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Utah Senate passes amended animal cruelty bill after lengthy floor fight
Summary
After several hours of debate and a failed amendment, the Utah Senate passed Senate Bill 117, restructuring animal-cruelty law to create separate tiers for neglect, cruelty and torture and imposing a felony enhancement on repeat offenders; the measure passed 15-14 and was sent to the House.
The Utah Senate on Feb. 14 passed Senate Bill 117, an animal-cruelty measure that creates separate statutory tiers for neglect, cruelty and torture and adds enhanced felony penalties for repeat offenders. The bill, sponsored by Senator Curtis Christiansen, passed on a narrow 15-14 roll call and was transmitted to the House for consideration.
Supporters said the bill is a compromise to clarify existing law and strengthen penalties for serious animal torture. "This bill will actually give Utah one of the strongest [positions]," Senator Christiansen said on the floor while outlining the bill's tiered structure and penalty enhancements. He said the measure includes livestock and removes conflicting provisions related to hazing.
Opponents objected to parts of the…
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