H.R. 921House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2021

Introduced February 8, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 7, 2026 at 10:30 PM UTC

The Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2021 would make it illegal to move horses across state lines, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territories in a motor vehicle that has two or more stacked levels, such as multi‑level trailers. It applies to any person who transports a horse by road between these jurisdictions. The bill also adds a civil penalty for violations.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibits transporting horses interstate (or between DC/territories) in motor vehicles with two or more stacked levels.
  • Defines “motor vehicle” as a mechanically powered vehicle for public highways, excluding rail vehicles.
  • Sets a civil penalty of $100 to $500 for each horse transported in violation, payable to the U.S. government.
  • Specifies the penalty is in addition to any other legal remedies.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

February 9, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 8, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

February 8, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

February 9, 2021

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 8, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 921

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 8, 2021

Mr. Cohen (for himself, Ms. Titus, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Khanna, Mrs. Demings, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Deutch, Ms. DelBene, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Cárdenas, Mrs. Napolitano, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Katko, Mr. Takano, Mr. Casten, Mr. Kilmer, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Ms. Speier, Mr. Welch, Ms. Velázquez, Mr. Stanton, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Kuster, Ms. Barragán, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Meng, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Pingree, Mr. García of Illinois, Mr. Tonko, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Smith of Washington, Ms. Brownley, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Stevens, Mr. Hastings, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Peters, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Carbajal, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Connolly, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Payne, Mr. Levin of Michigan, Mr. Sires, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Rush, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Blumenauer, Mrs. Luria, Mr. Malinowski, Mr. Ryan, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Correa, Mr. Pocan, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Pressley, Mr. Jones, Mr. Schiff, Mr. DeSaulnier, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Mr. Horsford, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Keating, Mr. Crow, Mr. Quigley, Ms. Chu, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Mr. Swalwell, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Pappas, Ms. Norton, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Brown, Mr. Neguse, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Mrs. McBath, Mr. Neal, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Foster, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Carson, Mr. Grijalva, and Mr. Gottheimer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit the transportation of horses in interstate transportation in a motor vehicle containing 2 or more levels stacked on top of one another, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2021.

2.

Transportation of horses

Section 80502 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (c), by striking This section does not and inserting Subsections (a) and (b) shall not;

(2)

by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e);

(3)

by inserting after subsection (c) the following:

(d)

Transportation of horses

(1)

Prohibition

No person may transport, or cause to be transported, a horse from a place in a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States through or to a place in another State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States in a motor vehicle containing 2 or more levels stacked on top of each other.

(2)

Motor vehicle defined

In this subsection, the term motor vehicle

(A)

means a vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power and manufactured primarily for use on public highways; and

(B)

does not include a vehicle operated exclusively on a rail or rails.

; and

(4)

in subsection (e), as redesignated—

(A)

by striking A rail carrier and inserting the following:

(1)

In general

A rail carrier

;

(B)

by striking this section and inserting subsection (a) or (b); and

(C)

by striking On learning and inserting the following:

(2)

Transportation of horses in multilevel trailer

(A)

Civil penalty

A person that knowingly violates subsection (d) is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of at least $100, but not more than $500, for each violation. A separate violation of subsection (d) occurs for each horse that is transported, or caused to be transported, in violation of subsection (d).

(B)

Relationship to other laws

The penalty imposed under subparagraph (A) shall be in addition to any penalty or remedy available under any other law or common law.

(3)

Civil action

On learning

.