H.R. 263Big Cat Public Safety Act

1 recorded action235 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Mike Quigley [D-IL-05]
Cosponsors: 258 · 201 Democrats · 49 Republicans
Policy area: Animals
Committee: Natural Resources Committee
Latest action: Dec 20, 2022 · Became Public Law No: 117-243.

IntroducedJan 11, 2021
Passed the HouseJul 29, 2022
Passed the SenateDec 6, 2022
Sent to the PresidentDec 16, 2022
Became lawDec 20, 2022

What the measure doesCRS summary

Big Cat Public Safety Act

This act revises requirements governing the trade of big cats (i.e., species of lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such species) under the Lacey Act to limit the possession, breeding, and exhibition of big cats. The Lacey Act prohibits any person from importing, exporting, buying, selling, transporting, receiving, or acquiring big cats across state lines or the U.S. border. However, some exemptions are provided for certain entities, such as universities and wildlife sanctuaries.

(Sec. 3) The act expands the Lacey Act prohibitions to include a prohibition on possessing or breeding big cats. Breeding means facilitating propagation or reproduction (whether intentionally or negligently), or failing to prevent propagation or reproduction. Owners of big cats that were born before this act's enactment may keep their big cats, but the owners must register them with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The act modifies the list of entities that are exempt from prohibitions to export, buy, sell, transport, receive, acquire, possess, or breed big cats. The modified list includes exemptions for entities or facilities exhibiting animals to the public if they (1) hold a Class C license in good standing under the Animal Welfare Act, and (2) do not allow individuals to come into direct physical contact with big cats. However, direct contact is allowed if the individual is a trained professional, a veterinarian, or directly supporting conservation programs that do not involve commercial activities and meet other specified restrictions.

(Sec. 4) A person who knowingly violates the act must be fined not more than $20,000, or imprisoned for no more than five years, or both. The act considers each violation to be a separate offense. The offense must be deemed to have been committed not only in the district where the violation first occurred, but also in any district in which the defendant may have taken or been in possession of the prohibited wildlife species.

(Sec. 5) The act extends forfeiture provisions to fish, wildlife, or plants that are bred or possessed; thus, big cats bred or possessed in violation of the act are subject to forfeiture.

(Sec. 6) The Department of the Interior must issue regulations to implement this act.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 263 as public Law on Dec 20, 2022. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

How every member votedHouse roll call 415

House Jul 29, 2022

On Passage

Big Cat Public Safety Act

Passed

278 Yea 134 Nay 18 not voting

Crossed both parties 63 of 412 voting members broke with their own party: 63 Republicans.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members430 members

Democratic219 members

Republican211 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors258 · 201 Democrats · 49 Republicans

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 263 and vote against it. 7 signed when it was filed.

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.R. 26310 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 263 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

ANIMAL WELLNESS ACTIONfiled by ANIMAL WELLNESS ACTION, K&L GATES, LLPIts PAC: Animal Wellness Action PAC

Agriculture · Animals · Budget/Appropriations18 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

BIG CAT RESCUEfiled by BLOUNT STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

Animals9 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

ANIMAL DEFENDERS INTERNATIONAL US INC.

Animals8 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2022Filing

ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE FKA SOCIETY FOR ANIMAL PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION

Animals8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

FELINE CONSERVATION FEDERATIONfiled by HANKA ADVISOR LLC

Animals8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

WORLD WILDLIFE FUND, INC.

Environment/Superfund · Budget/Appropriations · Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries · Natural Resources +2 more8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

HUMANE WORLD ACTION FUNDfiled by HUMANE WORLD ACTION FUND AND AFFILIATES (FORMERLY KNOWN AS HUMANE SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE FUND)Its PAC: Humane World Action Fund PAC

Budget/Appropriations · Animals2 filings · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2021Filing

RURAL LIFESTYLE ALLIANCE, LLCfiled by THE CAVALRY GROUP, LLC

Animals · Agriculture2 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION

Animals · Budget/Appropriations1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2021Filing

NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEIts PAC: National Fraternal Order of Police PAC

Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Firearms/Guns/Ammunition · Retirement +1 more1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2021Filing

65 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.