HB 559: Animal Welfare

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Animal Welfare; Creating the offense of causing or enticing a minor to commit, or in the presence of a minor committing, animal cruelty; requiring a court to order a minor who commits specified acts of animal cruelty to undergo a psychological evaluation and receive counseling and treatment for a specified time period; requiring the minor's parent or guardian or the state to pay the cost of such evaluation, counseling, and treatment; providing an exception; authorizing the court to hold the parent or guardian in contempt under certain circumstances; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to post on its website specified information relating to each individual convicted of specified animal cruelty offenses; specifying time periods for which the information shall be posted; requiring the department to develop a procedure to allow a person to petition for the removal of his or her information under specified circumstances; requiring the department to remove specified information under specified circumstances; specifying the time period within which such information must be removed; authorizing the department to adopt rules; requiring clerks of court and county detention facilities to provide the Department of Law Enforcement with specified information, data, and images; creating the offense of causing or enticing a minor to commit, or in the presence of a minor committing, fighting or baiting animals; creating the offense of causing or enticing a minor to commit, or in the presence of a minor committing, sexual activities involving animals; increasing the maximum civil penalty for specified violations of ordinances relating to animal control or cruelty; increasing the level on the offense severity ranking chart for fighting or baiting animals; ranking offenses created by the act on the offense severity ranking chart, etc.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 4 · Republican 6

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. May 13, 2026Chapter No. 2026-78; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/SB 1004 (Ch. 2026-76)
2. May 12, 2026Approved by Governor
3. May 11, 2026Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
4. March 4, 2026Ordered enrolled
5. March 4, 2026In Messages
6. March 4, 2026CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0
7. March 4, 2026Read 3rd time
8. March 4, 2026Read 2nd time
9. March 4, 2026Substituted for CS/SB 676
10. March 4, 2026Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
11. March 4, 2026Withdrawn from Rules
12. February 26, 2026Received

Showing 12 most recent of 38 actions. Full history