WASHINGTON — A federal bill designed to increase monitoring of unlicensed laboratories remains stalled in a House committee, even as a recent law enforcement raid in Las Vegas brings the issue back to the spotlight.
California Representatives Kevin Kiley, Jim Costa, and David Valadao introduced the "Preventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Act" in October 2025. The bill aims to close gaps in the law that allow unlicensed labs to operate in the United States.
The push for the legislation followed the 2022 discovery of an unauthorized laboratory in Reedley, California. Investigators found that the site contained dangerous germs and diseases, including Ebola, HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. A congressional investigation later linked the Reedley lab to people with ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Lawmakers have also raised concerns about how federal agencies handled the situation. According to Fox 26 News, when the Reedley lab was discovered, the FBI declined to open an investigation, and the CDC initially did not communicate with city officials about the site.
Proposed Safety Measures
If passed, the law would require the federal government to check all labs that handle dangerous materials. This review would find where these labs are, how many exist, and how dangerous they are to the public.
The bill would also create a main point of contact for lab safety and security. This person would help state and local officials when they find suspicious or unlicensed labs.
Current Status
The legislation remains under review by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. On February 2, 2026, Representative David Valadao said other work in Congress has slowed the bill’s progress.
However, interest in the bill has been renewed following a recent police raid on an unauthorized biolab in Las Vegas. The discovery has pushed lawmakers to focus on the issue again.
