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.
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
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Schakowsky
IL • D
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Ciscomani
AZ • R
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Meuser
PA • R
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Fulcher
ID • R
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Kim
CA • R
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Lawler
NY • R
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Neal
MA • D
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Magaziner
RI • D
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LaLota
NY • R
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Salazar
FL • R
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Strickland
WA • D
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Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
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Thompson (MS)
MS • D
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Mullin
CA • D
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Carey
OH • R
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Beyer
VA • D
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Khanna
CA • D
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Pingree
ME • D
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Johnson (GA)
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Escobar
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McBath
GA • D
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Trahan
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Moore (WI)
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Budzinski
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Quigley
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McGovern
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Foster
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Cleaver
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Tonko
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Lynch
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Chu
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Perez
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Bishop
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Tlaib
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Takano
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Carter (LA)
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Schneider
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Harder (CA)
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Veasey
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Meng
NY • D
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Tokuda
HI • D
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Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
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Calvert
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Scanlon
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Beatty
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Sherman
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Horsford
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Thanedar
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Sherrill
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Raskin
MD • D
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Hoyle (OR)
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Mace
SC • R
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Pappas
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Pocan
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Elfreth
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Gimenez
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Himes
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Roll Call Votes
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