BISMARCK (AP) -- North Dakota lawmakers have agreed to spend $50,000 on a study of whether a horse slaughterhouse can be built in the state.
The bill says North Dakota's Commerce Department should study whether legal and regulatory barriers now prevent construction of a horse slaughter plant.
If the project can be done, the study would look into how much a plant would cost and potential markets for its meat.
North Dakota's House voted 86-5 on Thursday to approve the study. The bill now goes to Gov. John Hoeven.
Horse slaughter is a contentious subject in a number of states. The Montana Legislature approved legislation to encourage a horse slaughter plant in that state, but Gov. Brian Schweitzer vetoed key parts of it.
