PHOENIX — The Arizona House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 16-58, described on the floor as relating to animal cruelty, on Thursday, June 12, 2025, by a vote of 34 ayes, 18 nays and 8 not voting.

The bill was read for third reading on the House floor and includes an amendment cited on the record as “section 13-20-19” relating to animal cruelty. On the floor, a Representative used the time to explain his vote and warned the chamber that the measure “criminaliz[es] poverty.”

"What we are doing in this bill is criminalizing poverty," the Representative said. "We're adding insult to injury and hurt by making those who can't afford decent things for their kids and their families choose between those kids and families and their pets on pain of criminal law. That is evil and that is wrong." The Representative concluded, "...it will not come into the world through me or my vote because my vote is no." The remarks were offered as an explanation of that Representative's dissenting vote.

Members proceeded to a roll call following third reading. The clerk recorded the vote and was instructed to record the action of the House and convey the bill to the Senate. Earlier in the session the clerk also recorded attendance as 52 present, 3 absent and 5 excused.

The debate on the measure in the transcript is limited to the floor explanation and the roll-call procedure reflected above; no additional floor amendments or formal amendments to the motion were recorded in the provided transcript.

The bill will be transmitted back to the Senate for further action; no committee referrals or implementation details were announced on the House floor during the recorded discussion.