H.R. 9063House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

To require agencies of the Federal Government to define the term service animal in accordance with the regulations of the Department of Justice, and for other purposes.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 4:24 PM UTC

The bill directs every federal agency to use the Department of Justice’s 2010 definition of “service animal” (the same definition used in the ADA rule) for all of its regulations and policies. Agencies must adopt this definition within a year of the law’s passage and adjust any existing references to match it. Within two years, agencies must also apply the new definition in a way that minimizes any adverse effect on people who already have a service or assistance animal that does not meet the DOJ definition.

Key Provisions

Within 360 days, each federal agency must issue a rule that defines “service animal” and “assistance animal” exactly as the DOJ’s 2010 final rule defines “service animal.”
Agencies must revise all regulations, policies, and official documents to use this DOJ definition instead of any other definitions they currently use.
Within two years, agencies must apply the new definition so that it does not unduly harm individuals who, on the law’s enactment date, have a service or assistance animal that would not meet the DOJ definition.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

December 31, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

December 31, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

December 31, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued December 31, 2020

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9063

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 31, 2020

Mr. King of Iowa introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform

A BILL

To require agencies of the Federal Government to define the term service animal in accordance with the regulations of the Department of Justice, and for other purposes.

Definition of service animal

(a)

In general

Not later than 360 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, each agency of the Federal Government shall—

(1)

by rule, adopt a definition for the terms service animal and assistance animal, for purposes of the regulations of that agency, that is identical to the term service animal, as defined in the final rule entitled Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations and in Commercial Facilities (75 Fed. Reg. 56236 (September 15, 2010)); and

(2)

conform any reference to service animal and assistance animal in the regulations, policies, or other official documents of that agency to the term service animal, as defined in the final rule entitled Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations and in Commercial Facilities (75 Fed. Reg. 56236 (September 15, 2010)).

(b)

Applicability

Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, with respect to an individual with a service animal or assistance animal on the date of the enactment of this Act that does not meet the definition of the term service animal as defined in the final rule entitled Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations and in Commercial Facilities (75 Fed. Reg. 56236 (September 15, 2010)), each agency of the Federal Government shall apply subsection (a) in a way that limits the negative impact to such individual.