This bill amends the existing law on animal torture in Iowa, redefining the criteria for what constitutes animal torture. Under the new provisions, a person is guilty of animal torture if they intentionally or knowingly crush, burn, drown, suffocate, impale, or otherwise subject an animal to serious injury or death, or if they cause, direct, or provide anything of value to another person to do the same. The previous language that specified "severe and prolonged or repeated physical pain" has been removed.

Additionally, the bill increases the penalty for animal torture from an aggravated misdemeanor to a class D felony, which carries a potential sentence of up to five years in confinement and fines ranging from $1,025 to $10,245. Furthermore, if a person has prior convictions for various animal-related offenses, including animal abuse or neglect, they will be charged with a class C felony, which can result in up to ten years of confinement and fines between $1,370 and $13,660.