SATOS Act of 2025

The Save Animals Through Operational Shelters (SATOS) Act of 2025 proposes to establish a federal program offering grants and loans to enhance domestic animal care facilities in rural areas. This initiative aims to address the lack of adequate infrastructure, such as animal shelters and veterinary care facilities, in these communities. Eligible entities, including state, local, and tribal governments or nonprofit corporations, can receive funding to construct, expand, or renovate facilities like animal shelters, adoption centers, veterinary clinics, and emergency shelters, or to purchase essential equipment. The program sets a maximum annual grant amount of $10,000,000, with individual grants not exceeding 75 percent of a facility's development cost. The Secretary of Agriculture will establish a graduated federal share, providing a greater percentage for facilities in communities with lesser population or income levels. Additionally, the bill allocates 3 to 5 percent of appropriated funds for technical assistance and training grants, prioritizing entities with experience in facility planning and operation. The Secretary is mandated to finalize rules for the program within 180 days of enactment and begin providing grants and loans within one year. Regular reports, starting two years after enactment and biennially thereafter, will detail funding amounts, geographic distribution, outcomes, and recommendations for program improvement to Congress.