Sponsors (25)
The bill improves safety for horses and clarity of enforcement by banning multilevel stacked interstate transport and authorizing per-horse fines, but shifts costs, complexity, and financial risk onto small haulers and rural shippers.
Horse owners and animals — reduces risk of injury or death by banning multilevel stacked transport of horses across state lines.
Transportation workers and small haulers — creates a clear enforcement mechanism by establishing per-horse civil fines ($100–$500) to deter unsafe stacked-transport practices.
Small-business owners and transporters — increases operating costs and financial exposure because haulers may need to reconfigure fleets to single-level vehicles and face per-horse fines up to $500.
Rural horse owners and transporters — may face greater transport complexity and delays for interstate shipments, increasing delivery times and logistical burdens.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits interstate/territory-crossing horse transport in highway vehicles with two or more stacked levels and creates civil penalties of $100–$500 per horse for knowing violations.
Introduced May 29, 2025 by Stephen Cohen · Last progress May 29, 2025
Prohibits transporting horses in highway vehicles that have two or more stacked (multi-level) animal-holding levels when the trip crosses State, District, or U.S. territory/possession lines, and creates civil penalties for knowing violations. It also narrows an existing legal exception and defines “motor vehicle” for the new rule, excluding rail-only vehicles.