Criminal procedure: sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for crimes against animals; revise. Amends sec. 1, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.1).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Aragona and 5 co-sponsors

Adds companion animal definition to Michigan Chapter XVII sentencing guidelines, enabling future animal-crime references without changing penalties at this time.

bill electronically reproduced 06/12/2025

#crimes:animals #criminalprocedure:sentencingguidelines

What the bill does (purpose)

House Bill 4646 proposes a targeted revision to the Michigan Code of Criminal Procedure by amending section 1 of Chapter XVII (MCL 777.1). The stated legislative subject is to revise sentencing guidelines for crimes against animals. The bill’s operative text, as introduced, adds an explicit definition for “companion animal” into the definitions used in Chapter XVII of the sentencing guidelines statute.

Key provisions / changes

Amends section 1 of Chapter XVII (MCL 777.1) to add the term:

“Companion animal” — defined by reference to section 50b of the Michigan Penal Code (1931 PA 328, MCL 750.50b).

Makes minor internal renumbering/lettering adjustments to other definitions in the section to accommodate the insertion.

No other substantive statutory text (penalties, offense definitions, sentencing point tables, or specific guideline scores) is altered in the introduced version.

Intended effect and practical impact

By incorporating the term “companion animal” into the definitional section of the sentencing-guidelines chapter, the bill enables Chapter XVII (the sentencing-guidelines framework) to expressly refer to and apply to offenses involving companion animals as defined in MCL 750.50b.

Practical impacts depend on later or existing cross-references within the sentencing guidelines or related statutory provisions; the amendment alone does not change penalties or guideline ranges but clarifies terminology available for use in guideline application, scoring, or any future guideline adjustments specific to crimes against animals.

Affected parties likely include defendants charged with animal-related offenses, prosecutors, defense counsel, judges applying sentencing guidelines, and owners/caregivers of companion animals.

Procedural status / timeline

Filed: March 12, 2025

Referred to Natural Resources Committee (April 3, 2025); committee hearings and reports occurred in April–May 2025 (public hearing 4/23/2025; reported favorably and recommended to Local & Consent calendar; placed on calendar 5/10/2025).

Electronically reproduced: June 12, 2025

Reintroduced/read and referred to Committee on Judiciary: June 12, 2025 (sponsored/introduced on that date by Rep. Douglas Wozniak; original sponsor list includes Reps. Wozniak, Johnsen, Rigas, Kunse, Martin, and Aragona).

Companion bill in the Senate: SB 2476.

Notes / implications to watch

This introduced text is primarily definitional. Any substantive change to sentencing outcomes would require either (a) additional amendments elsewhere in Chapter XVII that reference “companion animal,” or (b) changes in how guideline scoring or offenses are written/applied.

Monitor committee reports and subsequent amendments to see if the bill is expanded to add specific sentencing adjustments, aggravators, or scoring rules for crimes against animals.

Bill