The state Senate is one vote away from approving legislation to crack down on the use of dogs and cats for painful lab experiments.

Senate Bill 381, dubbed the Beagle Bill by lawmakers, was inspired by a 2022 case in which dozens of beagles were rescued from a Virginia lab, whose operator was charged with violating federal animal welfare laws.

The measure was amended on third consideration on Tuesday, meaning that lawmakers in the chamber can give final approval to the bill when the Senate reconvenes. The measure would then go to the House for its consideration.

“We hope to have a full Senate vote when they return to finish the budget,” said Kristen Tullo, state director of Humane World for Animals. “This bill would help protect dogs and cats used in research, provide transparency about animal testing happening at publicly funded institutions, and require the use of scientifically robust animal testing alternatives when approved by the relevant federal agency. The bill improves the humane treatment of animals now and supports the use of superior scientific testing methods approved for use by the federal government.”

A variety of animal rescue organizations across Pennsylvania participated in efforts to find new homes for dogs removed from the Virginia lab.

Animal rights groups say there are more than a dozen animal testing labs in Pennsylvania that use dogs and cats for experiments to assess the effects of drugs, pesticides, chemicals and other products.

More than 3,000 dogs and cats in Pennsylvania labs were subjected to lab testing, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

Senate Bill 381 would bar labs from using state funds for “painful experiments” on dogs and cats and bars the use of public funds to “devocalize” dogs and cats or to buy dogs and cats that have already been devocalized.”

Devocalization is a surgical procedure in which the vocal cords are altered or removed so that the animals can’t bark or meow.

“The bill would also ensure product testing companies utilize innovative non-animal alternatives when approved for use, accelerating the transition away from outmoded animal tests,” state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin, said in a cosponsor memo. “By working to reduce or eliminate funding for painful experiments and procedures when alternative methods exist, requiring adoption and minimum care standards for dogs bred for testing, and focusing on the development and use of faster and more reliable testing methods, we can end cruel and needless suffering, save taxpayer money, and reform the use of animals in experiments.”

Mastriano and state Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-Chester, are co-prime sponsors of the bill. The legislation was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously in June.

At that hearing, Mastriano called SB 381 “bipartisan legislation that would mark a turning point in how Pennsylvania treats companion animals and research and how we steward public dollars” so they aren’t used in “painful and unnecessary experiments.”

Mastriano also criticized the use of devocalization procedures as being “brutal” and used “just so they don’t have to hear the dogs crying out for help. It’s just too much.”

The bill was amended on the Senate floor Tuesday to add language mandating the labs make dogs available for adoption when the labs are done with them.

The amendment also includes new reporting requirements for state agencies and universities to disclose when state funds are used for research involving companion animals.