U.S. Rep. Greg Steube of Florida has introduced legislation that would require states to report felony animal cruelty convictions to the federal government and create a publicly accessible national database of convicted offenders.
The proposal, known as the Law Enforcement Animal Safety and Harm Reporting Act of 2026, or LEASH Act, would direct the U.S. Department of Justice to establish and maintain a database containing information on individuals convicted of felony animal cruelty offenses under state law.
The proposal shares similarities with Florida’s aggravated animal cruelty offender registry, which became publicly accessible Jan. 1 under legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024.
Florida’s registry includes individuals convicted of aggravated animal cruelty and certain animal fighting offenses. The LEASH Act would expand that concept nationally by requiring states to report felony animal cruelty convictions, including the names of convicted offenders, to the federal government. The Justice Department would then maintain a publicly accessible database of those records.
If enacted, the department would have two years to create the database and begin periodically updating it.
Supporters say the database could provide shelters, rescues and prospective pet owners with access to information about convicted offenders.
“Animal cruelty is a heinous crime that often signals a pattern of escalating violence,” Steube said in a statement announcing the legislation. “Florida has taken important steps to crack down on these crimes, and this legislation extends Florida’s model to better protect animals and help shelters place pets in safe homes.”
The bill has been referred to committee, where it must advance before receiving a vote in the House.
HomeFetch has reached out to Steube’s office for additional comment and will update this story if a response is received.
