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Puerto RicoPS 003920th Legislative Assembly (2025-2028)Senate

Para enmendar los Artículos 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 y 17 del Capítulo II de la Ley Núm. 154-2008, según enmendada, conocida como "Ley para el Bienestar y la Protección de los Animales", a los fines de atemperar sus disposiciones y delitos al sistema de penas establecido en la Ley Núm. 146-2012, según enmendada, conocida como "Código Penal de Puerto Rico"; y para otros fines relacionados.

Sponsored By: Thomas Rivera Schatz (PNP)

Signed by Governor

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Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 6 costs, 0 mixed.

Animal fighting brings prison and seizures

Inciting or taking part in animal fights carries a fixed 15-year prison term. People who qualify for and choose an alternative to prison must also pay $10,000–$25,000. Alternatives are barred for qualifying prior convictions involving animal protection, domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, or equivalent laws. They are also barred when a fight kills an animal or activity knowingly occurs in a minor's immediate presence. The minor must see or directly perceive the activity. Police must seize animals, equipment, materials, and money at fighting sites under the 2011 Uniform Confiscations Act. The government can also confiscate the fighting property when its owner is a repeat offender. Health officials must assess seized animals; a veterinarian must euthanize those found dangerous. Other animals go to a shelter, which can accept or reject them and seek adopters.

Penalties for transporting animals without care

Animal transport must avoid needless suffering and provide adequate air, light, shelter, food, water, and rest. Animals must also be protected from excessive heat, cold, weather, sun, and rain. Violations bring up to $5,000 in fines, up to six months in prison, or both. Improper transport that causes physical injury carries a fixed three-year prison term. People convicted of that offense who qualify for and choose an alternative to prison must also pay $1,000–$3,000.

Penalties for traps that harm animals

Trapping animals that are not pests requires precautions to prevent injury or needless suffering. Violations are misdemeanors with penalties or combinations capped at 90 days. A repeat offense brings up to $5,000 in fines, up to six months in prison, or both; later repeats are felonies. A trap that causes severe injury or death carries a fixed three-year prison term. People convicted of that offense who qualify for and choose an alternative to prison must also pay $1,000–$3,000.

Penalties for unsafe or intentional poisoning

Using poison without precautions to protect animals that are not pests is a misdemeanor, including hiring someone else to place it. An animal entering the person's property is not a defense. Basic penalties include fines, community service, prison, or combinations, capped at 90 days. A first repeat offense brings up to $5,000 in fines, up to six months in prison, or both. A later repeat offense carries a fixed three-year prison term. Improperly placed poison that an animal ingests and that causes severe injury also carries three years. Intentionally administering poison that causes severe injury or death carries eight years. People who qualify for and choose an alternative to prison must also pay $1,000–$5,000 for the severe-injury offense or $3,000–$10,000 for the intentional-poisoning offense.

Prison and fines for abandoning animals

Abandoning an animal carries a fixed three-year prison term, rising to eight years if abandonment causes severe injury or death. These offenses cover intentional acts, knowing acts, reckless acts, and criminal negligence. Failing to provide minimum care to an animal in one's possession carries three years if it causes severe injury or death. People who qualify for and choose probation or another alternative to prison must also pay fines. Abandonment fines are $1,000–$5,000, or $3,000–$8,000 when it causes severe injury or death; serious neglect fines are $1,000–$3,000.

Prison and fines for animal abuse

Causing animal injury or suffering carries three years in prison; causing severe injury or death carries eight years. These offenses cover intentional acts, knowing acts, reckless acts, and criminal negligence. The terms rise to eight and 15 years, respectively, for qualifying prior convictions or abuse knowingly committed in a minor's immediate presence. Qualifying convictions involve animal protection, domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, or equivalent laws; the minor must see or directly perceive the abuse. People who qualify for and choose an alternative to prison must pay fines: $1,000–$3,000 for basic abuse or $3,000–$10,000 for its enhanced offense. Severe-abuse fines are $3,000–$10,000, or $10,000–$15,000 for its enhanced offense. Torture or killing with planned malice or grave disregard for life carries a fixed 15-year term. For that offense, the same prior-conviction or minor-presence conditions bar alternatives to prison; otherwise, eligible probation carries a $10,000–$20,000 fine.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Thomas Rivera Schatz

    PNP • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Ada M. Álvarez Conde

    PPD • Senate

  • Brenda Pérez Soto

    PNP • Senate

  • Héctor Joaquín Sánchez Álvarez

    PNP • Senate

  • Jamie Barlucea Rodríguez

    PNP • Senate

  • Marissa Jiménez Santoni

    PNP • Senate

  • Rafael Santos Ortiz

    PNP • Senate

  • Wanda M. Soto Tolentino

    PNP • Senate

  • Wilmer Reyes Berríos

    PNP • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 54 • No: 15

House vote • 4/9/2026

Aprobado por Cámara en Votación Final

Yes: 34 • No: 9

Senate vote • 9/8/2025

Aprobado por el Senado en Votación Final

Yes: 20 • No: 6

Actions Timeline

  1. Ley Núm. 73 — Firmada por la Gobernadora

    5/1/2026Senate

  2. Enviado a la Gobernadora

    4/23/2026House

  3. Firmado por el Presidente de la Cámara

    4/22/2026House

  4. Firmado por el Presidente del Senado

    4/22/2026Senate

  5. Se dispone que sea enrolado

    4/16/2026House

  6. Cuerpo de Origen concurre con enmiendas

    4/16/2026Senate

  7. Aprobado por Cámara en Votación Final

    4/9/2026House

  8. Aprobado con enmiendas en sala

    4/9/2026House

  9. Aprobado con enmiendas del informe

    4/9/2026House

  10. En el Calendario de Ordenes Especiales de la Cámara

    4/9/2026House

  11. Remitido a Comisión de Calendarios de la Cámara

    4/8/2026House

  12. Entirillado del Informe

    4/8/2026House

  13. 1er Informe Comisión rendido con enmiendas

    4/8/2026House

  14. Reunión Ejecutiva: Oficina de la Comisión

    4/7/2026House

  15. Referido a Comisión(es)

    9/18/2025House

  16. Aparece en Primera Lectura de la Cámara

    9/18/2025House

  17. Texto de Aprobación Final enviado a la Cámara

    9/8/2025Senate

  18. Aprobado por el Senado en Votación Final

    9/8/2025Senate

  19. Aprobado con enmiendas en sala

    9/8/2025Senate

  20. Aprobado con enmiendas del informe

    9/8/2025Senate

  21. En el Calendario de Ordenes Especiales del Senado

    9/8/2025Senate

  22. Remitido a la Comisión de Reglas y Calendario del Senado

    8/22/2025Senate

  23. Entirillado del Informe

    8/22/2025Senate

  24. 1er Informe Conjunto Comisiones rendido con enmiendas

    8/22/2025Senate

  25. Referido a Comisión(es)

    1/16/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Se dispone que sea enrolado

    4/16/2026

    PDF

  • Texto de Aprobación Final enviado a la Cámara

    9/8/2025

    View

  • Radicado

    1/2/2025

    View

  • Radicado (Senado mirror)

    1/2/2025

    PDF

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