Congress tightens rules on stacked-level horse transport for animal welfare

What it does

This bill amends federal transportation law to prohibit moving horses in interstate commerce using motor vehicles with two or more stacked levels (such as double-decker trailers). Violators face civil penalties of $100–$500 per horse transported illegally. The bill aims to improve animal welfare by preventing the stacking of horses during long-distance transport.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is a straightforward prohibition on a specific transportation practice (multi-level stacking of horses) combined with civil penalties for violation. It is a targeted animal-welfare measure, not a broad deregulation or industry carve-out.

What the text implies

• The $100–$500 per-horse penalty structure may incentivize compliance more effectively than a flat fine, since each horse counts as a separate violation—a transporter moving 10 horses illegally faces up to $5,000 in penalties.
• The bill preserves rail transport of horses without the stacking restriction, potentially shifting demand toward rail carriers and away from motor-vehicle transporters.
• The definition of 'motor vehicle' explicitly excludes rail vehicles, creating a clear regulatory boundary but potentially creating incentives to reclassify or mischaracterize transport methods.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill protects animal welfare by preventing a practice widely recognized as harmful to horses during transport. Citizens benefit from stronger enforcement of humane treatment standards. The restriction applies only to a specific transportation method and does not eliminate horse transport itself—only the most dangerous variant.

Named in the bill

49 U.S.C. § 80502, United States Department of Transportation, Interstate Commerce Commission (regulatory authority), Horse transporters (regulated parties, not beneficiaries)

Where it stands

25 cosponsors: 24 Democrats, 1 Republicans.

• May 29, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• May 29, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

5 lobbying clients named this bill on 6 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $1,075,758 in lobbying spend. A filing names 8 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 78% of bills with at least one filing.

Steve Cohen, the sponsor, reported $315,000 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies — $1,005,758 on 2 filings
• Animal Welfare Institute Fka Society for Animal Protective Legislation — $30,000 on 1 filing
• Fasig-tipton Company, Inc. — $15,000 on 1 filing
• Repole Stables — $15,000 on 1 filing
• Return to Freedom — $10,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.