H.R. 3090 · 118th Congress

Expands federal anti-soring rules for show horses and raises penalties

Official title: PAST Act of 20231

Never got a floor voteAnimal welfare laws

§1What it does

Why this matters: A plain-English description of the bill as it was voted on, written by us from the official summary and text.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

This bill would expand federal enforcement against soring, the practice of treating a horse's legs in ways that produce a higher-stepping gait and can cause pain, distress, inflammation or lameness.2,3 At horse shows, exhibitions, sales and auctions, it would ban action devices, weighted shoes, pads and similar gait-altering devices on Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses and Spotted Saddle Horses, and create a new inspection system using inspectors licensed, trained and assigned by the Agriculture Department.3,4 Criminal penalties would rise to as much as $5,000 and three years in prison per violation, civil fines would increase, and repeat violators could be permanently barred from horse events.3,4

§2Status

StatusLatest action, May 12, 2023: Referred to the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce.1
IntroducedMay 5, 2023
SponsorRep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Cosponsors248 cosponsors (208 Democratic, 40 Republican)
Official recordH.R. 3090 on Congress.gov

§3It never got a vote

Why this matters: This bill had wide support from both parties, but it never reached the House or Senate floor, so no member of Congress was ever recorded voting for or against it.

Latest action, May 12, 2023: Referred to the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce.1 How bills die without a vote.

2026 candidates who sponsored or cosponsored it (169)