House approves HB61 raising severe animal cruelty to a third‑degree felony with exemptions

House Bill 61, a measure to increase penalties for extreme animal cruelty, passed the Utah House after extended floor debate, 48‑24.

Sponsor Representative Wyatt described the bill as narrow and the product of negotiation among stakeholders, noting the change is meant to signal seriousness for exceptional acts of cruelty while including agricultural, hunting and zoo exemptions. "As a result of that, we took out the major felony, and we added a number of exemptions to strengthen the agriculture's exemption and make new exemptions for hunters, for zoos," the sponsor said. Wyatt argued the rare, intentional acts amounting to torture should be subject to harsher penalties.

Opponents warned about elevating the offense to a felony equivalent to other third‑degree crimes. Representative Harper asked members to consider comparable third‑degree felonies (possession of methamphetamine, third DUIs, bribery, bigamy) and said he believed a class A misdemeanor would be a more appropriate penalty for most animal cruelty cases. The sponsor and supporters said prosecutions under the bill would be uncommon and that most serious cruelty cases are already rare; they also noted prosecutorial discretion and that county attorneys would control charging decisions.

After a call for the question and final debate, the House adopted HB61, 48‑24, and sent it to the Senate.