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To exempt certain livestock hauling vehicles from regulations relating to hours of service and electronic logging devices, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill exempts commercial vehicles that transport livestock, insects, or live aquatic animals from federal hours of service regulations and electronic logging device requirements. Drivers of these vehicles would no longer be required to comply with federal rules limiting continuous driving time or to use electronic devices to track their hours. The exemption applies to both loaded vehicles transporting animals and empty vehicles returning from deliveries. The bill defines livestock broadly to include conventional livestock, insects, and any other living animals raised commercially.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3] (R-CO)
9 cosponsors
- Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6] (R-KY)
- Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8] (R-CO)
- Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1] (R-NE)
- Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large] (R-WY)
- Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1] (R-KS)
- Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4] (R-KY)
- Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4] (R-UT)
- Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6] (R-TN)
- Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22] (R-CA)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Jeff Hurd’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP $99,650
- RDV CORPORATION $23,100
- SHAW CONSTRUCTION $18,600
- HASELDEN CONSTRUCTION $16,500
- WHEELER TRIGG O'DONNELL LLP $15,575
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Jeff Hurd → · Outside spending →
Actions (3)
- Jul 18, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. · house
- Jul 17, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. · house
- Jul 17, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 17, 2025
Mr. Hurd of Colorado (for himself, Mr. Mann, Mr. Evans of Colorado, and Mr. Rose) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To exempt certain livestock hauling vehicles from regulations relating to hours of service and electronic logging devices, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Hauling Exemptions for Livestock Protection Act” or the “HELP Act”.
SEC. 2. EXCEPTION FROM ELECTRONIC LOGGING DEVICES AND HOURS OF SERVICE REGULATIONS.
(a) In General.—A covered livestock hauling vehicle, including the individual operating such vehicle, shall be exempt from—
(1) any requirement relating to hours of service established under—
(A) subchapter III of chapter 311 of title 49, United States Code; or
(B) chapter 315 of title 49, United States Code; and
(2) any requirement relating to electronic logging devices established under section 31137 of title 49, United States Code.
(b) Unladen Vehicles.—An unladen covered livestock hauling vehicle picking up or returning from delivering livestock shall be covered under the exemption under subsection (a).
(c) Definitions.—In this section:
(1) Commercial motor vehicle.—The term “commercial motor vehicle” has the meaning given such term in section 31132 of title 49, United States Code.
(2) Covered livestock hauling vehicle.—The term “covered livestock hauling vehicle” means a commercial motor vehicle transporting livestock, insects, or aquatic animals.
(3) Livestock.—The term “livestock” means livestock (as such term is defined in section 602 of the Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1988 (7 U.S.C. 1471)), insects, all other living animals cultivated, grown, or raised for commercial purposes, and live aquatic animals that have been caught, taken, or harvested. <all>
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