HEARTS Act of 2025
Latest action (13 Feb 2025): Introduced
What this bill does
H.R. 1291, the HEARTS Act of 2025, would amend the Public Health Service Act to prioritize nonanimal research methods at the National Institutes of Health. It would require NIH to create incentives for using alternatives such as organoid cultures, computer modeling, and artificial intelligence; require that nonanimal methods be evaluated before animal research is approved; and require research proposal reviews to include someone with expertise in nonanimal methods, plus access to a librarian who can assess alternative-method searches. The bill would also establish a new National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing within NIH, tasked with funding and promoting alternatives, training scientists, fostering collaboration among institutions, and publicly tracking animal use in federally funded research.
The bill would primarily affect NIH, federally funded research institutions, and federal agencies that use animals in research or testing. These entities would face new reporting requirements: within two years of enactment, they must report the number and species of animals used and bred for research, and every two years afterward, update those reports and submit plans to reduce animal use. All reports and plans would be made public through a standardized process set by the new Center's director.
The bill was introduced on February 13, 2025, by Rep. Ken Calvert with several bipartisan cosponsors, and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. As an introduced bill, it has not yet received a committee vote, floor vote, or Senate action, and would need to pass both chambers and be signed by the President to become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
This bill is in the first stage of the legislative process. It was introduced into Congress on February 13, 2025. It will typically be considered by committee next before it is possibly sent on to the House or Senate as a whole.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 1291 do?
- H.R. 1291, the HEARTS Act of 2025, would amend the Public Health Service Act to prioritize nonanimal research methods at the National Institutes of Health. It would require NIH to create incentives for using alternatives such as organoid cultures, computer modeling, and artificial intelligence; require that nonanimal methods be evaluated before animal research is approved; and require research proposal reviews to include someone with expertise in nonanimal methods, plus access to a librarian who can assess alternative-method searches. The bill would also establish a new National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing within NIH, tasked with funding and promoting alternatives, training scientists, fostering collaboration among institutions, and publicly tracking animal use in federally funded research. The bill would primarily affect NIH, federally funded research institutions, and federal agencies that use animals in research or testing. These entities would face new reporting requirements: within two years of enactment, they must report the number and species of animals used and bred for research, and every two years afterward, update those reports and submit plans to reduce animal use. All reports and plans would be made public through a standardized process set by the new Center's director. The bill was introduced on February 13, 2025, by Rep. Ken Calvert with several bipartisan cosponsors, and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. As an introduced bill, it has not yet received a committee vote, floor vote, or Senate action, and would need to pass both chambers and be signed by the President to become law.
- Has H.R. 1291 become law?
- Not yet. As of 13 Feb 2025, H.R. 1291 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 1291?
- H.R. 1291 was sponsored by Rep. Ken Calvert [R-CA41] (Republican-CA), with 18 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 1291?
- Introduced (13 Feb 2025).
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