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A 6459

Relates to penalties for intent to cause injury to an animal

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Angelino and 1 co-sponsor

Raises penalties for intent to injure an animal, clarifying the offense and boosting enforcement to protect animals.

REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 6459

Summary of Assembly Bill A 6459

Overview

  • Bill Number: A 6459
  • Title: Relates to penalties for intent to cause injury to an animal
  • Status: Referred to the Assembly Agriculture Committee
  • Introduced: March 5, 2025

  • Sponsors:

    • Primary: Michael Tannousis
    • Co-sponsor: Joe Angelino

  • Related Legislation:

    • Prior-session bills: A 5520, A 5153, A 5695, A 6900, A 5177
    • Senate companion: S 3730 (listed as a companion)

Purpose and Intent

The bill’s title indicates its aim is to address penalties specifically tied to the act of intending to injure an animal. While the exact statutory language is not provided in the summary, the measure likely seeks to:
- Clarify and/or increase penalties for crimes involving the intentional injury of animals.
- Define key terms (e.g., what constitutes “intent to injure” and what qualifies as an “animal” for purposes of the statute).
- Align or strengthen penalties with existing cruelty or animal-protection statutes.

Key Provisions (High-Level)

Note: The exact text of A 6459 is not provided in the summary. Based on the title and standard legislative practice, potential areas the bill could address include:
- Definition of offense: Establishing a criminal offense for “intent to cause injury” to an animal, potentially distinct from acts of actual injury.
- Penalty structure: Establishing penalties (e.g., fines, imprisonment) and possibly tiered penalties depending on factors such as species, extent of harm, or offender history.
- Aggravating or mitigating factors: Considerations such as cruelty, use of weapons, involvement of minors, location (e.g., farms, sanctuaries, public settings), or repeated offenses.
- Definitions: Clear definitions of terms like “animal,” “intent,” and “injury.”
- Enforcement and penalties: Provisions governing enforcement, jurisdiction, and how penalties are calculated and imposed.
- Relation to existing statutes: How this offense interacts with current animal cruelty or cruelty-to-animals statutes and penalties.

Because the actual text is not provided, the above reflects common elements in similar animal-protection penalty bills.

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Animals: Direct beneficiary through stronger protections and penalties against individuals who intend to injure animals.
  • Owners and custodians: Farmers, pet owners, veterinarians, shelters, and other caretakers could be affected by clarifications in how intent-based offenses are charged.
  • Law enforcement and prosecutors: Would implement new definitions and penalties, and may require training or resources to apply the statute.
  • Judicial system: Potential impact on charge categories, sentencing options, and case processing.

Procedural Context and Timeline

  • The bill has been referred to the Assembly Agriculture Committee, indicating it will undergo committee review, potential amendments, and hearings before any floor consideration.
  • If advanced, it would proceed through the normal legislative process for passage into law, potentially followed by consideration in the Senate (including the companion S 3730) and eventual gubernatorial action.

Additional Context

  • The existence of multiple related prior-session bills and a Senate companion suggests ongoing legislative interest in strengthening penalties related to animal injury and a possible alignment of cross-chamber proposals.
  • For interested readers, monitoring committee hearings, fiscal notes, and the full text of A 6459 will provide clarity on the exact penalties, definitions, and procedures the bill would establish.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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