HF5131

Purpose

• The bill would prohibit Minnesota research facilities from conducting animal research or related activities if those activities would be reportable to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on APHIS Form 7023 Column E (or Form 7023B Column E Explanation). It aims to restrict certain kinds of animal testing and research and to set penalties for violations.

Main Provisions

• Prohibition on Column E reportable activities
  • A "research facility" (as defined in U.S. law) in Minnesota must not conduct any research, teaching, surgery, experiment, study, or test if the activity is or would be reportable to USDA on APHIS Form 7023 Column E or APHIS Form 7023B Column E Explanation.
• Scope and definitions
  • Applies to activities involving animals in research that would trigger federal reporting requirements.
  • The section does not apply to activities required by federal law or regulation (including CFR Title 9, section 113.1).
  • The section does not apply to federal research facilities (as defined in U.S. Code Title 7, section 2132).
• Penalties and remedies
  • Administrative penalty of $10,000 for each animal subjected to a violation.
  • In a civil action for a violation that the state proves was willful, the court may order the defendant to reimburse the state for reasonable litigation expenses, with the amount adjusted based on the defendant’s economic circumstances.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a new statewide prohibition in Minnesota against certain animal research activities that would require reporting to the USDA (Column E), creating a unique state-level restriction on animal testing not currently imposed by federal law.
• Adds a new enforcement framework with substantial per-animal penalties and potential civil-cost recovery for willful violations.

Penalties and Enforcement

• Administrative penalties: $10,000 per animal involved in the violation.
• Civil action remedies: If the violation is willful, the state may seek reimbursement of reasonable litigation expenses, and the court must consider the defendant’s economic circumstances when setting those expenses.
• Federal facilities and activities governed by federal law are exempt from these provisions.

Practical Impact (Plain Language Summary)

• Minnesota would ban certain animal testing activities if they trigger USDA reporting requirements (Column E). Facilities would face large fines for each animal involved and could be charged for the state’s legal costs if the violation is willful. Federal facilities and activities required by federal law would not be affected.

Relevant Terms - Column E - APHIS Form 7023 - APHIS Form 7023B - United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - APHIS - US Code Title 7 Section 2132 - US Code Title 7 Section 2143 - CFR Title 9 Section 236.1 - CFR Title 9 Section 113.1 - Research facility - Administrative penalty - Per-animal penalty - Willful - Civil action remedies - Litigation expenses - Economic circumstances - Federal facilities - Minnesota Statutes Chapter 343