Bill > HB4649

This bill amends Michigan's criminal procedure code to modify sentencing guidelines for aggravated use of a weapon, specifically expanding the scoring system to include offenses involving companion animals. The bill adds new point categories for actions involving companion animals, such as discharging a firearm at or cutting/stabbing a companion animal (which would receive 15 or 10 points respectively), subjecting a companion animal to harmful devices or substances (10 points), or touching a companion animal with a weapon (5 points). These new provisions allow for additional points to be assigned in the sentencing guidelines when crimes involve harm to companion animals, paralleling existing guidelines for human victims. The bill also clarifies language around weapon-related offenses, adjusting terminology and ensuring consistent scoring across multiple offender cases. Importantly, the bill is tied to another piece of legislation (House Bill 4646) and will only take effect if that companion bill is also enacted into law. The changes aim to provide more comprehensive sentencing considerations when animals are victims of potentially violent crimes.

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https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4649