H.R. 3623 — Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2025

This section amends the Twenty-Eight Hour Law (49 U.S.C. 80502), which limits interstate confinement of animals by certain carriers to 28 consecutive hours (or 36 hours upon written request) without unloading for feeding, water, and rest, as follows: (1) narrowing the nonapplication exception—previously exempting the entire section—to apply only to the confinement and unloading requirements when animals have food, water, space, and an opportunity for rest; (2) prohibiting any person from transporting horses interstate in a motor vehicle (i.e., mechanically powered and primarily for public highways, excluding rail vehicles) containing two or more stacked levels; and (3) establishing civil penalties of $100 to $500 per horse, with a separate violation per horse, for knowing violations of the horse transportation prohibition, in addition to penalties or remedies under other laws. (Thus, the prohibition targets double-decker highway trailers commonly used for livestock but spares rail cars.)