What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
Hauling Exemptions for Livestock Protection Act or the HELP Act This bill exempts livestock hauling vehicles and the vehicle operators from hours of service and electronic logging device (ELD) requirements. The exemption applies to a hauling vehicle carrying livestock (i.e., livestock, insects, or aquatic animals) and to a vehicle that is picking up or returning from delivering livestock (i.e., an unladen vehicle). Under current law, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules limit how many hours most commercial truck drivers can drive and work and requires a vehicle to be equipped with an ELD, which tracks how long a vehicle has been driving. Limited exemptions exist, including for livestock hauling.
Action Timeline
2025-07-18
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
2025-07-17
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
2025-07-17
Introduced in House
2025-07-17
Introduced in House
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.4500 pass?
HR.4500 is still alive. Current stage: COMMITTEE. Pass likelihood: pending.
What does HR.4500 do?
Hauling Exemptions for Livestock Protection Act or the HELP Act This bill exempts livestock hauling vehicles and the vehicle operators from hours of service and electronic logging device (ELD) requirements. The exemption applies to a hauling vehicle carrying livestock (i.e., livestock, insects, or aquatic animals) and to a vehicle that is picking up or returning from delivering livestock (i.e., an unladen vehicle). Under current law, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules limit how many hours most commercial truck drivers can drive and work and requires a vehicle to be equipped with…
Who sponsored HR.4500?
HR.4500 was sponsored by Jeff Hurd (R-Colorado).
Full Bill Text
119 HR 4500 IH: Hauling Exemptions for Livestock Protection Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-07-17 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4500 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. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Hauling Exemptions for Livestock Protection Act or the HELP Act . 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.
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