S. 355Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)Passed Senate

FDA Modernization Act 3.0

Introduced February 3, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated December 17, 2025 at 6:32 AM UTC

The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the FDA Commissioner, to issue a rule that updates drug and biologics regulations by replacing references to animal testing with the term nonclinical testing. The rule must be published within one year of the law’s enactment and adds a definition for "nonclinical test". It also makes a technical change to the labeling of a subsection dealing with clinical trial diversity plans. The changes affect the FDA’s regulatory language and compliance requirements for drug developers.

Key Provisions

  • Within one year, HHS must publish an interim final rule that replaces all mentions of "animal" tests, data, studies, models, and research with "nonclinical" equivalents in a long list of specific CFR sections related to drug and biologics approval.
  • The rule adds a definition of "nonclinical test" to section 505(z) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and updates the corresponding CFR sections.
  • The interim final rule becomes effective immediately, without the usual requirement to show good cause for immediate effectiveness.
  • A technical amendment redesignates subsection (z) of section 505 (which covers clinical trial diversity action plans) as subsection (aa).

Legislative Activity

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7 earlier actions
HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

December 17, 2025 • 10:21 AM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 3, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

February 3, 2025

SenateCommittee

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.

December 16, 2025

SenateFloor

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8793-8794)

December 16, 2025

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S8794)

December 16, 2025

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 17, 2025

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

December 17, 2025 • 9:58 AM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

December 17, 2025 • 10:21 AM

Amendments

1 amendment

Offered to this bill

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 355 on the floor

1 Republican
John Thune
Sen. John ThuneR-SD · Dec 16, 2025

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration of S. 355 and the Senate proceed to its immediate…

Bill Text

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Engrossed in SenateIssued December 17, 2025

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 355

AN ACT

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to publish a final rule relating to nonclinical testing methods.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the FDA Modernization Act 3.0.

2.

Regulations on nonclinical testing methods

(a)

Interim final rule

(1)

In general

In order to ensure implementation of the amendments to section 505(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(i)) made by section 3209(a) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117–328; 136 Stat. 5821), not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall publish an interim final rule—

(A)

to amend the sections of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, described in paragraph (2) to replace any references to animal tests, data, studies, models, and research with a reference to nonclinical tests, data, studies, models, and research; and

(B)

to add the definition of nonclinical test in section 505(z) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(z)) to sections 312.3, 314.3, 315.2, and 601.31 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations.

(2)

CFR sections described

The sections of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, described in this paragraph are the following:

(A)

Section 312.22(c).

(B)

Section 312.23(a)(3)(iv).

(C)

Section 312.23(a)(5)(ii).

(D)

Section 312.23(a)(5)(iii).

(E)

Section 312.23(a)(8).

(F)

Section 312.23(a)(8)(i).

(G)

Section 312.23(a)(8)(ii).

(H)

Section 312.23(a)(10)(i).

(I)

Section 312.23(a)(10)(ii).

(J)

Section 312.33(b)(6).

(K)

Section 312.82(a).

(L)

Section 312.88.

(M)

Section 314.50(d)(2).

(N)

Section 314.50(d)(2)(iv).

(O)

Section 314.50(d)(5)(i).

(P)

Section 314.50(d)(5)(vi)(a).

(Q)

Section 314.50(d)(5)(vi)(b).

(R)

Section 314.93(e)(2).

(S)

Section 315.6(d).

(T)

Section 330.10(a)(2).

(U)

Section 601.35(d).

(V)

Any other section necessary to ensure regulatory consistency with the amendments to section 505(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(i)) made by section 3209(a) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117–328; 136 Stat. 5821).

(3)

Effectiveness of interim final rule

Notwithstanding subparagraph (B) of section 553(b) of title 5, United States Code, the interim final rule issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under paragraph (1) shall become immediately effective as an interim final rule without requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to demonstrate good cause therefor.

(b)

Technical amendment

Section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355) is amended by designating the second subsection (z) (relating to clinical trial diversity action plans), as added by section 3601(a) of the Health Extenders, Improving Access to Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, and Strengthening Public Health Act of 2022 (division FF of Public Law 117–328), as subsection (aa).

Passed the Senate

Secretary