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OK SB945

Bill

Status

Introduced

2/3/2025

Primary Sponsor

Brian Guthrie

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2025 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Knowingly depriving any captive animal of necessary food, drink, shelter, or veterinary care is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both

  • Knowingly destroying, killing, cruelly beating, injuring, maiming, or mutilating any captive animal is a felony punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment, a fine up to $5,000, or both

  • Commercial animal service providers (veterinarians, groomers, boarding facilities) who willfully or maliciously destroy, kill, beat, injure, maim, or mutilate animals in their care face a felony with up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine up to $7,000, or both

  • Removes "willfully or maliciously" language from the general felony animal cruelty offense, replacing it with a "knowingly" standard

  • Effective date is November 1, 2025

Legislative Description

Crimes and punishments; relating to animal cruelty; creating misdemeanor and felony offenses; modifying scope and penalty of certain felony offense. Effective date.

Last Action

Coauthored by Representative Lawson (principal House author)

3/6/2025

Committee Referrals

Public Safety2/4/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available