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Bill > AB61

WI AB61

Injuring or killing a police or fire animal and providing a penalty.

summary

Introduced
02/24/2025
In Committee
03/14/2025
Crossed Over
03/13/2025
Passed
06/19/2025
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Under current law, no person may do any of the following to any animal that is used by a law enforcement agency or fire department to perform agency or department functions or duties: frighten, intimidate, threaten, abuse, or harass the animal; strike, shove, kick, or otherwise subject the animal to physical contact; or strike the animal by using a dangerous weapon. Under current law, any person who intentionally does any of those actions and causes injury to the animal is guilty of a Class I felony, and any person who intentionally does any of those actions and causes death of the animal is guilty of a Class H felony. Additionally, for such a violation, a sentencing court must require a criminal violator to pay restitution, including veterinary care expenses or the value of a replacement animal. This bill increases the penalty for injuring such an animal to a Class H felony and the penalty for causing the death of such an animal to a Class G felony. A Class H felony is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to six years, or both, and a Class G felony is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 or imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.

AI Summary

This bill amends existing Wisconsin law to increase criminal penalties for intentionally harming police or fire service animals. Under the current law, individuals are prohibited from frightening, intimidating, threatening, abusing, harassing, or physically striking animals used by law enforcement or fire departments. Previously, intentionally injuring such an animal was a Class I felony, and intentionally causing the animal's death was a Class H felony. The new bill elevates these penalties, changing injury to a Class H felony (which carries a potential fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment for up to six years) and death of the animal to a Class G felony (which carries a potential fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years). The bill maintains existing requirements that convicted individuals must pay restitution, which can include veterinary care expenses or the cost of replacing the animal. By increasing the severity of penalties, the legislation aims to provide stronger legal protection for animals that serve critical public safety functions, signaling the importance of these animals to law enforcement and fire department operations.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (28)

Last Action

Report correctly enrolled on 6-19-2025 (on 06/19/2025)

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