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25LSO-0140
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0140
Introduced
2.0
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0003
Animal abuse-predatory animals.
Sponsored by: Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources Interim Committee
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; providing for a new criminal offense of cruelty to animals; increasing the maximum fine for a misdemeanor first offense cruelty to animals conviction; providing for the suspension of hunting privileges for a cruelty to animals conviction as specified; authorizing game and fish law enforcement to enforce the criminal provisions of cruelty to animals as specified; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1.
W.S. 6
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3
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1002 by creating a new subsection (b), 6
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3
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1004(a) and by creating a new subsection (c), 6
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3
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1010 by creating a new subsection (b) and 23
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6
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206(a)(intro) and (iii) are amended to read:
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3
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1002.
Cruelty to animals.
(b)
Any person who intentionally injures or disables a predatory animal as defined by W.S. 23
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1
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101(a)(viii) by use of an automotive vehicle, motor
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propelled wheeled vehicle, or vehicle designed for travel over snow shall upon inflicting the injury or disability immediately use all reasonable efforts to kill the injured or disabled predatory animal. Any person who fails to immediately use all reasonable efforts to kill an injured or disabled predatory animal as required by this subsection commits cruelty to animals.
6
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3
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1004.
Penalties; misdemeanor offenses.
(a)
A first offense of cruelty to animals or of a violation of W.S. 6
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1003 is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than
seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00)
one thousand dollars ($1,000.00)
, or both.
(c)
In addition to any penalty provided by this section, for a conviction of a violation of W.S. 6
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3
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1002(b), a court may revoke any license, suspend a person's privilege to purchase or receive any other license or to take any wildlife pursuant to W.S. 23
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6
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206.
6
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3
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1010.
Impounding and forfeiture hearing; enforcement.
(b)
In addition to any other peace officer with authority to enforce this article, game and fish law enforcement personnel qualified pursuant to W.S. 9
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1
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701 through 9
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1
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707 are authorized to enforce the provisions of W.S. 6
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1002(b) and 6
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1004.
23
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6
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206.
Revocation of license; hunting after suspended license.
(a)
The court may, in its discretion, revoke any license issued under this act to any person convicted of a violation of this act
or W.S. 6
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3
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1002(b)
, for the remainder of the year in which the conviction occurs, and may suspend the person's privilege to purchase or receive any other license under this act, or to take any wildlife for the following time periods provided in paragraphs (i) through (iii) and shall suspend the person's privilege to purchase or receive any other license under this act for the time period provided in paragraph (iv) of this subsection:
(iii)
Up to three (3) years for conviction of a low misdemeanor as provided in W.S. 23
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6
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202(a)(v)
or for a conviction of cruelty to animals pursuant to W.S. 6
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3
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1002(b)
;
Section 2.
This act shall apply to any person who intentionally injures or disables a predatory animal by use of an automotive vehicle, motor
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propelled wheeled vehicle, or vehicle designed for travel over snow on and after July 1, 2025.
Section 3
.
This act is effective July 1, 2025
.
(END)
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HB0003