Committee advances treatment‑of‑animals bill after wide testimony; Game and Fish enforcement authority added and penalty structure adjusted

The Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources Committee advanced House Bill 275 on a broad record of public testimony and technical amendments, adding enforcement authority for Wyoming Game and Fish and adopting a graduated penalty provision that makes a first offense a misdemeanor.

Representative Byron, the bill sponsor, described HB275 as an update to state law addressing cruelty to animals statewide, including language on knowingly and intentionally tormenting or torturing wildlife. He told the committee the bill had drafting errors that the sponsor's amendments were designed to fix and explained the measure increases tools for prosecutors and regulators to respond to "unthinkable acts of cruelty."

State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder testified in support, saying the Sublette County incident that prompted the legislation "was horrifying" and that she spoke in several roles — as superintendent, a land commissioner and lifelong hunter — urging passage.

Wyoming Game and Fish Director Angie Bruce and Chief Warden Dan Smith described enforcement implications. Warden Smith summarized: "This bill does provide a felony penalty…