Preventing cruelty to animals.
HB 1149 updates and clarifies Washington State's animal cruelty laws, specifically within RCW 16.52, to enhance the prevention of cruelty to animals. The bill redefines key terms such as "abandons," "necessary food," "necessary medical attention," "necessary sanitation," "necessary shelter," "necessary space," and "necessary water." These changes establish more explicit standards for the adequate care of nonhuman mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. It also introduces a comprehensive definition of "minimum care," providing clearer guidelines for animal owners, animal care and control agencies, and law enforcement.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Dec 31, 2024
Signed May 12, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed Substitute Bill
→
Substitute Passed Legislature
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill adds a formal certification of enrollment to the document and clarifies the legal standard for determining animal abandonment. It expands who can be held criminally liable for animal cruelty to include anyone residing with or accepting responsibility for an animal, not just the owner. Additionally, it requires law enforcement to have probable cause before labeling an animal as abandoned.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include individuals residing with or accepting responsibility for an animal as liable for animal cruelty, and the definition of abandonment now requires a probable cause determination by an officer.
TECHNICAL
Added a formal certification of enrollment page to the bill text.
DEFINITION
Added a new subsection requiring that a determination of abandonment by an officer must be based on probable cause.
ELIGIBILITY
Expanded the definition of liable parties for animal cruelty to include owners, persons in possession or control, those residing with the animal, and those who have accepted responsibility for the animal.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 3, 2025 · House Feb 12, 2025
How they voted
49–1
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 51
Apr 3, 2025
D
Democratic31
96% Yea
R
Republican20
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
28
Key actions
12
Committee
6
May 12, 2025
Signed into law
Governor signed.
executive
Apr 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Apr 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed final passage; yeas, 85; nays, 11; absent, 0; excused, 2.
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Senate amendments.
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
LAW - Majority; do pass.
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
lower
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Community Safety at 8:30 AM.
lower
Jan 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety at 2:00 PM.
lower
1 primary · 15 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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