PAST Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Fitzpatrick
Introduced
Summary
Stronger enforcement against soring in gaited-horse events by expanding banned practices, raising penalties, creating a licensed inspector system, and publicly posting violations to improve compliance and transparency.
Show full summary
- Owners and exhibitors face escalating bans for sore horses: at least 180 days for a first finding, at least 1 year for a second, and at least 3 years for a third. The bill also allows permanent disqualification after a third or later violation following notice and a hearing.
- Inspectors and veterinarians must be licensed to inspect at shows, with conflict-of-interest rules and revocation for poor performance. The Secretary must prioritize licensed or accredited veterinarians and licensed inspectors must issue citations and report violations to USDA within 5 days.
- The law expands unlawful acts to cover use of "action devices" and weighted or gait-altering shoes on Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses at shows and sales. The Secretary must assign licensed inspectors to events and publish violations on the APHIS website for show managers and the public to review.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Higher fines and longer disqualifications
This bill would raise fines and add criminal penalties for soring violations. Civil fines would rise: $2,000 would become $4,000, and $3,000 would become $5,000, per violation. For knowing violations of section 5, you could face fines over $5,000, up to 3 years in jail, or both. Failing to obey a disqualification order could bring up to $5,000 and up to 3 years per failure. Failing to pay a licensed inspector could bring up to $4,000 per violation. Disqualification times for sore horses would be at least 180 days, then 1 year, then 3 years. After a third or later violation, the Secretary could permanently bar a person after notice and a hearing. These changes would apply upon enactment.
Bans on soring gear at shows
This bill would ban action devices on Tennessee Walking, Racking, and Spotted Saddle Horses at shows, exhibitions, and sales. It would also ban weighted shoes, pads, wedges, hoof bands, and similar gait‑changing gear unless strictly protective or therapeutic. It would define action device and exclude soft rubber or soft leather bell or quarter boots used for protection. It would define participate to include transporting a horse, giving instructions, or entering restricted areas; spectating would not count. These rules would start upon enactment.
Licensed inspectors and public violation lists
This bill would require the Secretary to set a licensing system for horse inspectors within 180 days. Inspectors would need to be free of conflicts, and veterinarians would be prioritized. Event managers would notify the Secretary at least 30 days before an event to hire licensed inspectors, and the Secretary would assign them. Licensed inspectors would have to cite violations they find and tell the Secretary within 5 days. Violations would be posted on the public APHIS website and updated as needed.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Fitzpatrick
PA • R
Cosponsors
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Buchanan
FL • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Ciscomani
AZ • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Meuser
PA • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Fulcher
ID • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Kim
CA • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Lawler
NY • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Neal
MA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Salazar
FL • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Strickland
WA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Carey
OH • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Beyer
VA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Escobar
TX • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Trahan
MA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Quigley
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
McGarvey
KY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Foster
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Cleaver
MO • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Gomez
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Connolly
VA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Titus
NV • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Lynch
MA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Perez
WA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Takano
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Carter (LA)
LA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Schneider
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Harder (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Veasey
TX • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Torres (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Stanton
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Garcia (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Meng
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Tokuda
HI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Calvert
CA • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Scanlon
PA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Beatty
OH • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Sherman
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Horsford
NV • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Kelly (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Brownley
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
McClellan
VA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Sykes
OH • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Brown
OH • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Moskowitz
FL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Salinas
OR • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Omar
MN • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Ryan
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Davids (KS)
KS • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Case
HI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Scott, David
GA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Sherrill
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Raskin
MD • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Hoyle (OR)
OR • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Mace
SC • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Pappas
NH • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Pocan
WI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Gimenez
FL • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Himes
CT • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Lee (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Jacobs
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Vargas
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Doggett
TX • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Sorensen
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Foushee
NC • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Scholten
MI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Matsui
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Gottheimer
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Nadler
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Frankel, Lois
FL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Auchincloss
MA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Hayes
CT • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Leger Fernandez
NM • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Evans (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Kelly (PA)
PA • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Nehls
TX • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Malliotakis
NY • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Huffman
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Carbajal
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Jayapal
WA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Tenney
NY • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Pettersen
CO • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
DeSaulnier
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Crow
CO • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Castro (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
DeLauro
CT • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Gooden
TX • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Williams (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Schweikert
AZ • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Balint
VT • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Ansari
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Dexter
OR • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Sanchez
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Meeks
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Bera
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Stevens
MI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Kaptur
OH • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Ramirez
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Garcia (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Goldman (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Wasserman Schultz
FL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Panetta
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Morelle
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Ruiz
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Velazquez
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Dean (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Castor (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Torres (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Ivey
MD • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
DeGette
CO • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Latimer
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Deluzio
PA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Suozzi
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Smith (NJ)
NJ • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Smucker
PA • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Subramanyam
VA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Amo
RI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Green, Al (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Keating
MA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Hoyer
MD • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Menendez
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Larson (CT)
CT • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
VI • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Correa
CA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Kiley (CA)
CA • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Landsman
OH • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Garcia (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Kamlager-Dove
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Turner (OH)
OH • R
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Waters
CA • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Hudson
NC • R
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Aguilar
CA • D
Sponsored 3/11/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Fletcher
TX • D
Sponsored 3/18/2025
McClain Delaney
MD • D
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Whitesides
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Pressley
MA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Bynum
OR • D
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Courtney
CT • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Underwood
IL • D
Sponsored 4/14/2025
Lofgren
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Pou
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/30/2025
Vasquez
NM • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Goodlander
NH • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Lee (NV)
NV • D
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Min
CA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Gillen
NY • D
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Boyle (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Walkinshaw
VA • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Tran
CA • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Issa
CA • R
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in