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SB 25-085

Health-Related Research Test Subjects

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Shannon Bird and 27 co-sponsors

Requires health-related research facilities to offer dogs/cats for adoption before euthanasia, report adoptions/transfers annually, with immunity for good-faith transfers.

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · SB 25-085

SB 25‑085 — Health‑Related Research Test Subjects

Status: Governor signed (4/22/2025). Effective: August 6, 2025 (per fiscal note / statute: 90 days after adjournment, assuming no referendum).

Purpose / intent

Require entities that use dogs and cats in health‑related research to attempt to place those animals for adoption before euthanasia, and to report adoption/transfer data to the state. The bill aims to increase opportunities for adoption of research animals while preserving researcher discretion when euthanasia is necessary.

Key provisions

  • Adoption offer requirement

    • Before euthanizing a dog or cat, a health‑related research facility must offer the animal to an animal shelter or a pet animal rescue for adoption.
    • If the facility operates an internal adoption program it may first offer the animal through that program.
    • The requirement does not apply when the animal is euthanized for research, health, or safety reasons.

  • Transfer agreements and liability

    • Facilities may enter collaborative agreements with shelters/rescues to satisfy the requirement.
    • Facilities that act in good faith to transfer animals to shelters/rescues or place them through internal adoption programs are immune from civil liability for acts or circumstances related to those transfers/adoptions.

  • Annual reporting

    • By January 31, 2026, and each January 31 thereafter, each health‑related research facility must submit a departmental form reporting for the prior calendar year:
    • total number of dogs and cats used for health‑related research at the facility;
    • number transferred to a shelter or rescue for adoption (include that shelter/rescue’s name and address);
    • number adopted through the facility’s internal adoption program.
    • Internal adoption programs must not report personal identifying information about individual adopters.

  • Definitions and scope

    • “Health‑related research” includes research on causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention of disease or development/testing of biomedical products/devices or health effects of chemical substances.
    • “Health‑related research facility” means an entity using animals for that research (excludes entities providing only beneficial services such as spay/neuter).
    • “Animal” is defined as nonhuman vertebrate; specific definitions for “dog” and “cat” are included.

  • Federal conflict

    • If a provision conflicts with the federal Animal Welfare Act, the conflicting part is inoperative only to the extent of the conflict.

Who is affected

  • Health‑related research facilities (including institutions of higher education conducting canine/feline research).
  • Animal shelters and pet animal rescues (may receive increased transfers).
  • Counties operating shelters (possible increased sheltering costs).
  • Department responsible for collection of reported data (Department of Agriculture per enacted version).

Fiscal and operational impacts

  • Legislative Council’s fiscal notes (initial and final) project minimal ongoing state workload to collect reports and minimal workload impacts for institutions to coordinate adoptions and reporting.
  • Colorado State University estimated implementation costs of about $50,000; the fiscal note assumes institutions will fund expenses from internal revenue (adoption fees, student fees) and concludes no state appropriation is required.
  • Local shelter costs will vary; the note cites an average shelter cost of about $30 per animal per day as a planning metric.

Implementation timeline / procedural notes

  • Bill enacted and signed by Governor on 4/22/2025.
  • Facilities must file the first annual report by January 31, 2026, covering calendar year 2025.
  • Effective date: August 6, 2025 (subject to referendum provisions noted in statute).

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

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