A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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 BARK Act of 2025 aims to provide protections for good faith donations of pet food and supplies. It establishes liability protections for individuals, nonprofit organizations, and government entities when they donate or receive "apparently fit" pet-related products. These products must meet all quality and labeling standards even if they are not readily marketable due to their condition or appearance. The bill ensures that donors and recipients are not held civilly or criminally liable for the condition of the items provided. However, these protections do not apply in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
Yes
- Scored +3
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Provides easier access to pet food and supplies through donations to nonprofits.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Liability Protection for Donors: A person will not face civil or criminal liability for donating apparently fit pet-related products in good faith to a nonprofit or government entity (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Liability Protection for Nonprofits: Nonprofit organizations are protected from civil or criminal liability regarding the nature, age, packaging, or condition of apparently fit pet-related products received as good faith donations (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Liability Protection for Governments: State or local governments are protected from liability regarding the nature, age, packaging, or condition of apparently fit pet-related products received as good faith donations (Section 2(b)(3)).
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Facilitation of Distressed Goods: The bill allows for the donation of pet food or supplies that do not meet all standards, provided the recipient is informed of the condition and agrees to recondition them to meet standards (Section 2(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Exclusion of Gross Negligence or Misconduct: Liability protections do not apply if an injury or death to a recipient results from an act or omission constituting gross negligence or intentional misconduct (Section 2(b)(4)).
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 households on low incomes be better off under this? — Provides easier access to pet food and supplies through donations to nonprofits.
- 7/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/18/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/4/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina