The LEASH Act of 2026 requires law enforcement agencies to report felony animal cruelty convictions to the federal government as a condition of receiving Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, a major source of federal law enforcement funding. The bill amends existing crime reporting requirements to mandate that agencies submit data on animal cruelty convictions, including the names of convicted individuals, to the Department of Justice. Within two years of enactment, the Attorney General must create a publicly accessible database containing this animal cruelty conviction data and maintain it with regular updates. Agencies that comply with the new reporting requirements will receive priority consideration for federal grant funding. The reporting requirements become effective for grant applications submitted two years after the bill is enacted, giving law enforcement agencies time to establish the necessary data collection systems.
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