OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 351 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 351’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Reported by House Criminal Justice
Primary Sponsor: Rep. T. Young
Effective date:
Amanda Goodman, Attorney
SUMMARY
▪ Prohibits a person from knowingly treating a companion animal corpse in a way that
would outrage reasonable community sensibilities.
▪ Specifies that a person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a first degree
misdemeanor on a first offense and a fifth degree felony on a second and any
subsequent offense and, in addition to other potential penalties, requires the offender
to undergo psychological evaluation or counseling.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Abuse of a companion animal corpse
The bill prohibits a person from knowingly treating a companion animal corpse in a way
that would outrage reasonable community sensibilities unless authorized by law.1 Under the
bill, a companion animal is a dog, cat, or any animal that is kept inside a residential dwelling (it
does not include livestock or any wild animal).2
The bill applies certain existing exemptions that pertain to the laws governing animal
abuse to the new prohibition. Most applicably, the prohibition does not apply to either of the
following:
1. A companion animal used in scientific research conducted by an institution in
accordance with the federal Animal Welfare Act and related regulations; and
This analysis was prepared before the report of the House Criminal Justice Committee appeared in the
House Journal. Note that the legislative history may be incomplete.
1 R.C. 959.131(H).
2 R.C. 959.131(A)(1).
December 10, 2024
 Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
2. The lawful practice of veterinary medicine by a licensed person.3
The bill specifies that a person who violates the above prohibition is guilty of a first
degree misdemeanor on a first offense and a fifth degree felony on a second and any
subsequent offense.4 A first degree misdemeanor is generally punishable by a jail term of up to
180 days5 and a fine of up to $1,000.6 A fifth degree felony is generally punishable by a prison
term of six to twelve months7 and a fine of up to $2,500.8
Additionally, if a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to the violation, a court must
impose a requirement that the offender undergo psychological evaluation or counseling in
addition to any other criminal penalty. The court must order the offender to pay the costs of
the evaluation or counseling.9
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 12-04-23
Reported, H. Criminal Justice ---
anhb0351rh-135/ks
3 R.C. 959.131(I).
4 R.C. 959.99(E)(6).
5 R.C. 2929.24(A)(1), not in the bill.
6 R.C. 2929.28(A)(2)(a)(i), not in the bill.
7 R.C. 2929.14(A)(5), not in the bill.
8 R.C. 2929.18(A)(3)(e), not in the bill.
9 R.C. 959.99(E)(6).
P a g e |2 H.B. 351
As Reported by House Criminal Justice


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 959.131, 959.99