Wyoming 2025 Regular Session

Wyoming House Bill HB0275 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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1		-	ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
2		-	BILL NO. HB0275
3		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 46, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
4		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
5		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
	1	+	2025
	2	+	STATE OF WYOMING
	3	+	25LSO-0703
	4	+	ENGROSSED
	5	+	1HB0275
	6	+	HOUSE BILL NO. HB0275
	7	+	Treatment of animals.
	8	+	Sponsored by: Representative(s) Byron, Schmid, Singh and
	9	+	Williams and Senator(s) Barlow, Hutchings,
	10	+	Landen, Nethercott and Olsen
	11	+	A BILL
	12	+	for
	13	+	1 AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; providing a
	14	+	2 misdemeanor offense and amending the offense of felony
	15	+	3 animal cruelty to address actions where wildlife is reduced
	16	+	4 to possession; prohibiting the torture of wildlife as
	17	+	5 specified; specifying the required treatment of certain
	18	+	6 wildlife; specifying penalties; providing for license
	19	+	7 revocation and suspension and forfeiture of devices and
	20	+	8 equipment for specified convictions; clarifying trapping
	21	+	9 requirements; removing a reporting requirement; providing
	22	+	10 definitions; making conforming amendments; and providing
	23	+	11 for an effective date.
	24	+	12
	25	+	13
	26	+	14 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0703
	27	+	ENGROSSED
	28	+	2HB02751. W.S. 6-3-1001(a) by creating new
	29	+	2 paragraphs (iv) through (vi), 6-3-1004 by creating a new
	30	+	3 subsection (c), 6-3-1005(a)(intro), (i), (ii), by creating
	31	+	4 a new paragraph (iii) and by creating a new subsection (c),
	32	+	5 23-3-103(a) and by creating new subsections (d) and (e),
	33	+	6 23-3-306 by creating a new subsection (j),
	34	+	7 23-6-206(a)(intro) and (iii) and 23-6-208 are amended to
	35	+	8 read:
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	37	+	10
	38	+	11
	39	+	12 (a) As used in this article:
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	50	+	23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0703
	51	+	ENGROSSED
	52	+	3HB02751
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	64	+	13 (a) Except as provided in W.S. 6-3-1004(c) and
	65	+	14 person commits felony
	66	+	15 cruelty to animals if the person:
	67	+	16
	68	+	17 (i) Commits cruelty to animals as defined in
	69	+	18 W.S. 6-3-1002(a)(v) through (ix), that results in the death
	70	+	19 or required euthanasia of the animal; or
	71	+	20
	72	+	21 (ii) Knowingly, and with intent to cause death
	73	+	22 or undue suffering, beats with cruelty, tortures, torments
	74	+	23 or mutilates an animal; or 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0703
	75	+	ENGROSSED
	76	+	4HB02751
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	98	+	23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0703
	99	+	ENGROSSED
	100	+	5HB0275
6	101		1
7		-	AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; providing a
8		-	misdemeanor offense and amending the offense of felony
9		-	animal cruelty to address actions where wildlife is reduced
10		-	to possession; prohibiting the torture of wildlife as
11		-	specified; specifying the required treatment of certain
12		-	wildlife; specifying penalties; providing for license
13		-	revocation and suspension and forfeiture of devices and
14		-	equipment for specified convictions; clarifying trapping
15		-	requirements; removing a reporting requirement; providing
16		-	definitions; making conforming amendments; and providing
17		-	for an effective date.
18		-	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
19		-	Section 1. W.S. 6-3-1001(a) by creating new
20		-	paragraphs (iv) through (vi), 6-3-1004 by creating a new
21		-	subsection (c), 6-3-1005(a)(intro), (i), (ii), by creating
22		-	a new paragraph (iii) and by creating a new subsection (c),
23		-	23-3-103(a) and by creating new subsections (d) and (e),
24		-	23-3-306 by creating a new subsection (j) and
25		-	23-6-206(a)(intro) and (iii) are amended to read:
26		-	6-3-1001. Definitions.
27		-	(a) As used in this article:
28		-	(iv) "Predacious bird" means as defined in W.S.
29		-	23-1-101(a)(vii);
30		-	(v) "Predatory animal" means as defined in W.S.
31		-	23-1-101(a)(viii); ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
32		-	BILL NO. HB0275
33		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 46, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
34		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
35		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
36		-	2(vi) "Wildlife" means as defined in W.S.
37		-	23-1-101(a)(xiii). "Wildlife" shall not include amphibians,
38		-	crustaceans, fish, mollusks and reptiles.
39		-	6-3-1004. Penalties; misdemeanor offenses.
40		-	(c) A first offense of cruelty to animals under W.S.
