MINKS are Superspreaders Act Minks In Narrowly Kept Spaces are...
To amend the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the captivity of mink, and for other purposes.
The bill, HB6513, aims to change the Animal Welfare Act by banning the captivity of mink. This law would stop minks from being kept in cages and other confined spaces, which have been identified as places where diseases like COVID-19 can spread quickly.
This change would mainly affect mink farms and anyone who currently keeps minks in captivity. It would require these farms to find new ways to operate or to stop keeping minks altogether. The goal is to reduce the risk of diseases spreading from animals to humans.
As of now, the bill has been introduced and sent to different committees for review. It was first introduced on December 9, 2025, and has since been referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry and the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture for further discussion and action.
