H.R. 8723 – FIGHT Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated May 14, 2026 at 7:40 AM UTC

The FIGHT Act amends the Animal Welfare Act to make it illegal to sponsor or exhibit animals in fighting events, to cause anyone under 16 to attend such events, and to gamble on animal fighting, whether in person or via broadcast. The law applies to any person who engages in these activities.

Key Provisions

Prohibits knowingly sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in an animal‑fighting venture.
Makes it unlawful to cause a person under age 16 to attend an animal‑fighting event.
Bars gambling on animal‑fighting ventures, including in‑person or broadcast betting.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Agriculture Committee

May 11, 2026

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 11, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Agriculture Committee

May 11, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued May 11, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8723

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 11, 2026

Mr. Bacon introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To amend the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit gambling on animal fighting ventures, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-risk Trafficking Act of 2026 or the FIGHT Act of 2026.

2.

Animal fighting

Section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2156) is amended—

(1)

by striking the section designation and header and all that follows through It shall be unlawful in subsection (a)(2) and inserting the following:

26.

Sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in, attending, causing an individual who has not attained the age of 16 to attend, or gambling on, an animal fighting venture

(a)

Sponsoring or exhibiting

(1)

In general

It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly sponsor or exhibit an animal in an animal fighting venture.

(2)

Attending or causing an individual who has not attained the age of 16 to attend

It shall be unlawful

; and

(2)

in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:

(3)

Animal venture gambling

It shall be unlawful for any person to gamble on an animal fighting venture, including an in-person or broadcast event.

.