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HB1714 • 2026

Modifies the offense of animal neglect

Modifies the offense of animal neglect

Agriculture Children Crime
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Sharpe, Greg (004)
Last action
2026-03-12
Official status
03/12/2026 - Reported Do Pass (H)
Effective date
2026-08-28

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide detailed information on how the law will affect livestock owners specifically.

Changes Animal Neglect Laws

This law modifies how animal neglect is treated in Missouri, making it a more serious offense under certain conditions.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines animal neglect as failing to provide adequate care or control for an owned or cared-for animal (excluding livestock).
  • Makes the first offense of animal neglect a class C misdemeanor unless there are previous offenses or property damage, which can make it more serious.
  • Increases penalties if neglect causes injury to people or death, making these cases felonies.
  • Allows courts to order offenders to pay for care and disposal costs related to neglected animals.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who own or take care of animals in Missouri (excluding livestock owners).
  • Courts that handle animal neglect cases.

Terms To Know

Class C misdemeanor
A minor crime with a small punishment, like a fine.
Felony
A serious crime that can lead to jail time.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not apply to acts or facilities exempted under section 7 of the bill.
  • It is unclear how this will affect livestock owners specifically, as they are excluded from the definition of animal neglect.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-12 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0

  2. 2026-03-11 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Executive Session Completed (H)

  3. 2026-03-11 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Voted Do Pass (H)

  4. 2026-03-05 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)

  5. 2026-02-19 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 11 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

  6. 2026-02-18 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Executive Session Completed (H)

  7. 2026-02-18 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

  8. 2026-01-28 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Public Hearing Completed (H)

  9. 2026-01-22 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Referred: Special Committee on Rural Issues(H)

  10. 2026-01-08 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Read Second Time (H)

  11. 2026-01-07 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Read First Time (H)

  12. 2025-12-01 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Prefiled (H)

Official Summary Text

Modifies the offense of animal neglect

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 1714
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
5048H.02C JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o repeal section 578.009, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the
of fense of animal neglect, with penalty provisions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 578.009, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu
2 thereof, to be known as section 578.009, to read as follows:
578.009. 1. A person commits the of fense of animal neglect if he or she:
2 (1) Has custody or ownership of an animal and fails to provide adequate care; [ or ]
3 (2) Has custody or ownership of an animal, excluding livestock as defined in
4 section 265.300, and fails to pro vide adequate control ; or
5 (3) Knowingly abandons an animal in any place without making provisions for its
6 adequate care or adequate control .
7 2. The of fense of animal neglect is a class C misdemeanor unless the person :
8 (1) Has previously been found guilty of an of fense under this section, or an of fense in
9 another jurisdiction which would constitute an offense under this section, in which case it is a
10 class B misdemeanor ;
11 (2) Fails to prov ide adequate car e or adequate control that res ults in pr operty
12 damage of another , in which case it is a class B misdemeanor; however , if such damage
13 exceeds seven hundred fifty dollars, it is a class E felony;
14 (3) Fails to pr ovide adequate car e or adequate control that r esults in physical
15 injury , as defined in 556.061, to a person, in which case it is a class A misdemeanor;
16 (4) Fails to pro vide adequate car e or adequate contr ol that res ults in serious
17 physical injury , as defined in section 556.061, to a person, in which case it is a class E
18 felony; or
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
19 (5) Fails to pro vide adequate car e or adequate control that re sults in death to a
20 person, in which case it is a class D felony .
21 3. [All fines and penalties for a first finding of guilt under this section may be waived
22 by the court if the person found guilty of animal neglect shows that adequate, permanent
23 remedies for the neglect have been made. Reasonable costs incurred for the care and
24 maintenance of neglected animals may not be waived. This section shall not apply to the
25 provisions of section 578.007 or chapter 272.
26 4. ] In addition to any other penalty imposed by this section, the court may order a
27 person found guilty of animal neglect to pay all reasonable costs and expenses necessary for:
28 (1) The care and maintenance of neglected animals within the person's custody or
29 ownership;
30 (2) The disposal of any dead or diseased animals within the person's custody or
31 ownership;
32 (3) The reduction of resulting org anic debris affectin g the immediate area of the
33 neglect; and
34 (4) The avoidance or minimization of any public health risks created by the neglect of
35 the animals.
36 4. Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to the acts or facilities
37 exempted under section 578.007.
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HCS HB 1714 2