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Committee advances House Bill 3304 after narrowing criminal penalties for dog bites
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Summary
The committee voted 9–0 to advance a House committee substitute for House Bill 3304. Discussion focused on limiting misdemeanor liability for dog bites to cases causing serious physical injury and combining separate animal-neglect language into one substitute.
The committee voted 9–0 to advance the House committee substitute for House Bill 3304, a measure the Chair identified as sponsored by Representative Justice. Committee members and the bill presenter discussed substantive revisions that narrow criminal exposure for dog owners while addressing animal neglect.
A committee member summarized the change to the bill’s language, saying the original draft would have made a single unprovoked bite a misdemeanor; the substitute returns to language that limits misdemeanor treatment to incidents that cause serious physical injury. The presenter said the substitute also incorporates animal-neglect provisions from a separate bill sponsored by Representative Sharp and noted the language had passed out of judiciary by an 11–1 margin.
During the exchange a committee member said the original language had included a provision about "serious emotional injury" that was removed in the substitute. The same presenter added a brief, light comment during debate: "I did wear my mean dog tie today just to, support this bill," underscoring the presenter's personal investment in the work.
Committee members framed the revisions as an attempt to balance concerns about public safety and prosecutions — preserving criminal liability for serious incidents while avoiding criminalizing minor, first-time nips. After discussion, the Chair called the vote and the substitute was advanced 9–0.
The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.
