Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1377
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-15: Held at the desk.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T02:53:33Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends existing law to require the maintenance of a genetically diverse herd of horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ensuring their continued presence while balancing park resource protection.
Key Provisions
- The Secretary of the Interior must maintain a herd of at least 150 horses in the South Unit of the Park.
- A management plan must be developed within 120 days of enactment to ensure cost-effective oversight without adverse effects on natural resources.
- Horses may not be removed from the Park except as part of herd management, in emergencies, or to protect public health and safety.
- The Secretary must annually monitor and assess the horses' population, structure, and health, with findings made available to the public.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill amends Section 5 of the Act of April 25, 1947 (16 U.S.C. 245) by adding a new subsection that establishes specific, mandatory requirements for horse management in the Park. This shifts from general administrative authority to explicit statutory obligations regarding minimum herd size, removal restrictions, and ongoing monitoring.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Requires the Department of the Interior and National Park Service to allocate resources for plan development, monitoring, and herd maintenance.
- Citizens: Provides public access to annual horse population data and may influence visitor experiences in the Park.
- No direct effects on international relations are outlined.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Secretary of the Interior and National Park Service.
- Park visitors and the general public.
- Local communities near Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
- Groups focused on wildlife management and park conservation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The Act imposes binding federal requirements on executive branch management of federal lands, limiting discretionary removal of horses and creating ongoing reporting obligations. This represents a targeted statutory intervention in National Park Service operations without altering broader constitutional authorities over public lands.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-15: Held at the desk.
- 2026-06-15: Received in the House.
- 2026-06-12: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2026-06-11: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2747-2748; text: CR S2748)
- 2026-06-11: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2747-2748; text: CR S2748)
- 2026-06-11: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2026-06-11: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-12-17: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2025-12-09: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
- 2025-04-09: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-04-09: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act — issued 2026-06-11 — PDF (6 pages)
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act — issued 2025-04-09 — PDF (3 pages)