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S 2117

An Act providing that no state funds will be allocated to any agency, school, university, etc. that does research on animals

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jo Comerford

Massachusetts would deny all state funding to institutions conducting any animal research, potentially disrupting biomedical research and medical training.

Hearing scheduled for 09/09/2025 from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM in A-1 and virtual
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Bill Summary · S 2117

Legislative bill overview

S 2117 would prohibit Massachusetts from allocating any state funds to agencies, schools, universities, or other institutions that conduct animal research. This represents a blanket funding restriction on institutions engaging in any form of animal research, regardless of the research type, purpose, or oversight mechanisms in place.

Why is this important

Animal research funding restrictions would significantly impact Massachusetts' research institutions, including major medical centers and universities that rely on state appropriations while conducting federally-regulated animal studies. This could affect biomedical research productivity, pharmaceutical development, veterinary medicine training, and the state's competitive position in the life sciences sector—an economically important industry in Massachusetts.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope and definition: The bill's language ("any research on animals") is extremely broad and undefined—it's unclear whether this includes all animal testing, only mammalian research, behavioral studies, or even tissue cultures from animals.
  • Practical implementation: Many institutions conduct mixed research portfolios; the bill doesn't clarify how institutions would segregate funding or whether any animal research disqualifies them entirely from all state support.
  • Scientific necessity debate: Fundamental disagreement exists over whether animal research remains necessary for drug safety, disease understanding, and medical advancement versus availability of alternative methods like computer modeling and human cell cultures.
  • Economic and competitive impact: Restrictions could drive research institutions and biotech companies to other states, affecting jobs, tax revenue, and Massachusetts' life sciences leadership.
  • Federal funding complications: The bill doesn't address how state funding restrictions interact with federally-funded research at the same institutions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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