PIGS Act of 2025

This bill amends the Animal Welfare Act to establish new standards for the humane treatment of breeding pigs, aiming to prohibit their intensive confinement. It makes it unlawful to confine a breeding pig in a manner that prevents it from lying down, standing up, or turning around completely without impediment or touching an enclosure or another animal. Beginning December 31, 2025, the legislation further mandates that each breeding pig must be provided with a minimum of 24 square feet of usable floorspace . Exceptions are allowed for temporary confinement during transportation, veterinary care, the five-day period before farrowing, and slaughter. The Act also ensures that existing State or local animal welfare laws providing identical or additional protections are not preempted. To assist producers with compliance, the Secretary of Agriculture is directed to establish a financial assistance program , prioritizing independent pig producers. This program will be funded by setting aside at least $10,000,000 from National Pork Board assessments for the first two fiscal years after the bill's enactment.