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House narrows protections in Senate File 147 to service dogs and dogs-in-training; penalty amendment fails
Summary
Lawmakers amended Senate File 147 to focus on service dogs and dogs in training and debated raising the fine for harming a service or training dog. An amendment to lift the penalty to as much as $5,000 failed; the House retained language protecting service dogs and dogs in training.
The Wyoming House considered multiple amendments to Senate File 147, a bill governing service-dog training and protections for working animals. The House approved an amendment that removed language extending the new protections to a broader category of "assistance animals" and focused the protections on service animals and dogs in training.
Representative Gary Brown, sponsor of the floor amendment, said the change ensures that the bill protects "working service animals and those service animals that are being trained" but does not expand protections to emotional-support or assistance animals covered under federal housing rules. He described the amendment as clarifying the bill's intent so that dogs in training can accompany handlers into public spaces to receive real-world exposure required for their training.
Representative Provenza moved a second amendment that would reduce a proposed increased fine (discussed at $5,000 in testimony) to align the penalty with other animal-misconduct misdemeanors. Provenza argued that an overly large fine could hamper prosecution and be inconsistent with similar misdemeanor statutes. Opponents, including Representative Bridal, stressed the high value of a fully trained service dog (testimony mentioned values up to $25,000) and the practical impact that damaging a dog in training can have.
After debate, the amendment to lower the increased penalty was rejected. On the floor the speaker announced the division result as 21 in favor and 34 opposed; the amendment was not adopted. The sponsor and other members emphasized that the bill's purpose is to allow dogs in training to safely enter public venues and that the adopted language removes unintended protections for emotional-support animals while protecting service animals and those in training.
Ending: Senate File 147, with the service-dog/training-focused amendment adopted and the penalty-reduction amendment rejected (not adopted 21-34), was ordered for third-reading consideration.
