What This Bill Does
This bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to maintain a genetically diverse herd of at least 150 horses in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It also requires the Interior Department to develop a horse-management plan within 120 days of enactment and to manage the herd in a way that is cost-effective while protecting park natural resources. The bill limits horse removals from federal land inside the park unless they are part of a herd-maintenance plan, or are needed for an emergency or to protect public health and safety. It also requires annual public reporting on the horses’ population, structure, and health.
- Requires the Secretary of the Interior to maintain a genetically diverse herd of at least 150 horses in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
- Orders a horse-management plan within 120 days after enactment.
- Limits horse removals from the park unless tied to a herd-maintenance plan, an emergency, or public health and safety.
- Requires annual public reporting on the horses’ population, structure, and health.
Who This Bill Affects
For most Americans, this bill would have little direct day-to-day effect, but it would matter to people who visit, live near, or manage Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. If enacted, it would require the Interior Department to keep at least 150 horses in the park’s South Unit, create a management plan within 120 days, and publicly report on the herd each year. That could preserve a visible part of the park experience, while also constraining how park managers handle horse removals except in emergencies or for public health and safety.
See how this bill affects you — sign in for a personalized analysisCBO Cost Estimate
February 17, 2026CBO’s estimate for S. 1377, the Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act, was ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on December 17, 2025. Based on the report title, date, and description alone, detailed budget effects should be read in the linked CBO report.
Full CBO report →Who Supports & Opposes This
- Park visitors and local tourism businesses Supporters may argue that a maintained horse herd is part of the park’s identity and visitor appeal. Keeping at least 150 horses in the South Unit could help preserve the experience that draws tourists and supports nearby businesses.
- Wild-horse advocates and some local residents They are likely to favor the bill’s requirement that the herd be genetically diverse and protected from removal except in limited circumstances. The annual public reporting requirement also gives them more transparency about how the herd is being managed.
- Conservation-minded stakeholders who want structured management Some supporters may see value in requiring a formal management plan within 120 days and in tying horse management to cost-effectiveness and protection of natural resources. That creates a clearer federal framework than ad hoc removals or uncertain management decisions.
- Park resource managers and some conservation staff Opponents may argue that a fixed minimum herd size could limit flexibility to respond to changing conditions in the park. They may worry that a statutory horse mandate could make it harder to protect vegetation, soils, and other natural resources if horse impacts increase.
- Some wildlife and habitat conservation advocates They may object that the bill prioritizes horses over other park management goals. The restriction on removals could reduce the park’s ability to adjust herd size if the animals begin to affect native species or park ecosystems.
- Federal land management officials concerned about operational discretion These stakeholders may prefer to retain broader discretion over when horses should be removed or relocated. The bill’s narrow exceptions for emergencies and public health and safety could be seen as too restrictive for routine management needs.
Key Implications
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““maintain a genetically diverse herd of horses ... with a population of not fewer than 150 horses””
This creates a legal floor for the herd size in the South Unit. Park managers would no longer be free to reduce the herd below 150 if the bill becomes law, even if they believed a smaller herd would better fit other management goals.
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““Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment ... develop a plan””
The Interior Department would have a short deadline to produce a management plan. That means the agency would need to move quickly on herd strategy, monitoring, and resource protections after enactment.
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““shall not remove, or assist in or permit the removal, of any horses””
This is a strong restriction on horse removals from federal land inside the park. It limits the park’s ability to relocate or reduce the herd except under the bill’s stated exceptions.
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““except ... in the case of emergency””
The bill preserves some emergency flexibility. If a sudden event threatens the horses, visitors, or park operations, the Secretary could still act to remove horses as needed.
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““annually monitor, assess, and make available to the public findings””
The bill requires ongoing transparency. Members of the public would get yearly information about herd size, composition, and health, which could shape future debates over park management.
Latest Status
June 11, 2026
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2747-2748; text: CR S2748)
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Ask AI about this billData sourced from api.congress.gov.