• SCR 8 - URGES THE U.S. CONGRESS TO SUPPORT HORSE PROCESSING IN THE UNITED STATES  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council, Inc. SUPPORTS this bill.
  
  Comments: Introduced 1/15/2009. This concurrent resolution is similar to SCR 35 that passed the Missouri Senate last year, in that it urges the U.S. Congress to support the continuation of horse processing in the United States. It offers incentives to help create horse processing plants throughout the country, and opposes any legislation introduced in the new session of Congress that would restrict horse processing. The Missouri Equine Council, Inc. gave testimony before the Senate Rules & Ethics Committee in support of HCR 19 on 2/24/2009. SCR 8 has passed successfully out of the Senate and is headed for the House.
  
  
   
• HCR 19 - URGES THE U.S. CONGRESS TO SUPPORT HORSE PROCESSING IN THE UNITED STATES  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council, Inc. SUPPORTS this bill.
  
  Comments: Introduced 1/28/2009. This concurrent resolution is similar to SCR 8 currently in the Missouri Senate, in that it urges U.S. Congress to support the continuation of horse processing in the United States. It offers incentives to help create horse processing plants throughout the country, and opposes any legislation introduced in the new session of Congress that would restrict horse processing. The Missouri Equine Council, Inc. gave testimony before the House Agri-Business Committee in support of HCR 19 on 2/24/2009. HCR 19 has passed the House and is headed for the Senate.
  
  
   
• HB 250-USE OF PUBLIC LANDS  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council, Inc. SUPPORTS this bill.
  
  Comments: Introduced 1/13/2009. States that no resident of the United States shall be denied access to any public land owned, managed, or funded by the state of Missouri for the purpose of riding horses or mules that has been previously designated by the state as land upon which horses or mules may be ridden. Such access also shall not be denied to trails and roads, designated or undesignated, that have been historically used for horse or mule riding. Nothing in this section shall cause horses or mules to be excluded from inclusion in the development of new trails on Missouri public lands.
  
  
   

• HR 503 - CONYERS-BURTON PREVENTION OF EQUINE CRUELTY ACT RE-INTRODUCED  (Reintroduced on 1/14/2009).  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council, Inc. OPPOSES this bill.
  
  Comments: Ironically named The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, HR 503 was reintroduced in 2009 to prohibit certain conduct relating to the uses of horses for human consumption and is an attempt to forever ban horse slaughter in the US. Missouri Equine Council, Inc. believes that humane regulated slaughter is the best answer to the nations problem of unwanted horses who are being abandoned, starved and neglected because owners have no affordable way to divest themselves of horses they can no longer care for. This bill is currently in the Judiciary Committee, even though it is obviously a bill that should have been sent to the Agricultural Committee.
  
  
   
• S 727 - THE PREVENTION OF EQUINE CRUELTY ACT OF 2009   Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council, Inc. OPPOSES this bill.
  
  Comments: Introduced 3/26/2009 and has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill is the Senate version of HR 503- The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act. Missouri Equine Council, Inc. opposes this bill.
  
  
   
• HR 305 THE HORSE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ACT OF 2009  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council, Inc is MONITORING this bill.
  
  Comments: Introduced 1/8/2009.  Also known as the Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2009, HR 305 is an amendment to title 49, United States Code, to prohibit the transportation of horses in a vehicle containing two or more levels stacked on top of one another. It is believed to be a direct attack on the Rodeo industry. (As of 2006, federal guidelines were implemented to help protect horses being hauled in double decker-trailers in most of the United States. (Currently, only Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maryland, and Massachusetts have completely banned the use of double-decker trailers for horses.) Because this bill does not provide any guidelines for transporting horses in single level trailers, the Missouri Equine Council, Inc finds the language of this bill lacking. HR 305 has been referred to the House Committee of Transportation.
  
  
   
• HR 1018 AMENDMENT TO WILD HORSES AND BURROS ACT  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council, Inc. OPPOSES this bill.
  
  Comments: On 2/12/2009, Representative Rahall (WV-D) introduced a bill to amend the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to improve the management and long-term health of wild free-roaming horses and burros (H.R. 1018). This bill would restore the federal prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros. It would also bar the Secretary of Interior from euthanizing any wild free-roaming horses or burros unless an animal is terminally ill. Representative Rahall introduced similar legislation in the last Congress. This bill has been referred to the House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands . Representative Rahall is Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.
  
  
   

• ARIZONA SCM 1001-URGES CONGRESS TO OPPOSE FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT INTERFERES WITH A STATES ABILITY TO DIRECT THE TRANSPORT OR PROCESSING OF HORSES  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, SUPPORTS this bill.
  
  Comments: Introduced 1//29/2009. This memorial is similar to legislation being presented in several other states.
  
  
   
• ARKANSAS HCR 1004 - REQUESTING THE ARKANSAS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT HORSE PROCESSING FACILITIES.  Click here to read.
  
  Status: Missouri Equine Council, Inc. SUPPORTS this resolution.
  
  Comments: Introduced 1/22/2009. Referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development on 1/29/2009.
  
  
   
• IDAHO HJM 5-URGES THE U.S. CONGRESS TO OPPOSE FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT INTERFERES WITH A STATES ABILITY TO DIRECT THE TRANSPORT OF OR PROCESSING OF HORSES  Click here to read.
  
  Status: Missouri Equine Council, Inc. SUPPORTS this memorial.
  
  Comments: Introduced on 3/10/2009. Idaho HJM 5 is similar to legislation being presented in several other states.
  
  
   
• ILLINOIS HB 583 - AMENDMENT TO THE ILLINOIS HORSE MEAT ACT  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc. SUPPORTS this bill.
  
  Comments: Restores language that exempted certain types of horse meat from regulation. Repeals a provision that prohibits the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Creates an exemption from the general prohibition against selling, offering to sell, leading, riding, transporting, or driving on any public way any equidae that, because of debility, disease, lameness or any other cause, could not be worked in this State. Deletes a provision that prohibited injured equidae from being sent directly to a slaughter facility.
  
  Introduced 2/6/2009. Has been placed on the calendar for the second reading.
  
  4/9/2009.  This legislation to reinstate the horse slaughter industry failed the Illinois House of Representatives on Wednesday because the measure did not earn the 60 votes necessary for passage. Because the vote was stopped, the option remains to call for another vote during the current legislative session.
  
  
   
• KANSAS HCR 5004 -URGES THE U.S. CONGRESS TO OPPOSE FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT INTERFERES WITH A STATES ABILITY TO DIRECT THE TRANSPORT OF OR PROCESSING OF HORSES.  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, SUPPORTS this bill.
  
  Comments: Introduced 1/22/2009. Similar to legislation being presented in several other states.
  
  
   
• MINNESOTA SF 133 - URGES CONGRESS TO OPPOSE FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT INTERFERES WITH A STATE'S ABILITY TO DIRECT THE TRANSPORT OR PROCESSING OF HORSES.  Click here to read.
  
  Status: Missouri Equine Council, Inc, SUPPORTS this resolution.
  
  Comments: Introduced 1/22/2009. Referred to Agriculture and Veterans Committee. This meeting scheduled for 2/26/2009 was cancelled.
  
  
   
• MONTANA - HB 418-AUTHORIZE INVESTOR OWNED LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTER AND PROCESSING PLANTS  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, SUPPORTS this bill.
  
  Comments: Introduced 2/22/2009. This is a lengthy document with many legal stipulations. In it's most basic form, Montana HB 418 does the following:
  • States that no Montana court may stop or delay the construction of an equine processing facility based on a challenge or appeal of a permit, license, certificate under certain specified provisions.
  • Before acceptance of challenge of a license, permit, certificate or other approval for an equine slaughter facility, the court will require a surety bond of the person filing the action. (This prevents the closing of a plant without some financial compensation first being secured)
  • Requires sound environmental planning of an equine processing facility in compliance with state regulations.
  • Requires inspection of hides before disposal.
  • Requires carcasses to be identified with an ink stamp.
  • Allows for establishments to be inspected and for seizure of meat found in violation of codes.
  • Requires facility to have a license.
  • Requires assigned inspector to be present whenever slaughtering or processing is taking place.
  • Requires pre-slaughter and post slaughter inspection of each animal.

  Transmitted to Montana Senate on 2/25/2009.

  On 4/9/2009 the Montana House of Representatives rejected this bills amendments. The bill passed both houses of Montana's legislature and was presented to Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who on April 3 vetoed the measure, removed provisions concerning licensing and court challenges, and sent his amended version back to the House for review. Lawmakers rejected the governor's amendments 59-41 and returned the bill to its original form. The bill now returns to the state's senate for review.

  Montana HB 418 automatically became law Friday May 1, 2009 after Gov. Brian Schweitzer neither signed nor vetoed the measure.
  
  
   

• NORTH DAKOTA - HB 1496-EQUINE PROCESSING FACILITY FEASIBILITY STUDY  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc. SUPPORTS this bill.
  
  Comments: This bill has passed the ND House in an amended form allocating $75,000 for the study.
  
