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Wyoming2007Did Not Pass

HB0049

HB0049: Changes to Animal Cruelty Laws

Last scannedOct 19, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill proposed to increase penalties for animal cruelty and allow municipal animal control officers to enforce these laws.

What it does

  • Changes the penalty for repeat animal cruelty offenses or aggravated cruelty from a high misdemeanor to a felony.
  • Increases the maximum prison sentence for these offenses from one year to two years.
  • Allows municipal animal control officers to prevent acts of cruelty to animals.
  • Permits municipal animal control officers to take charge of abandoned, neglected, or cruelly treated animals.
  • Allows local governments to collect costs for caring for animals from the owners through a civil action.
  • Sets an effective date of July 1, 2007, if the bill passes.

Who it affects

  • People who commit animal cruelty offenses.
  • Municipal animal control officers.
  • Peace officers and agents of the Livestock Board.
  • Owners of animals that are abandoned, neglected, or cruelly treated.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the 2007 session.
  • The Senate committee did not consider the bill before it was placed on the general file.
  • The final text of the bill was not enacted into law.

Plain language

Terms to know

Misdemeanor
A minor crime that usually results in a fine or short jail time.
Felony
A serious crime that can result in longer prison time.
Municipal animal control officer
A local government worker responsible for managing and enforcing laws related to animals.
Lien
A legal right to keep property until a debt is paid.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 9, 1:10 AM

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker states they found no significant reason or justification for increasing the penalty further and views the bill as disrespectful to domestic violence victims.

Public statementFloor statement at 0:33 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker argues that current penalties are too low for dog fighting cases where individuals evade law enforcement, and supports the provision allowing animal control officers to rescue abused animals.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:00 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker believes there is no substantial evidence that this issue is a major problem in the state and considers it a solution to a non-existent problem.

Public statementFloor statement at 3:27 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker cites the high financial cost of training police dogs and incidents where they are destroyed, arguing that stronger legislation is needed to address animal cruelty's impact.

Public statementFloor statement at 4:07 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker expresses concern over unintended consequences where animal control officers might misunderstand situations involving large farm animals, potentially leading to wrongful arrests for farmers.

Public statementFloor statement at 5:10 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker is concerned that the bill's penalties may be too severe compared to domestic violence and worries about placing non-certified animal control officers in situations requiring certified police authority.

Public statementFloor statement at 6:37 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because it specifically targets repeat offenders of dog and cock fighting as a felony without changing penalties for other animal cruelty cases or police dogs.

Public statementFloor statement at 7:31 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

3 roll calls

S07 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02007-02-13 · Senate5 yes 0 no
Yes
5
No
0
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 5

Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Grant C LarsonS17Kenneth J DecariaS15Stan CooperS14
H Passed 3rd Reading 35-25-0-0-02007-02-01 · House35 yes 25 no
Yes
35
No
25
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 35

Amy L EdmondsH12Bernadine CraftH17Bill ThompsonH60Colin SimpsonH24David R EdwardsH06Debbie HammonsH27Deborah AldenH03Del McOmieH54Dn.Elaine HarveyH26George BagbyH15Jack D Landon Jr.H30Jane WarrenH13Jerry IekelH29Jim SlaterH46Keith M GingeryH23Ken A EsquibelH41Kermit C BrownH14Liz GentileH36Lori A MillinH08Lorraine K QuarbergH28Marty A MartinH48Mary A ThroneH11Mary GilmoreH59Michael K MaddenH40Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50Pete JorgensenH16Peter S IllowayH42Rosie M BergerH51Saundra MeyerH49, S15Stanley L BlakeH39Thomas A LockhartH57Tom Lubnau IIH31Zwonitzer

No 25

Alan C JonesH25Allen M JaggiH18Dan DockstaderR · S16David R MillerH55Doug SamuelsonH07Edward BuchananH04Erin E Mrs. MercerH53Esquibel, F.Frank PhilpH34Kathleen DavisonH20Kevin A WhiteH45Lisa A SheppersonH58Mark SemlekH01Matt TeetersH05Monte OlsenH22Robert A BrechtelH38Rodney "Pete" AndersonH10Ross DiercksH02Roy CoheeH35Steve HarshmanR · H37Sue E WallisH52Timothy P HallinanH32Tom WalshH56William "Jeb" StewardH47W. Patrick P GogglesH33
H07 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 8-0-1-0-02007-01-26 · House8 yes 0 no
Yes
8
No
0
Absent
0
Excused
1
Conflict
0

Yes 8

Kermit C BrownH14Liz GentileH36Lorraine K QuarbergH28Marty A MartinH48Mary GilmoreH59Peter S IllowayH42Tom WalshH56Zwonitzer

Excused 1

David R MillerH55

Official activity

Bill history

  1. S Placed on General File; Did Not Consider in CoWSenate
  2. S07 Recommended Amend and Do PassSenate
  3. S Introduced and Referred to S07Senate
  4. S Received for IntroductionSenate
  5. H Passed 3rd ReadingHouse
  6. H Passed 2nd ReadingHouse
  7. H Passed CoWHouse
  8. Amendment FailedHouse
  9. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  10. H Amendments AdoptedHouse
  11. H Placed on General FileHouse
  12. H07 Recommended Amend and Do PassHouse
  13. H Introduced and Referred to H07House
  14. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  15. Bill Number AssignedLSO

Changes

Amendments

3 stored

HB0049H3001

Withdrawn 3rd reading by SHEPPERSON

HB0049HW001

Failed Committee of the Whole by SHEPPERSON

HB0049HS001

Adopted Standing Committee by H07