Cliff Bentz
Republican · OR
Jefferson Van Drew
Republican · NJ
Nicole Malliotakis
Republican · NY
Daniel Webster
Republican · FL
Mark Amodei
Republican · NV
Scott Fitzgerald
Republican · WI
Cosponsor Coverage Map
Committee Sponsors
Agriculture Committee
22 of 53 committee members cosponsored
24 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
What laws does H.R. 3946 change?
2 changes
Sections Amended
Section 2 of Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2132)
adding at the end the following: ``(p) The term `rooster' means any male member of Gallus Domesticus species that is older than 6 months
Section 26(h) of Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2156(h))
read as follows: ``(h) Conflict With State Law
H.R. 3946 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Agriculture
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Animals
- Introduced
- Jun 12, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Jun 12, 2025
Official Sources
Full text of the FIGHT Act of 2025 as introduced in the 119th Congress
The core federal statute this bill amends, prohibiting sponsoring, exhibiting, attending, and trafficking in animal fighting ventures
Definitions section of the Animal Welfare Act where the new 'rooster' definition would be added
Federal criminal penalties (up to 5 years imprisonment) for animal fighting violations under the Animal Welfare Act
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service enforcement page — the federal agency that investigates animal fighting violations
Committee of referral for HR 3946; next step is committee consideration before any floor vote
Postal code provision the bill amends to classify rooster transport materials as nonmailable
Senate companion version of the FIGHT Act of 2025, also amending the Animal Welfare Act
H.R. 3946 Common Questions
Can private citizens sue to stop cockfighting under the FIGHT Act?
Yes. Any person could file a civil suit in federal district court to enjoin alleged animal-fighting violations under H.R. 3946 — but only after giving 60 days' notice to the USDA Secretary and local law enforcement.
How much is the fine in a citizen lawsuit under the FIGHT Act?
A federal court could impose a fine of up to $5,000 for each violation in a citizen-filed case under H.R. 3946. Separate counts can stack for separate violations, and judges can award attorney's fees and litigation costs to either side.
How long do you have to wait before filing a citizen suit under the FIGHT Act?
At least 60 days. Under H.R. 3946, you must submit written notice of the alleged violation to the USDA Secretary and local law enforcement before filing in federal court.
Can property used for cockfighting be seized under the FIGHT Act?
Yes. Real property used or intended to facilitate sponsoring or exhibiting animal fights would be subject to federal seizure under H.R. 3946 — including land, buildings, and any leasehold interest in the lot.
Does the FIGHT Act ban gambling on cockfights, including online broadcasts?
Yes. H.R. 3946 makes it unlawful to gamble on any animal fighting venture, including bets placed at in-person events and on broadcast events.
Does the FIGHT Act ban shipping roosters across state lines?
Yes. The bill makes it unlawful to use the Postal Service or any other interstate channel to transport a rooster — defined broadly as any male Gallus domesticus older than six months.
What counts as a rooster under the FIGHT Act?
The bill defines a rooster as any male member of the Gallus domesticus species older than six months. The definition would be added to the Animal Welfare Act and apply across federal animal-fighting law.
Does the FIGHT Act override state or local animal fighting laws?
No. H.R. 3946 leaves state, local, and municipal animal fighting laws in place unless there is a direct and irreconcilable conflict with the federal rules.
Based on H.R. 3946 bill text
H.R. 3946 Bill Text
“To amend the Animal Welfare Act to provide for greater protection of roosters, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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