HB 121 Summary: Aggravated Animal Cruelty

• Creates new offense of "aggravated animal cruelty" (third-degree felony) for intentionally causing great bodily harm, permanent disability, or death to an animal while committing 24 specified felonies including arson, sexual battery, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, murder, and terrorism-related crimes.

• Establishes second category of aggravated animal cruelty (third-degree felony) for unlawfully killing an animal belonging to a family or household member, regardless of pain inflicted, when perpetrated by an act imminently dangerous and evincing a depraved mind.

• Requires mandatory minimum $2,500 fine and psychological counseling or anger management treatment for convictions involving knowing and intentional torture or torment of animals that injures, mutilates, or kills the animal.

• Imposes mandatory minimum $5,000 fine and 6 months incarceration for second or subsequent violations, with no parole or early release eligibility and requirement to serve 100 percent of sentence.

• Effective date: October 1, 2022; updates Criminal Punishment Code offense severity ranking chart to reflect new aggravated animal cruelty statute.