The bill amends existing laws related to felony animal cruelty, specifically addressing the treatment of wildlife. It introduces new definitions for "predacious bird," "predatory animal," and "wildlife," and expands the scope of felony cruelty to include the torture of wildlife that has been reduced to possession. The bill specifies that immediate killing of wildlife in possession is not a violation, and it clarifies that owners of traps or snares are not required to check them before the time mandated by existing regulations. Additionally, it removes a previous reporting requirement regarding the number of predatory animals and predacious birds taken by the department's animal damage control agents.

The legislation also establishes penalties for felony animal cruelty convictions, including the potential revocation of licenses related to wildlife and the forfeiture of devices used in violations. It outlines that any person who injures or incapacitates a predatory animal or predacious bird while using a vehicle must make a reasonable effort to kill the animal immediately. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 6-3-1001, 6-3-1005, 23-3-103, 23-3-306, 23-6-206, 23-6-208