The FIGHT Act of 2025 amends the Animal Welfare Act to further prohibit animal fighting, including rooster fighting, and creates a citizen right to file civil suits against alleged violators.
John Kennedy
Senator
LA
The FIGHT Act of 2025 amends the Animal Welfare Act to further prohibit animal fighting ventures, including sponsoring, exhibiting, attending, or gambling on these events. It bans the interstate transport of roosters for fighting and allows citizens to file civil suits against alleged violators. The act also enables the seizure of real property used in animal fighting and clarifies that it does not override state or local animal fighting laws unless there is a direct conflict.
New Bill Cracks Down on Animal Fighting: Prohibits Attendance, Gambling, and Interstate Rooster Shipping
The 'Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-risk Trafficking Act of 2025,' or FIGHT Act, aims to tighten the screws on illegal animal fighting by amending the existing Animal Welfare Act. At its core, the bill makes it illegal not just to run or show animals in fights, but also to simply attend these events or even place bets on them, whether in person or online. It specifically defines a 'rooster' as any male chicken over six months old and prohibits using the U.S. Mail or any other interstate methods (like trucking or shipping) to move these birds if the purpose is fighting.
Shutting Down the Spectacle
This legislation goes after the entire ecosystem supporting animal fighting. By explicitly banning sponsoring, exhibiting, attending (or bringing a minor), and gambling on these ventures, it targets organizers, participants, and spectators alike. Think about it: shutting down an illegal operation isn't just about catching the ringleaders; it's also about removing the audience and the money that fuels it. The bill clarifies what constitutes a 'rooster' involved in these activities, focusing enforcement on mature male chickens, a common participant in cockfighting.
Cutting Off the Supply Lines
A key part of the bill tackles how animals get to these illegal fights. It specifically prohibits using the U.S. Postal Service (making a technical correction to Title 39 of the U.S. Code, which governs the mail) or any other means of interstate commerce to transport roosters intended for fighting. This aims to disrupt the logistics of these underground networks, making it harder to source and move animals across state lines for illegal purposes.
Putting Power in People's Hands (and Courts)
Interestingly, the FIGHT Act empowers regular citizens. If someone suspects illegal animal fighting is happening, they can potentially take legal action themselves. The bill allows individuals to file a civil lawsuit in federal court against alleged violators. Before suing, however, they must give 60 days' notice to the Secretary of Agriculture and local law enforcement. If the government (either USDA or federal prosecutors) is already pursuing a case against the same person for the same violation, a citizen suit isn't allowed. If successful, these suits could result in fines up to $5,000 per violation, and the bill also allows for the seizure of real estate used for animal fighting operations – hitting organizers financially and taking away their venues.
Keeping Strong Local Laws
Finally, the bill makes it clear that it isn't meant to weaken any existing state or local laws against animal fighting. If a state has tougher rules, those rules still stand. This federal update acts as a baseline, ensuring nationwide prohibitions while allowing states to maintain or enact even stricter regulations.