Sponsors (18)
The bill trades reduced biosecurity and in‑flight safety risks and clearer federal authority against higher costs, lost air-transport options for small shippers and farms, and added administrative and legal complexity for carriers and regulators.
Airline crews, passengers, and rural communities will face fewer in-flight safety/cleanliness incidents and a lower risk of spreading avian diseases because non-essential interstate air carriage of adult roosters is restricted.
Air carriers and federal regulators gain clearer statutory authority and regulatory guidance over carriage of adult roosters, reducing ambiguity for operators and enabling consistent enforcement nationwide.
Commercial farms with sufficient scale (≥$350,000 gross cash farm income) can continue shipping roosters for legitimate agricultural purposes, preserving supply chains for larger egg and meat producers.
Small shippers, hobby breeders, and smaller farms will lose air transport options for adult roosters, increasing their costs, lengthening transit times, and reducing market access for breeding and sales.
Air carriers, shippers, and federal/state agencies will face increased administrative and compliance burdens (documentation, verification, enforcement), leading to higher operating costs and potential delays for customers.
Different state standards could create a patchwork of rules for interstate flights, increasing legal uncertainty, compliance complexity, and the risk of disputes for airlines operating across state lines.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Introduced February 4, 2026 by Troy E. Nehls · Last progress February 4, 2026
Prohibits air carriers and other persons operating aircraft in interstate or foreign air transportation from knowingly transporting adult roosters as cargo, with a narrowly drawn exemption for shipments to or from large commercial farms (defined as farms with $350,000+ annual gross cash farm income) when the shipper provides prior certification. The Department of Transportation (with the FAA) must enforce the rule, may write implementing regulations, and violations are subject to existing civil penalties. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment and does not preempt state laws that are more protective or restrictive.