HB285 - Relating to the prosecution of the offense of cruelty to nonlivestock animals.

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