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Committee drafts amendments to animal-cruelty bill adding return rules, vet access and limits on use of seized animals
Summary
During a work session, the House Environment and Agriculture Committee revised a draft animal-cruelty bill to add procedural protections for owners and limits on how seized animals may be used before conviction, and to require certain handling safeguards, veterinary involvement and documentation before cost-of-care funds are released.
The Environment and Agriculture Committee spent its work session revising a draft animal‑cruelty statute that governs when animals may be taken into protective custody, how long agencies may retain seized animals and what recipients of animals may do with them prior to a criminal conviction.
Committee members and witnesses focused on tightening language around when animals are seized, ensuring owners or designees can reclaim animals if no charges or warrant are filed, clarifying veterinary access, and prohibiting the use of confiscated animals for fundraising prior to conviction. The committee incorporated several drafting changes suggested by the commissioner and by public testimony.
The changes discussed would: (1) require that animals taken into protective custody be returned to the owner or the…
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