A bipartisan bill that aimed to increase transparency and accountability of animal testing facilities at public colleges and universities in Virginia has been amended to create a task force that will study the issue and make recommendations.
Why the bill was introduced
The original bill, SB 411, was introduced by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, and co-patroned by Sen. William Stanley, R-Franklin County. The bill would have required animal testing facilities to submit an annual report to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), detailing the number and species of animals used, the cost of experiments, and the sources of funding. The bill would have also capped Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) records requests at $25.
The bill was motivated by concerns over the welfare of animals used for research and testing, as well as the lack of public information and oversight of such facilities. According to the Humane Society of the United States, Virginia is one of only 11 states that do not require any reporting of animal testing data by public institutions. The bill’s sponsors argued that the public has a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent and how animals are being treated.
How the bill was amended
The bill faced opposition from several public universities, including Virginia Tech, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and Virginia Commonwealth University. The universities argued that the bill would impose a significant burden and cost on their facilities, and that it would not serve any clear purpose other than transparency. They also claimed that they already comply with federal regulations and standards for animal care and use, and that they have internal review boards and committees to ensure ethical and humane practices.
The bill was heavily amended in the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, where it was changed to create a task force instead of requiring annual reports. The task force will consist of representatives from lawmakers, universities, animal welfare groups, the Virginia Press Association, and the Virginia Coalition for Open Government. The task force will examine the current state of animal testing facilities at public institutions, look for any potential deficiencies or noncompliance with federal laws, and make recommendations to increase public transparency and accountability. The task force will submit its report by November 2024.
The amended bill passed the Senate unanimously and was referred to the House Education Committee.
What the stakeholders say
The bill’s sponsors and supporters expressed disappointment with the amendments, but said they were willing to compromise and work with the stakeholders to find a solution. They said they hope the task force will lead to meaningful reforms and improvements in the future.
“We have grave concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability of animal testing facilities in Virginia,” said Boysko in a press release. “We hope that this task force will shed some light on the situation and help us move forward with legislation that will protect animals and taxpayers.”
Stanley said he was optimistic that the task force will find common ground and consensus among the parties involved.
“I think this is a good first step,” he said. “We want to make sure that we have the best practices in place, that we are not wasting money or resources, and that we are not causing unnecessary suffering to animals.”
The universities and their representatives said they were pleased with the amendments and that they look forward to participating in the task force. They said they are committed to conducting ethical and responsible research and testing that advances human and animal health and welfare.
“We appreciate the opportunity to work with the legislators and the stakeholders on this issue,” said Ross Grogg, a lobbyist for Kemper Consulting, on behalf of Eastern Virginia Medical School. “We believe that the task force will provide a balanced and comprehensive review of the current state of animal testing in Virginia and make recommendations that are based on facts and evidence.”
Elizabeth Hooper, who spoke for Virginia Tech, said the university is proud of its animal care and use program and its contributions to scientific discovery and innovation.
“We are confident that the task force will find that we have a robust and rigorous system in place that ensures the highest standards of animal welfare and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations,” she said.
The animal welfare groups, such as the Humane Society and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, said they were hopeful that the task force will lead to more transparency and accountability, as well as a reduction in animal testing and an increase in alternative methods.
“We are glad that the legislators recognized the need for more oversight and scrutiny of animal testing facilities in Virginia,” said Matthew Gray, the Virginia state director for the Humane Society. “We hope that the task force will recommend measures that will improve animal welfare, reduce animal suffering, and promote the development and adoption of non-animal testing methods that are more humane, reliable, and cost-effective.”
