State Assembly Passes Gloria Bill to Save CA’s Wild and Domestic Horses from Slaughter, Bill Advances to State Senate

SACRAMENTO, CA – California State Assemblymember Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) secured a major victory today in his quest to increase protections for California’s wild and domestic horse population as the State Assembly passed his bill to shield them from slaughter. Assembly Bill 128 (AB 128), authored by Assemblymember Gloria, was passed on a bipartisan vote of 60 to zero and now advances to the State Senate.

“In California, we have made clear that slaughtering horses for human consumption is wrong. Yet, horses are still being targeted. With the Assembly’s bipartisan approval of AB 128, we have taken a concrete step toward enacting stronger protections for our horse population,” said Assemblymember Gloria. “AB 128 sends another clear message that we oppose the inhumane treatment of these animals and we will fight to see them treated fairly. I am pleased this bill is moving forward and I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to secure its passage.”

Last year, approximately 80,000 American horses (domestic and wild) were trucked to Canada and Mexico for slaughter for human consumption. AB 128 protects wild and domestic horses from slaughter by requiring new signage, disclosures and sworn statements at all private and public auctions where horses are sold in California.

These proposed changes in state law are part of a package of efforts Assemblymember Gloria is advancing to augment California’s efforts to protect wild and domestic horses from slaughter. In October, Assemblymember Gloria and 22 of his colleagues joined U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein to oppose the U.S. Forest Service’s sale of wild horses rounded up in Modoc National Forest “without limitation” which is tantamount to selling them to slaughter.

Assemblymember Gloria has also advanced a request for funding in support of wild horse sterilization research by UC Davis and is circulating a letter to his colleagues asking the California congressional delegation to support Appropriations rider language to prohibit the Forest Service from selling any wild horses “without limitation.”

"We are deeply grateful to Assembly Member Gloria for his leadership in protecting California's wild and domestic horses from the cruel fate of slaughter," said Suzanne Roy, Executive Director of the California-based American Wild Horse Campaign. "We thank the members of the California Assembly for passing AB 128 to improve enforcement of existing state law prohibiting the sale of horses in our state for slaughter. The vast majority of Californians and Americans alike oppose horse slaughter and want to keep wild horses running free on our public lands."

AB 128 now advances to the State Senate for consideration and will be scheduled for committee hearings in the coming weeks.