A Democratic bill with 11 Democratic cosponsors · See all 11 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Captive Primate Safety Act amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to regulate nonhuman primates. It defines "prohibited primate species" to include animals like chimpanzees, gorillas, and monkeys. The bill generally makes it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, purchase, breed, or possess these species. Certain exceptions are made for registered research facilities and individuals who register primates they owned before the Act's enactment. The Secretary of the Interior is tasked with creating implementing regulations within 180 days.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +5
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill increases protections for nonhuman primates by banning their commercial trade and private possession.
- Scored +3
Would children be better off under this?
Prohibiting public contact with primates increases safety for children.
- Scored +2
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill expands federal authority over the possession and trade of primates via the Lacey Act.
The opposite· 3 of 9
- Scored -5
Would business owners be better off under this?
Owners of exotic animal businesses will lose a product line due to the ban on trade.
- Scored -3
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill restricts the trade, sale, and possession of primate species, negatively impacting businesses in the exotic animal trade.
- Scored -2
Would high-income households be better off under this?
Wealthy collectors of exotic animals are prohibited from acquiring new prohibited primates.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Public Safety: Section 2(b)(2)(E)(iii) prohibits direct contact between the public and prohibited primate species for those granted a possession exception, which may reduce risks to the public.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Restrictions on Ownership and Trade: Section 2(b)(1) makes it unlawful for any person to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, purchase, breed, or possess prohibited primate species.
- Registration Burdens: Section 2(b)(2)(E)(i) requires individuals who possessed these primates before the Act to register each animal with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service within 180 days to legally keep them.
- Limitations on Current Owners: Section 2(b)(2)(E)(ii) prevents individuals who are granted an exception from breeding, acquiring, or selling any prohibited primate species after the Act is enacted.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — Prohibiting public contact with primates increases safety for children. Would business owners be better off under this? — Owners of exotic animal businesses will lose a product line due to the ban on trade. Would billionaires be better off under this? — Limits the acquisition of rare primate species. Would high-income households be better off under this? — Wealthy collectors of exotic animals are prohibited from acquiring new prohibited primates. Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this? — Limits the ability of high-net-worth individuals to acquire and trade rare primates. Would the very wealthiest people be better off under this? — Limits the acquisition of rare primate species.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill increases protections for nonhuman primates by banning their commercial trade and private possession.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal authority over the possession and trade of primates via the Lacey Act. Does this make it easier to do business across state lines? — The bill restricts the interstate transport and sale of specific primate species. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Federal prohibition overrides state-level allowances for primate ownership.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The bill prohibits the import and export of prohibited primate species, restricting specific international trade.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — By banning the sale and transport of these animals, it reduces public exposure to potentially dangerous animals. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill restricts the trade, sale, and possession of primate species, negatively impacting businesses in the exotic animal trade.
- Healthcare
- Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak? — Restricting the trade and possession of nonhuman primates may reduce the risk of zoonotic disease transmission.
- 2/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/29/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/2/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/17/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/17/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/5/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat · Michigan
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont