Michigan Senate Bill 223 Advances Following Committee Testimony and Vote
Michigan SB 223, legislation that would mandate additional reporting on the use of animals in research and establish formal processes for post-research animal adoption, advanced out of the Senate Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee earlier this month. The vote on June 17, 2025, followed a hearing held on June 3, during which MichBio, voiced strong testimony opposing the bill as redundant and potentially harmful to research and innovation in Michigan.
SB 223 proposes to impose new reporting requirements on Michigan-based research institutions, including universities, private laboratories, and hospitals, regarding the use and outcomes of animals in research. Specifically, it seeks to know the numbers of animals adopted out once studies have concluded, a move proponents argue increases transparency and promotes animal welfare.
At the June 3 committee hearing, MichBio emphasized that much of what SB 223 aims to mandate is already addressed under existing federal and state regulations, including language adopted in 2023 through “Teddy’s Law.” That legislation, which was supported by both the biosciences community and animal welfare advocates, already established binding requirements for research animal adoption and institutional reporting protocols.
MichBio’s testimony underscored the concern that SB 223 introduces duplicative bureaucratic processes that could stifle research operations, increase administrative burden, and deter research investment in Michigan. The association noted that institutions under the oversight of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) are already governed by rigorous federal guidelines, including those enforced by the USDA and NIH’s Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW).
MichBio shares the commitment to ethical treatment and appropriate disposition of research animals, however, SB 223 does not improve upon existing safeguards. Instead, it risks creating confusion, overlap, and compliance challenges for researchers who are already following comprehensive and effective federal standards.
Moreover, it is unclear what purpose the reporting of animals adopted out would fulfill. Adoption numbers against a backdrop of animals used or on hand could be a misrepresentation and lead to incorrect assumptions or conclusions about a research facility’s activities. As researchers already know, the disposition of animals is dictated by study design and often ends in necropsy.
Despite opposition from MichBio and other research stakeholders, the Senate Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee voted to advance SB 223 on June 17, 2025, across party lines. The legislation now heads to the full Michigan Senate for consideration.
MichBio has indicated that it will continue to engage lawmakers ahead of the Senate vote to communicate the broader implications of this legislation and the precedent it may set. Michigan has a burgeoning life sciences sector. Policies like SB 223 must strike a careful balance between promoting transparency and preserving the integrity and competitiveness of biomedical research in our state.
