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HR 5403 116th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Criminal procedure and sentencing Evidence and witnesses Judicial procedure and administration Mammals Service animals

Courthouse Dogs Act

Introduced: December 11, 2019 Introduced by: Scanlon, Mary Gay Democratic · Pennsylvania See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 28, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.
Dec 11, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Dec 11, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Courthouse Dogs Act

This bill authorizes federal courts to allow a certified facility dog to accompany a witness testifying in a criminal proceeding.

What's happening now January 28, 2020

Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1029 Identical bill Courthouse Dogs Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 1 Republican 2
Axne, Cynthia
· Sep 4, 2020
 D
Harder, Josh
California · Feb 3, 2020
Kuster, Ann
· Jan 9, 2020
 R
Fitzpatrick, Brian K.
Pennsylvania · Jan 7, 2020
 R
Rutherford, John H.
Florida · Dec 11, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5403: Courthouse Dogs Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5403/
MLA
"H.R. 5403: Courthouse Dogs Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5403/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5403, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5403/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5403: Courthouse Dogs Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5403/)
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