Texas legislation · 89th Legislature Regular Session
Texas HB285: Relating to the prosecution of the offense of cruelty to nonlivestock animals.
Status: Chaptered, June 20, 2025
What the bill says
An act relating to the prosecution of the offense of cruelty to nonlivestock animals.
From the enrolled text, May 24, 2025:
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, [[DELETED: or]] recklessly[ADDED: , 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. [ADDED: (d-1)][ADDED: ][ADDED: ][ADDED: It is a defense to prosecution for alleged criminal ] [ADDED: negligence that the conduct occurred during the actual discharge of ] [ADDED: the actor's duties …
Sponsors
- Claudia Ordaz Perez (D, HD-079) · primary sponsor
- Jeff Leach (R, HD-067)
- Morgan Meyer (R, HD-108)
- Joseph Moody (D, HD-078)
- David Cook (R, HD-096)
- Rhetta Bowers (D, HD-113)
- Maria Flores (D, HD-051)
- Jessica Gonzalez (D, HD-104)
- Helen Kerwin (R, HD-058)
- Mitch Little (R, HD-065)
- AJ Louderback (R, HD-030)
- Shelley Luther (R, HD-062)
Latest actions
- : Effective on 9/1/25
- : Filed without the Governor's signature
- : Sent to the Governor
- : Signed in the Senate
- : Signed in the House
- : Reported enrolled
- : Senate passage reported
- : Passed
- : Read 3rd time
- : Record vote
Votes
- Criminal Justice Committee Vote (Out of committee): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Vote (Out of committee): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Rules suspended-Three day rule (May 23, 2025): 31 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Read 3rd time (May 23, 2025): 31 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Record vote RV#1300 (May 2, 2025): 125 yea, 5 nay, passed
- Record vote RV#1293 (May 2, 2025): 127 yea, 6 nay, passed
Subjects: VETERINARIANS, Animals, Crimes--Miscellaneous
Common questions
- What is HB285?
- HB285 is a bill in the Texas Legislature (89th Legislature Regular Session): Relating to the prosecution of the offense of cruelty to nonlivestock animals.
- What does HB285 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to the prosecution of the offense of cruelty to nonlivestock animals.
- What is the status of HB285?
- Chaptered as of June 20, 2025. Latest action: Effective on 9/1/25 (June 20, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB285?
- Claudia Ordaz Perez (D, HD-079), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB285?
- On the Texas Legislature website: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB00285
Source: official Texas record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.