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
To exempt certain livestock hauling vehicles from regulations relating to hours of service and electronic logging devices, and for other purposes.
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.