Bill > HB06153

This bill proposes to modify existing Connecticut animal cruelty law by increasing the penalties for certain serious animal abuse offenses. Specifically, the bill would change the legal classification of first-time offenses involving animal starvation, violence, death, or unauthorized medical procedures from an unclassified misdemeanor to a class D felony. Under the proposed change, individuals convicted of these offenses could now face more severe consequences, potentially including a more significant prison sentence and higher fines. Currently, the existing law allows for up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $1,000 for such offenses, but the bill seeks to elevate the legal severity by making it a felony, which typically carries more substantial legal and long-term personal consequences for the offender. The bill aims to strengthen legal protections for animals and create more significant deterrents against animal cruelty by making the first offense a more serious criminal charge.

Justice

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB06153&which_year=2025