  
   
• South Dakota SCR 2- URGES REINSTATEMENT AND FUNDING OF FEDERAL INSPECTION PROGRAM FOR HORSE SLAUGHTER  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, SUPPORTS this Concurrent Resolution.
  
  Comments: Introduced 2/2/2009. South Dakota Legislature urges the Congress and the United States Department of Agriculture to reinstate and fully fund USDA's inspection program for horse euthanasia and horse slaughter facilities and to enact legislation to authorize the establishment of horse slaughter facilities in the United States.
  
  
   
• South Dakota SB 114-PROVIDES FOR A STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN EQUINE PROCESSING PLANT  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, SUPPORTS this bill.
  
  Comments: Introduced 1/28/2009. Requesting $100,00 for such a study that shall address the socioeconomic impacts related to the design, financing, construction, completion, equipping, operating, and maintaining of an equine processing facility, including an equine slaughter facility, to be located on state, tribal, or private lands in South Dakota.
  
  
   
• South Dakota HB 1065- PROVIDES FOR VOLUNTARY INSPECTIONS OF HORSES & MULES AND AUTHORIZES A FEE FOR INSPECTIONS  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, is MONITORING this bill.
  
  Comments: Introduced on 1/13/2009. HB1065 gives the South Dakota State Brand Board the power to describe prohibited brand symbols for branding various types of livestock and identify locations on animals where a brand is permitted. They will provide for the registration, transfer, and renewal of livestock brands; establish a brand registration fee not to exceed twenty-five dollars; establish a brand renewal fee not to exceed ten dollars per year or a brand renewal fee not to exceed fifty dollars for each five-year ownership period and a brand transfer fee not to exceed twenty-five dollars. The Brand Board will establish an ownership inspection fee not to exceed one dollar for each head of livestock; establish recordable livestock brands; establish law enforcement, ownership inspection, and transportation requirements, establish a duplicate certificate fee not to exceed five dollars; establish a mileage fee for inspectors not to exceed the rate set by the State Board of Finance; and establish procedures for the voluntary ownership inspection of horses and mules, including an inspection fee not to exceed ten dollars for each horse and mule inspected. Because South Dakota and Missouri are so vastly different geographically, the Missouri Equine Council, Inc. Directors believes that we are not well enough informed to support or oppose this bill.
  
  
   
• TENNESSEE HB 1361- DELETES PACKAGING AND LABELING REQUIREMENTS FOR HORSEMEAT
  
  Comments: Introduced 2/12/2009. No other information about this bill is currently available on the Tennessee government website.
  
  
   
• Utah - HJR 7-EQUINE RESOURCES JOINT RESOLUTION  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, SUPPORTS this Joint Resolution.
  
  Comments:  Introduced 1/15/2009. Utah House Joint Resolution 7 urges Congress to oppose federal legislation that would interfere with a states authority to direct the transport or processing of horses. HJR 7 has passed the Utah Senate and House and was sent to the Governor on 2/17/2009.
  
  
   
• Wyoming - HJR 8-URGES CONGRESS TO OPPOSE FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT INTERFERES WITH A STATES ABILITY TO DIRECT THE TRANSPORT OR PROCESSING OF HORSES  Click here to read.
  
  Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, SUPPORTS this Joint Resolution.
  
  Comments:  Introduced 1/15/2009. Wyoming Horse Joint Resolution urging Congress to oppose federal legislation that would interfere with a states authority to direct the transport or processing of horses.  Passed the Wyoming House and was referred to the Senate on 2/10/2009.
  
  
   

Learn how your Legislators voted on issues such as Horse Slaughter, Wild Horses, Farm Bill, Downed Animals, and Funding. For more information, click here.
 

• FEDERAL HR 6598-PREVENTION OF EQUINE CRUELTY ACT OF 2008
• MISSOURI SB 931 SECTION 144.063-SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR FENCING AND FUEL
• MISSOURI SB 931 SECTION 267.168-NATIONAL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
• SCR 35 PASSES THE MISSOURI SENATE
• MO HB 1438 - Missouri House Bill 1438 �Use of Public Lands�
• Proceedings from the Unwanted Horse Forum in DC

• Federal HR 503	Federal HR 305
  Arizona SCM 1001 Arkansas HCR 1004 Idaho HJM 5 Illinois HB 583 Kansas HCR 5004 Minnesota SF 133 Missouri SCR 8 Montana HB 418	North Dakota HB 1496 South Dakota SCR 2 South Dakota SB 114 South Dakota HB 1065 Tennessee HB 1361 Wyoming HJR 8 Utah HJR 7

Updated  February 03, 2010