This bill amends existing laws regarding animal abuse, neglect, and torture in Iowa. It reclassifies the penalties for these offenses, establishing that a person who commits animal abuse or neglect resulting in serious injury or death to an animal, as well as those who commit animal torture, will be guilty of a class D felony. This is a change from current law, which categorizes a first offense as an aggravated misdemeanor and only elevates it to a class D felony for subsequent violations. A class D felony carries a potential punishment of up to five years of confinement and fines ranging from $1,025 to $10,245.

The bill specifically removes the designation of "aggravated misdemeanor" for these offenses and replaces it with the class D felony classification. This change aims to strengthen the legal consequences for individuals who engage in severe acts of animal cruelty, thereby enhancing protections for animals in the state.