H.R. 1675

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend the Horse Protection Act to provide increased protection for horses participating in shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · February 27, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. DesJarlais · Committee: Committee on Energy and Commerce

H.R. 1675

SEC. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting Horses from Soring Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Definitions

Section 2 of the Horse Protection Act () is amended— 15 U.S.C. 1821
- by striking the section designation and all that follows through in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
- by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) as paragraphs (2), (4), (5), and (6), respectively;
- by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following:
- by inserting after paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following:

SEC. 3. Findings

Section 3 of the Horse Protection Act () is amended— 15 U.S.C. 1822
- by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and
  - the Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture has determined that the program through which the Secretary inspects horses is not adequate to ensure compliance with this Act;
- by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

SEC. 4. Increasing protections for horses participating in horse shows, exhibitions, sales, or auctions

(a) Horse shows and exhibitions
- Section 4 of the Horse Protection Act () is amended— 15 U.S.C. 1823
  - by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
    - (a) Disqualification of horses
      - (1) In general
        
        The management of any horse show or horse exhibition shall disqualify any horse from being shown or exhibited if—
        
        the horse is determined to be sore by an objective inspection; or
        
        the management has been notified that the horse is sore by—
        
        (i) a person licensed under subsection (c)(3)(A); or
        
        (ii) the Secretary.
      - (2) Duration of disqualification
        
        Any horse that is determined to be sore by an objective inspection shall be disqualified from being shown or exhibited—
        
        for a period of not less than 30 days if it is the first determination; and
        
        for a period of not less than 90 days if it is a second or subsequent determination.
  - in subsection (b)—
    - by striking and inserting the following:
      - (b) Prohibition on sale, auction, and exhibition
        
        The management
  - by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
    - (c) Horse Industry Organization
      - (1) Establishment
        
        (A) In general
        
        Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the , the Secretary shall establish an organization, to be known as the (referred to in this subsection as ). Horse Industry Organization the Organization
        
        (B) Board
        
        (i) The Organization shall be governed by a board (referred to in this subsection as ) consisting of not more than 9 individuals, of whom— the Board
        
        two shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of Tennessee;
        
        two shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of Kentucky;
        
        two shall—
        
        represent the Tennessee Walking Horse industry; and
        
        be appointed by the members appointed under subclauses (I) and (II), in accordance with a process developed by those members; and
        
        not more than three shall be appointed by the members appointed under subclauses (I) through (III).
        
        (ii) Five members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
        
        (iii) The members of the Board, in consultation with the Secretary, shall develop bylaws and other policies to operate the Organization, establish committees, and fill vacancies on the Board.
        
        (C) Vacancies; period of appointment
        
        (i) Any vacancy on the Board—
        
        shall not impair the authority of the Board; and
        
        shall be filled as soon as practicable in the same manner as the original appointment.
        
        (ii) Period of appointment
        
        Except as provided in subclause (II), a member of the Board shall be appointed for a term of 4 years.
        
        Of the members first appointed to the Board, the members described in subparagraph (B)(i)(III) shall be appointed for an initial term of 3 years.
      - (2) Responsibilities
        
        The Organization shall—
        
        establish a formal affiliation with the management of each horse sale, horse exhibition, horse sale, and horse auction;
        
        appoint inspectors to conduct inspections at each horse sale, horse exhibition, horse sale, and horse auction;
        
        identify and contract with equine veterinary experts to advise the Board on—
        
        (i) objective scientific testing methods and procedures for objective inspections; and
        
        (ii) the certification of objective inspection results;
        
        establish licensing requirements under paragraph (3); and
        
        take any other action to ensure compliance with this Act, as determined in coordination with the Secretary.
      - (3) Licensing requirements
        
        (A) In general
        
        The Organization shall develop licensing requirements to submit to the Secretary for licensing persons qualified—
        
        (i) to detect and diagnose a horse that is sore; or
        
        (ii) to otherwise inspect a horse for the purpose of enforcing this Act.
        
        (B) Conflicts of interest
        
        Requirements developed under subparagraph (A) shall include the requirement that any person licensed by the Organization, and any member of the immediate family of any person licensed by the Organization, is free from a conflict of interest by reason of any association or connection with the walking horse industry, including through—
        
        (i) employment by, or the provision of any service to, any show manager, trainer, owner, or exhibitor of a Tennessee Walking horse, Spotted Saddle horse, or Racking horse; and
        
        (ii) training, exhibiting, shoeing, breeding, or selling a Tennessee Walking horse, Spotted Saddle horse, or Racking horse.
      - (4) Certification
        
        (A) In general
        
        After the members of the Board described in subclauses (I) through (III) of paragraph (1)(B)(i) have been appointed, the Secretary shall certify the Organization to train and license individuals, including inspectors, as designated qualified persons in accordance with section 11.7(b) of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
        
        (B) Revocation of certification
        
        Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary certifies the Organization under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall revoke the certification issued to any other horse industry organization under section 11.7 of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
      - (5) Federal Advisory Committee Act Exemption
        
        Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Organization.
  - in subsection (d), by striking and inserting the following:
    - (d) Recordkeeping
      - The management
  - in subsection (e), by striking and inserting the following:
    - (e) Right of inspection
      - For purposes of
(b) Unlawful acts
- Section 5 of the Horse Protection Act () is amended— 15 U.S.C. 1824
  - by striking the section designation and all that follows through in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
    - The following
  - in paragraph (3), by striking appoint and retain a person in accordance with section 4(c) of this Actand inserting have a formal affiliation with the Horse Industry Organization;
  - in paragraph (4), by striking appoint and retain a qualified person in accordance with section 4(c) of this Actand inserting have a formal affiliation with the Horse Industry Organization;
  - in paragraph (5), by striking appointed and retained a person in accordance with section 4(c) of this Actand inserting a formal affiliation with the Horse Industry Organization; and
  - in paragraph (6)—
    - by striking appointed and retained a person in accordance with section 4(c) of this Actand inserting a formal affiliation with the Horse Industry Organization; and
    - by striking such person or the Secretaryand inserting a person licensed by the Horse Industry Organization.

SEC. 5. Rulemaking

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue regulations to carry out the amendments made by this Act.