Sponsors (20)
The bill improves passenger safety, animal welfare, and biosecurity by restricting non‑agricultural air transport of adult roosters and clarifying carrier responsibilities, at the cost of reduced air access for small-scale farmers and hobbyists, added compliance and administrative burdens for carriers and producers, and potential state‑by‑state complexity.
Passengers, crew, and airport workers face fewer in-flight disturbances and lower biosecurity risks because adult roosters (noisy/aggressive and potential disease vectors) would be restricted from non‑agricultural air transport.
Large commercial farms that document $350,000+ gross farm income can still ship roosters for legitimate agricultural purposes, helping preserve commercial egg/meat supply chains and agricultural commerce.
Clearer documentation and certification rules give air carriers more objective grounds to refuse noncompliant shipments, reducing liability uncertainty for carriers and handlers.
Small farms, hobbyists, breeders, and show participants lose (or face substantially reduced) access to convenient air shipping for adult roosters, increasing travel time, cost, and limiting market or show participation.
Air carriers, shippers, and cargo handlers will incur new compliance, screening, and paperwork costs (and possible operational delays) to enforce rooster transport restrictions and verify documentation.
Requiring farmers to provide financial records or attestations as proof of agricultural status imposes administrative burdens and raises privacy concerns for producers.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Bans interstate/foreign air transport of adult roosters except for shipments to/from commercial farms (≥$350k annual gross cash farm income) with required certification; DOT/FAA enforce.
Prohibits air carriers and other persons operating aircraft in interstate or foreign air transportation from knowingly carrying adult roosters as cargo, except for shipments to or from qualifying commercial farms that provide specified documentation showing at least $350,000 in annual gross cash farm income. The Department of Transportation (in coordination with the FAA) enforces the rule, can write implementing regulations, and may assess civil penalties for violations. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment and preserves any State law that offers greater aviation safety or stricter live-animal transport limits.
Introduced February 4, 2026 by Troy E. Nehls · Last progress February 4, 2026