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AN ACT
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relating to the prosecution of the offense of cruelty to |
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nonlivestock animals. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 42.092, Penal Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, |
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knowingly, [or] recklessly, or with criminal negligence: |
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(1) tortures an animal or in a cruel manner kills or |
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causes serious bodily injury to an animal; |
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(2) without the owner's effective consent, kills, |
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administers poison to, or causes serious bodily injury to an |
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animal; |
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(3) fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, |
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water, care, or shelter for an animal in the person's custody; |
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(4) abandons unreasonably an animal in the person's |
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custody; |
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(5) transports or confines an animal in a cruel |
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manner; |
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(6) without the owner's effective consent, causes |
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bodily injury to an animal; |
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(7) causes one animal to fight with another animal, if |
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either animal is not a dog; |
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(8) uses a live animal as a lure in dog race training |
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or in dog coursing on a racetrack; or |
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(9) seriously overworks an animal. |
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(d-1) It is a defense to prosecution for alleged criminal |
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negligence that the conduct occurred during the actual discharge of |
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the actor's duties while employed as a veterinarian licensed under |
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Chapter 801, Occupations Code, or as a person assisting the |
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veterinarian. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
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purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
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effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
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before that date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 285 was passed by the House on May 2, |
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2025, by the following vote: Yeas 125, Nays 5, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 285 was passed by the Senate on May |
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23, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |