HB 803: Require annual report by certain animal testing facilities
The bill requires state institutions of higher education with animal testing facilities to publish an annual report on their website. The report must include information on progress made on replacing, reducing, and refining animal testing, such as the number of animals used and alternative methods. The report also must include an explanation of the methodology used to measure progress and an estimated percentage of state funds spent on animal procurement. However, the report cannot include information on animals used for agricultural purposes. Failure to publish the report by the deadline may result in a fine of up to one thousand dollars per day.
| May. 13, 2026 | Referred to committee: Workforce and Higher Education |
| Mar. 31, 2026 | Introduced |
As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session
H. B. No. 803
2025-2026
Representatives Fischer, Robb Blasdel
1To enact section 3345.91 of the Revised Code to
2require state institutions of higher education
3that have an animal testing facility to publish
4an annual report.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
5Section 1. That section 3345.91 of the Revised Code be
6enacted to read as follows:
7Sec. 3345.91. (A) As used in this section:
8(1) "Animal" means any vertebrate other than a human
9being.
10(2) "Animal testing facility" means a facility that
11confines and uses animals for research, education, testing, or
12other scientific purposes.
13(3) "State institution of higher education" has the same
14meaning as in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code.
15(B) Each state institution of higher education that
16operates or maintains an animal testing facility shall, not
17later than April 1, 2028, and by the first day of April of each
18year thereafter, publish on its public web site, in a readily
19accessible form, a report containing all of the following
20information:
21(1) An explanation of what progress, if any, the animal
22testing facility made during the preceding calendar year on
23replacement, reduction, and refinement efforts, including any of
24the following:
25(a) The replacement of, or reduction in, the number of
26animals required for research, educational, testing,
27experimental, scientific, or biomedical purposes:
28(b) The expansion of the use of research methods that
29either do not use animals or that use fewer animals;
30(c) The minimization of pain, suffering, distress, or
31lasting harm animals may experience.
32(2) An explanation of the methodology used to measure the
33progress described in division (A) (1) of this section and the
34reason why the methodology was chosen:
35(3) The total number of animals disaggregated by species
36used by the institution during the preceding calendar year for
37research, educational, testing, experimental, scientific, or
38biomedical purposes:
39(4) An estimated percentage of state funds expended by the
40institution to procure, use, and maintain animals in the
41preceding calendar year.
42(C) No report published under this section shall include
43information on animals used in research performed solely for
44agricultural purposes.
45(D) If a state institution of higher education fails to
46publish its report by the deadline under division (B) of this
47section, the chancellor of higher education shall impose a fine
48of not more than one thousand dollars for each day of the
violation.
H. B. No. 803
As Introduced