Bill Text: TX HB285 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to the prosecution of the offense of cruelty to nonlivestock animals.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2025-06-20 - Effective on 9/1/25 [HB285 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB285-Enrolled.html

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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