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Committee backs HB341 to expand enforcement tools and penalize animal-fighting paraphernalia

House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Standing Committee · February 19, 2026
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Summary

The committee unanimously adopted an amendment and recommended HB341 to the House floor; sponsors and witnesses said the bill clarifies prima facie evidence for paraphernalia and protects lawful breeders while giving law enforcement more tools to intervene earlier.

Representative Oakland presented HB341 and yielded to Steve Hyatt of Humane World for Animals, who said Utah law currently often requires law enforcement to wait until animals are 'in the pit' to act. Hyatt described a recent Provo operation as an example of the problem.

"Right now in Utah, our law enforcement is stuck in a dangerous waiting game," Hyatt said, and…

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