41		-	6-3-1005(a)(iii) and 23-3-103(d) is a misdemeanor
42		-	punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6)
43		-	months, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars
44		-	($5,000.00), or both. The person shall also be subject to
45		-	revocation and suspension of licenses and privileges as
46		-	provided in W.S. 6-3-1005(c) and 23-3-103(d).
47		-	6-3-1005. Felony cruelty to animals; penalty.
48		-	(a)
49		-	paragraph (a)(iii) of this section a person commits felony
50		-	cruelty to animals if the person:
51		-	(i) Commits cruelty to animals as defined in
52		-	W.S. 6-3-1002(a)(v) through (ix), that results in the death
53		-	or required euthanasia of the animal;
54		-	(ii) Knowingly, and with intent to cause death
55		-	or undue suffering, beats with cruelty, tortures, torments
56		-	or mutilates an animal; or
57		-	(iii) Knowingly, and with intent to cause undue
58		-	suffering, tortures, torments or mutilates living wildlife,
59		-	including predatory animals and predacious birds, after
60		-	reducing the living wildlife to possession. For purposes of
61		-	this paragraph: ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
62		-	BILL NO. HB0275
63		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 46, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
64		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
65		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
66		-	3 (A) The immediate killing of living
67		-	wildlife reduced to possession shall not be a violation of
68		-	this paragraph;
69		-	(B) Nothing in this paragraph shall be
70		-	construed to require an owner of a trap or snare to check
71		-	the trap or snare before the time required in title 23 of
72		-	the Wyoming statutes and rules promulgated by the game and
73		-	fish commission. Wildlife discovered in a snare or trap
74		-	shall be considered within the possession of the owner of
75		-	the snare or trap upon discovery by the owner;
76		-	(C) A first offense of cruelty to animals
77		-	under this paragraph and W.S. 23-3-103(d) is a misdemeanor
78		-	punishable as provided in W.S. 6-3-1004(c). A second or
79		-	subsequent offense under this paragraph or W.S. 23-3-103(d)
80		-	is punishable as provided by subsections (b) and (c) of
81		-	this section.
82		-	(c) Upon a conviction of a first or subsequent
83		-	violation of paragraph (a)(iii) of this section and W.S.
84		-	23-3-103(d) and in addition to any penalty specified in
85		-	subsection (b) of this section, the court may revoke any
86		-	license issued under title 23 of the Wyoming statutes and
87		-	suspend a person's privilege to purchase or receive any
88		-	other license as specified in title 23 of the Wyoming
89		-	statutes or to take any wildlife under W.S.
90		-	23-6-206(a)(iii).
91		-	23-3-103. Taking predatory animals, predacious birds
92		-	and trophy animals; taking furbearing animals and game
93		-	birds without license prohibited.
94		-	(a) Predatory animals and predacious birds may be
95		-	taken without a license in any manner and at any time ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
96		-	BILL NO. HB0275
97		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 46, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
98		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
99		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
	102	+	2.
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100	104		4
101		-	except as provided by W.S. 23-2-303(d)
102		-	and (e), 23-3-112, 23-3-304(b), 23-3-305, 23-3-306(b) and
103		-	23-3-307,. The department shall report annually to the
104		-	Wyoming department of agriculture the number of predatory
105		-	animals and predacious birds taken by the department's
106		-	animal damage control agents, and include in the report the
107		-	area where taken and the control method used
108		-	any predatory animal or predacious bird reduced to
109		-	possession shall be promptly killed or released subject to
110		-	subsection (d) of this section.
111		-	(d) No person shall knowingly, and with intent to
112		-	cause undue suffering, torture, torment or mutilate living
113		-	wildlife, including predatory animals and predacious birds,
114		-	after reducing the living wildlife to possession. A person
115		-	violating this subsection shall be liable under W.S.
116		-	6-3-1004(c) for a first offense and under W.S.
117		-	6-3-1005(a)(iii), (b) and (c) for a second or subsequent
118		-	offense. Upon any conviction of a violation of this
119		-	subsection the court may revoke any license issued under
120		-	this act and suspend a person's privilege to purchase or
121		-	receive any other license under this act or to take any
122		-	wildlife as provided under W.S. 23-6-206(a)(iii). For
123		-	purposes of this subsection, "wildlife" means as defined by
124		-	W.S. 6-3-1001(a)(vi).
125		-	(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to
126		-	require an owner of a trap or snare to check the trap or
127		-	snare before the time required in title 23 of the Wyoming
128		-	statutes and rules promulgated by the game and fish
129		-	commission. Wildlife discovered in a snare or trap shall be
130		-	considered within the possession of the owner of the snare
131		-	or trap upon discovery by the owner. ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
132		-	BILL NO. HB0275
133		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 46, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
134		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
135		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
136		-	523-3-306. Use of aircraft, automobiles, motorized and
137		-	snow vehicles and artificial light for hunting or fishing
138		-	prohibited; exceptions; penalties.
