John Hoeven (R-ND)
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Awaiting House
- In House committee
The Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote): no senator's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
This Act, known as the "Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act," aims to ensure the maintenance of a horse herd within the park. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to maintain a genetically diverse herd in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The Secretary is required to keep the population at no fewer than 150 horses. A management plan must be developed within 120 days of the subsection's enactment. This plan must focus on cost-effective management while protecting the park's natural resources. Additionally, the Secretary is prohibited from removing horses except for specific emergencies or public health and safety reasons.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +5
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill protects natural resources and wild horse populations within a national park.
- Scored +5
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill mandates a specific management plan for wild horses within the national park lands.
- Scored +3
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires annual monitoring and makes findings available to the public.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Maintenance of a horse population: The Secretary must maintain a genetically diverse herd of at least 150 horses in the South Unit of the Park (Section 2, subsection b, 1).
-
Public access to information: The Secretary is required to monitor the population and make findings regarding the horses' population, structure, and health available to the public annually (Section 2, subsection b, 4).
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Protection of natural resources: The required management plan must ensure that the natural resources within the Park are not adversely impacted (Section 2, subsection b, 2, B).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Restrictions on horse removal: The Secretary is prohibited from removing horses from Federal land within the Park unless it is part of a plan for a genetically diverse herd, an emergency, or to protect public health and safety (Section 2, subsection b, 3).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill protects natural resources and wild horse populations within a national park. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill mandates a specific management plan for wild horses within the national park lands.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual monitoring and makes findings available to the public. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill increases the specific management mandates for the Secretary of the Interior over the park.
- 9/10/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 6/15/2026
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 6/12/2026
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 6/11/2026
- Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2747-2748; text: CR S2748)
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2747-2748; text: CR S2748)
- 12/17/2025
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 12/9/2025
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-238.
- 4/9/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia