Require annual report by certain animal testing facilities

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
H. B. No. 803

2025-2026

Representatives Fischer, Robb Blasdel

To
enact section 3345.91 of the Revised Code
to
require state institutions of higher education that have an animal
testing facility to publish an annual report.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
section 3345.91 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec.
3345.91.
(A)
As used in this section:

(1)
"Animal" means any vertebrate other than a human being.

(2)
"Animal testing facility" means a facility that confines
and uses animals for research, education, testing, or other
scientific purposes.

(3)
"State institution of higher education" has the same
meaning as in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code.

(B)
Each state institution of higher education that operates or maintains
an animal testing facility shall, not later than April 1, 2028, and
by the first day of April of each year thereafter, publish on its
public web site, in a readily accessible form, a report containing
all of the following information:

(1)
An explanation of what progress, if any, the animal testing facility
made during the preceding calendar year on replacement, reduction,
and refinement efforts, including any of the following:

(a)
The replacement of, or reduction in, the number of animals required
for research, educational, testing, experimental, scientific, or
biomedical purposes;

(b)
The expansion of the use of research methods that either do not use
animals or that use fewer animals;

(c)
The minimization of pain, suffering, distress, or lasting harm
animals may experience.

(2)
An explanation of the methodology used to measure the progress
described in division (A)(1) of this section and the reason why the
methodology was chosen;

(3)
The total number of animals disaggregated by species used by the
institution during the preceding calendar year for research,
educational, testing, experimental, scientific, or biomedical
purposes;

(4)
An estimated percentage of state funds expended by the institution to
procure, use, and maintain animals in the preceding calendar year.

(C)
No report published under this section shall include information on
animals used in research performed solely for agricultural purposes.

(D)
If a state institution of higher education fails to publish its
report by the deadline under division (B) of this section, the
chancellor of higher education shall impose a fine of not more than
one thousand dollars for each day of the violation.