I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2648 
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 
APRIL 17, 2023 
Mr. DESJARLAIS (for himself and Mr. ROSE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Horse Protection Act to provide increased 
protection for horses participating in shows, exhibitions, 
sales, and auctions, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Horses 
from Soring Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 2 of the Horse Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 
1821) is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:28 May 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2648.IH
H2648
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(1) by striking the section designation and all 
that follows through ‘‘requires:’’ in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1) and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this Act:’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), 
and (4) as paragraphs (2), (4), (5), and (6), respec-
tively; 
(3) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(1) HORSE
INDUSTRY
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘Horse Industry Organization’ means the orga-
nization established under section 4(c)(1)(A).’’; and 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (2) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(3) OBJECTIVE INSPECTION.—The term ‘ob-
jective inspection’ means an inspection conducted by 
a veterinarian or veterinarian technician using only 
an inspection method based on a science-based pro-
tocol that consists of, at a minimum, swabbing and 
blood testing, and that— 
‘‘(A) has been the subject of testing and is 
capable of producing scientifically reliable and 
reproducible results; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:28 May 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2648.IH
H2648
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(B) has been subjected to peer review; 
and 
‘‘(C) has received acceptance in the veteri-
nary or other applicable scientific community, 
as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Section 3 of the Horse Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 
1822) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as 
paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) 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;’’. 
SEC. 4. INCREASING PROTECTIONS FOR HORSES PARTICI-
PATING IN HORSE SHOWS, EXHIBITIONS, 
SALES, OR AUCTIONS. 
(a) HORSE SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS.—Section 4 of 
the Horse Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1823) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) DISQUALIFICATION OF HORSES.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:28 May 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2648.IH
H2648
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(c) HORSE INDUSTRY ORGANIZATION.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of the Pro-
tecting Horses from Soring Act of 2023, the 
Secretary shall establish an organization, to be 
known as the ‘Horse Industry Organization’ 
(referred to in this subsection as ‘the Organiza-
tion’). 
‘‘(B) BOARD.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Organization 
shall be governed by a board (referred to 
in this subsection as ‘the Board’) con-
sisting of not more than 9 individuals, of 
whom— 
‘‘(I) two shall be appointed by 
the Commissioner of Agriculture for 
the State of Tennessee; 
‘‘(II) two shall be appointed by 
the Commissioner of Agriculture for 
the State of Kentucky; 
‘‘(III) two shall— 
‘‘(aa) represent the Ten-
nessee Walking Horse industry; 
and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:28 May 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2648.IH
H2648
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(bb) be appointed by the 
members appointed under sub-
clauses (I) and (II), in accord-
ance with a process developed by 
those members; and 
‘‘(IV) not more than three shall 
be appointed by the members ap-
pointed under subclauses (I) through 
(III). 
‘‘(ii) QUORUM.—Five members of the 
Board shall constitute a quorum for the 
transaction of business. 
‘‘(iii) BYLAWS.—The members of the 
Board, in consultation with the Secretary, 
shall develop bylaws and other policies to 
operate the Organization, establish com-
mittees, and fill vacancies on the Board. 
‘‘(C) VACANCIES; PERIOD
OF
APPOINT-
MENT.— 
‘‘(i) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy on the 
Board— 
‘‘(I) shall not impair the author-
ity of the Board; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:28 May 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2648.IH
H2648
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(II) shall be filled as soon as 
practicable in the same manner as the 
original appointment. 
‘‘(ii) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.— 
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—Except as 
provided in subclause (II), a member 
of the Board shall be appointed for a 
term of 4 years. 
‘‘(II) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.— 
Of the members first appointed to the 
Board, the members described in sub-
paragraph (B)(i)(III) shall be ap-
pointed for an initial term of 3 years. 
‘‘(2) 
RESPONSIBILITIES.—The 
Organization 
shall— 
‘‘(A) establish a formal affiliation with the 
management of each horse sale, horse exhi-
bition, horse sale, and horse auction; 
‘‘(B) appoint inspectors to conduct inspec-
tions at each horse sale, horse exhibition, horse 
sale, and horse auction; 
‘‘(C) identify and contract with equine vet-
erinary experts to advise the Board on— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:28 May 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2648.IH
H2648
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(i) objective scientific testing meth-
ods and procedures for objective inspec-
tions; and 
‘‘(ii) the certification of objective in-
spection results; 
‘‘(D) 
establish 
licensing 
requirements 
under paragraph (3); and 
‘‘(E) take any other action to ensure com-
pliance with this Act, as determined in coordi-
nation with the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Organization 
shall develop licensing requirements to submit 
to the Secretary for licensing persons quali-
fied— 
‘‘(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.—Require-
ments developed under subparagraph (A) shall 
include the requirement that any person li-
censed by the Organization, and any member of 
the immediate family of any person licensed by 
the Organization, is free from a conflict of in-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:28 May 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2648.IH
H2648
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
terest by reason of any association or connec-
tion with the walking horse industry, including 
through— 
‘‘(i) employment by, or the provision 
of any service to, any show manager, train-
er, owner, or exhibitor of a Tennessee 
Walking horse, Spotted Saddle horse, or 
Racking horse; and 
‘‘(ii) training, exhibiting, shoeing, 
breeding, or selling a Tennessee Walking 
horse, Spotted Saddle horse, or Racking 
horse. 
‘‘(4) CERTIFICATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—After the members of 
the Board described in subclauses (I) through 
(III) of paragraph (1)(B)(i) have been ap-
pointed, the Secretary shall certify the Organi-
zation to train and license individuals, including 
inspectors, as designated qualified persons in 
accordance with section 11.7(b) of title 9, Code 
of Federal Regulations (or successor regula-
tions). 
‘‘(B) REVOCATION
OF
CERTIFICATION.— 
Not later than 90 days after the date on which 
the Secretary certifies the Organization under 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:28 May 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2648.IH
H2648
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall revoke 
the certification issued to any other horse in-
dustry organization under section 11.7 of title 
9, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
regulations). 
‘‘(5) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT EX-
EMPTION.—Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Advi-
sory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply 
to the Organization.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘(d) The man-
agement’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(d) RECORDKEEPING.—The management’’; and 
(5) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘(e) For pur-
poses of’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(e) RIGHT OF INSPECTION.—For purposes of’’. 
(b) UNLAWFUL ACTS.—Section 5 of the Horse Pro-
tection Act (15 U.S.C. 1824) is amended— 
(1) by striking the section designation and all 
that follows through ‘‘The following’’ in the matter 
preceding paragraph (1) and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 5. PROHIBITED CONDUCT. 
‘‘The following’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘appoint and 
retain a person in accordance with section 4(c) of 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:28 May 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2648.IH
H2648
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘have a formal affiliation 
with the Horse Industry Organization’’; 
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘appoint and 
retain a qualified person in accordance with section 
4(c) of this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘have a formal affili-
ation with the Horse Industry Organization’’; 
(4) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘appointed 
and retained a person in accordance with section 
4(c) of this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘a formal affiliation 
with the Horse Industry Organization’’; and 
(5) in paragraph (6)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘appointed and retained a 
person in accordance with section 4(c) of this 
Act’’ and inserting ‘‘a formal affiliation with 
the Horse Industry Organization’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘such person or the Sec-
retary’’ and inserting ‘‘a person licensed by the 
Horse Industry Organization’’. 
SEC. 5. RULEMAKING. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue regula-
tions to carry out the amendments made by this Act. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:28 May 23, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2648.IH
H2648
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB