119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 5286

Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act

In Committee

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

This bill aims to improve the humane treatment of animals during interstate transport. It directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop a system for inspecting vehicles and records related to animal transport, ensuring compliance with existing regulations. The bill also prohibits the interstate movement of livestock deemed ‘unfit to travel’ based on international animal health standards, with specific criteria outlined for determining such unfitness.

Key provisions

Directs the Secretary of Transportation to create an enforcement mechanism for animal transport regulations.
Requires inspections of vehicles and records involved in animal transport.
Amends the Animal Health Protection Act to prohibit the interstate movement of unfit livestock.
Defines ‘unfit to travel’ based on the World Organisation for Animal Health’s Terrestrial Animal Health Code.
Lists specific conditions that render livestock unfit for transport (e.g., illness, injury, pregnancy complications).
Includes an exception for livestock receiving veterinary care.

Who is affected

Livestock owners and transporters
Rail carriers, express carriers, and common carriers
The Secretary of Transportation
The Secretary of Agriculture
The World Organisation for Animal Health

Notable changes

Establishes a formal enforcement mechanism for animal transport regulations.

Positions across the country

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

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Arguments opposed

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Legislative history

2025-09-10House

Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

2025-09-10House

2025-09-10

Introduced in House

2025-09-10

Introduced in House

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Sep 10, 2025XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 1st Session

H. R. 5286

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop an enforcement mechanism with respect to certain provisions relating to the transport of animals, and for other purposes.

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act

2.Transport of animals

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

(1)

by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f); and

(2)

by inserting after subsection (c) the following:

(d)EnforcementNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall develop a mechanism for conducting investigations or inspections, including the inspection of any vehicle or vessel transporting animals or any written or electronic records associated with such transport of animals, to determine whether any rail carrier, express carrier, or common carrier, a receiver, trustee, or lessee of one of such carriers, or an owner or master of a vessel transporting animals has violated or is violating this section.

(e)Additional authority

To carry out subsection (d), the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate such rules and regulations, and issue such orders or guidance, as are necessary.

3.Prohibition on interstate movement of certain animals

Section 10406 of the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8305) is amended—

(1)by striking The Secretary may prohibit and inserting the following:

(a)In generalThe Secretary may prohibit

; and

(2)by adding at the end the following:

(b)Prohibition

(1)In generalNo person shall move in interstate commerce livestock that are unfit to travel.

(2)Unfit defined

(A)In generalFor purposes of paragraph (1), the term unfit to travel means, with respect to the movement of livestock, that such livestock are deemed unfit to travel pursuant to Article 7.3.7(3), Chapter 7.3 of the World Organisation for Animal Health’s Terrestrial Animal Health Code, including successive changes.

(B)Inclusions

Such term includes livestock that—

(i)

are sick, injured, weak, disabled, or fatigued;

(ii)

are unable to stand unaided or bear weight on each leg;

(iii)

are blind in both eyes;

(iv)

cannot be moved without causing additional suffering;

(v)

are newborn with a navel that has not been fully healed;

(vi)

are pregnant and that would be in the final 10 percent of their gestation period at the planned time of unloading;

(vii)

have given birth within the previous 48 hours and are traveling without their offspring; or

(viii)

have a body condition that would result in poor welfare because of the expected climatic conditions.

(3)ExceptionNothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the movement in interstate commerce of any livestock for purposes of providing veterinary care to such livestock.

HR 5286

Bill overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Notable changes

Sponsors

Primary sponsor

Cosponsors

Positions across the country

Arguments in favor

Arguments opposed

Bill text

Positions across the country