139		-	(j) Any person who pursues a predatory animal or
140		-	predacious bird by use of any vehicle or other conveyance
141		-	specified in subsection (a) of this section and injures or
142		-	incapacitates the predatory animal or predacious bird shall
143		-	make a reasonable effort to immediately kill the injured or
144		-	incapacitated animal. This subsection shall not apply to
145		-	governmental agencies or their employees, contractors or
146		-	designees while using any aircraft to perform their lawful
147		-	duties. As used in this subsection, "incapacitate" means
148		-	injury or a state of physical exhaustion to the point the
149		-	animal has ceased to attempt to elude the vehicle or other
150		-	conveyance.
151		-	23-6-206. Revocation of license; hunting after
152		-	suspended license.
153		-	(a) The court may, in its discretion, revoke any
154		-	license issued under this act to any person convicted of a
155		-	violation of this act , for the
156		-	remainder of the year in which the conviction occurs, and
157		-	may suspend the person's privilege to purchase or receive
158		-	any other license under this act, or to take any wildlife
159		-	for the following time periods provided in paragraphs (i)
160		-	through (iii) and shall suspend the person's privilege to
161		-	purchase or receive any other license under this act for
162		-	the time period provided in paragraph (iv) of this
163		-	subsection:
164		-	(iii) Up to three (3) years for conviction of a
165		-	low misdemeanor as provided in W.S. 23-6-202(a)(v) ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
166		-	BILL NO. HB0275
167		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 46, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
168		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
169		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
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170	106		6
171		-	conviction of a violation of W.S. 6-3-1005(a)(iii) or
172		-	23-3-103(d);
173		-	Section 2. This act is effective July 1, 2025.
174		-	(END)
175		-	Speaker of the HousePresident of the SenateGovernorTIME APPROVED: _________DATE APPROVED: _________
176		-	I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.
177		-	Chief Clerk
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	118	+	18 (a) Predatory animals and predacious birds may be
	119	+	19 taken without a license in any manner and at any time
	120	+	20 except as provided by W.S. 23-2-303(d)
	121	+	21 and (e), 23-3-112, 23-3-304(b), 23-3-305, 23-3-306(b) and
	122	+	22 23-3-307,. The department shall report annually to the
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	124	+	ENGROSSED
	125	+	6HB0275
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	175	+	4 (a) The court may, in its discretion, revoke any
	176	+	5 license issued under this act to any person convicted of a
	177	+	6 violation of this act , for the
	178	+	7 remainder of the year in which the conviction occurs, and
	179	+	8 may suspend the person's privilege to purchase or receive
	180	+	9 any other license under this act, or to take any wildlife
	181	+	10 for the following time periods provided in paragraphs (i)
	182	+	11 through (iii) and shall suspend the person's privilege to
	183	+	12 purchase or receive any other license under this act for
	184	+	13 the time period provided in paragraph (iv) of this
	185	+	14 subsection:
	186	+	15
	187	+	16 (iii) Up to three (3) years for conviction of a
	188	+	17 low misdemeanor as provided in W.S. 23-6-202(a)(v)
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	195	+	ENGROSSED
	196	+	9HB0275
	197	+	1 Devices and equipment, including any firearm, weapon,
	198	+	2 ammunition, trap, snare, vessel, motorized vehicle,
	199	+	3 aircraft, explosive, poisonous substance, electronic device
	200	+	4 or optical equipment, used in, or in aid of, a violation of
	201	+	5 W.S. 23-3-102(d), 23-3-103(d) or 23-3-107
	202	+	6 may be seized by any law enforcement officer of the state
	203	+	7 after hearing and upon order issued by the court of
	204	+	8 original jurisdiction when the value of the devices or
	205	+	9 equipment is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or less or by
	206	+	10 the district court for the county in which the offense was
	207	+	11 charged when the value of the devices or equipment is more
	208	+	12 than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). Any device or
	209	+	13 equipment seized under this section shall be forfeited to
	210	+	14 the state in accordance with W.S. 7-2-105, provided the
	211	+	15 device or equipment is not subject to forfeiture under this
	212	+	16 section by reason of any unlawful act committed without the
	213	+	17 knowledge or consent of the owner. A device or equipment
	214	+	18 seized under this section shall not be forfeited as
	215	+	19 provided under this section until after the person has been
	216	+	20 convicted under W.S. 23-3-102(d),
	217	+	21 or 23-3-107 and the time for appeal has
	218	+	22 expired.
	219	+	23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0703
	220	+	ENGROSSED
	221	+	10HB02751. This act is effective July 1, 2025.
	222	+	2
	223	+	3 (END)