Bill > HB285

This bill amends the Texas Penal Code to expand the legal definition of animal cruelty by adding "criminal negligence" as a standard of culpability alongside existing standards of intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly causing harm to non-livestock animals. The bill specifically modifies Section 42.092 to include criminal negligence in the list of actions that constitute animal cruelty, such as torturing an animal, killing an animal without owner consent, failing to provide necessary care, abandoning an animal, transporting an animal cruelly, causing bodily injury to an animal, and other similar offenses. Additionally, the bill introduces a new legal defense for veterinarians and their assistants, stating that a prosecution for criminal negligence cannot proceed if the conduct occurred during the actual discharge of veterinary duties. The bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will only apply to offenses committed on or after that date, with previous offenses continuing to be governed by the law in effect at the time they were committed.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB285