December 15, 2025
Mr. Hernández (for himself, Ms. Norton, and Ms. Titus) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
To establish a program to provide grants and loans to facilitate the care, rehabilitation, and welfare of domestic animals in rural areas, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Save Animals Through Operational Shelters Act of 2025
or the SATOS Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
Rural communities often lack adequate infrastructure (including animal shelters and veterinary care facilities) to support animal welfare.
(2)
Associations, units of general local government, nonprofit corporations, and Indian Tribes play a critical role in promoting the health, safety, and humane treatment of animals.
(3)
Investment in animal care facilities contributes to public health, safety, and community well-being.
Sec. 3. Grants and loans for domestic animal care facilities in rural areas
(a) Establishment
The Secretary shall establish a program to provide a grant or loan to an eligible entity—
(1)
to construct, expand, or renovate a facility in a rural area for—
(A)
an animal shelter;
(B)
an animal adoption center;
(C)
a veterinary care clinic;
(D)
a spay and neuter clinic;
(E)
an animal control operation; or
(F)
an emergency animal shelter; or
(2)
to purchase or install equipment, furnishings, vehicles, or technology for such a facility.
(b) Terms of grant
(1) Amount
The total amount that may be provided as grants under subsection (a) for a fiscal year may not exceed $10,000,000.
(2) Federal share
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the Secretary shall, by rule, establish the amount of the Federal share of the cost of developing a facility pursuant to a grant under subsection (a).
(B) Maximum amount
The amount of a grant provided under subsection (a) for a facility may not exceed 75 percent of the cost of developing such facility.
(C) Graduated scale
The Secretary shall establish a graduated scale for the amount of the Federal share provided under this paragraph, with a greater Federal share, not more than the maximum amount described in subparagraph (B), for a facility located in a community that has a lesser population or income level, as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Technical assistance and training
(1) In general
The Secretary may make a grant to an eligible entity to procure technical assistance and training to—
(A)
assist such eligible entity in identifying and planning for the needs of a facility developed pursuant to a grant or loan under subsection (a);
(B)
identify resources to finance the needs of such a facility;
(C)
prepare a report or survey to be included in an application for a grant or loan under subsection (a);
(D)
prepare an application for such grant or loan;
(E)
improve the administration, including financial administration, of such a facility; and
(F)
assist with any other area of need, as identified by the Secretary, relating to the administration of—
(i)
such a facility; or
(ii)
a grant or loan under subsection (a).
(2) Selection priority
In selecting a recipient of a grant under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity that has experience in the planning, design, operation, or management of a facility described in subsection (a)(1), as demonstrated in the application for such grant submitted by such eligible entity.
(3) Funding
Not less than 3 nor more than 5 percent of any funds appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year shall be reserved for grants under this subsection.
(d) Rule making
Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall finalize a rule to carry out this section.
(e) Implementation
Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall begin providing grants and loans under subsection (a).
(f) Reports
Within 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report describing—
(1)
the amount of grants and loans provided under subsections (a) and (c);
(2)
the geographic distribution of the recipients of such grants and loans;
(3)
the outcomes achieved by such grants and loans; and
(4)
any recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the program established under subsection (a).
(g) Definitions
In this section:
(1)
The term domestic animal
means an animal, including a dog, cat, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, or bird, that is not kept by the owner for any commercial purpose.
(2)
The term eligible entity
means—
(A)
a State, local, or Tribal government or an agency thereof; or
(B)
a nonprofit corporation.
(3)
The term rural area
means any area other than—
(A)
a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants; and
(B)
the urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to such a city or town.
(4)
The term Secretary
means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development.