All Roll Calls
Yes: 154 • No: 10
WyomingHB 2752025 General SessionHouse
AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; providing a misdemeanor offense and amending the offense of felony animal cruelty to address actions where wildlife is reduced to possession; prohibiting the torture of wildlife as specified; specifying the required treatment of certain wildlife; specifying penalties; providing for license revocation and suspension and forfeiture of devices and equipment for specified convictions; clarifying trapping requirements; removing a reporting requirement; providing definitions; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.
Sponsored By: Andrew Byron (Republican)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
New penalties for torturing captured wildlife
Starting July 1, 2025, it is a crime to knowingly torture or mutilate living wildlife after you have reduced it to possession. This includes predatory animals and predacious birds. Immediate killing after capture is allowed. Animals found in your trap or snare count as in your possession when you find them. A first offense is a misdemeanor with up to 6 months in jail, a fine up to $5,000, or both. Second and later offenses can be felonies. Courts can revoke your hunting or trapping licenses and suspend your right to buy new ones, sometimes for up to 3 years. You do not have to check traps earlier than other laws require.
Kill injured animals after vehicle pursuit
Starting July 1, 2025, if you chase a predatory animal or predacious bird with a vehicle and injure or disable it, you must make a reasonable effort to kill it right away. This rule does not apply to government agencies or their workers using aircraft while on duty.
Rules for handling taken predators
Starting July 1, 2025, any predatory animal or predacious bird you reduce to possession must be promptly killed or released. You may not torture wildlife after capture. The Game and Fish Department must report each year to the Department of Agriculture how many such animals its damage‑control agents took, where they were taken, and the methods used.
Which animals count as wildlife now
Beginning July 1, 2025, the law defines wildlife and excludes amphibians, crustaceans, fish, mollusks, and reptiles. This changes which animals are covered by wildlife cruelty rules, penalties, and license consequences.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Andrew Byron
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Mike Schmid
Republican • House
Daniel Singh
Republican • House
JD Williams
Republican • House
Eric Barlow
Republican • Senate
Lynn Hutchings
Republican • Senate
Bill Landen
Republican • Senate
Tara Nethercott
Republican • Senate
Jared Olsen
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/26/2025
S 3rd Reading:Passed 27-4-0-0-0
Yes: 27 • No: 4
House vote • 2/26/2025
H Concur:Passed 57-2-3-0-0
Yes: 57 • No: 2
Senate vote • 2/20/2025
S06 - Travel:Recommend Do Pass 4-1-0-0-0
Yes: 4 • No: 1
House vote • 2/6/2025
H 3rd Reading:Passed 57-3-2-0-0
Yes: 57 • No: 3
House vote • 1/28/2025
H06 - Travel:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0
Yes: 9 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed HEA No. 0046
3/3/2025GovernorAssigned Chapter Number 93
3/3/2025H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0046
2/27/2025HouseS President Signed HEA No. 0046
2/27/2025SenateS 3rd Reading:Passed 27-4-0-0-0
2/26/2025SenateH Received for Concurrence
2/26/2025HouseH Concur:Passed 57-2-3-0-0
2/26/2025HouseAssigned Number HEA No. 0046
2/26/2025S 2nd Reading:Passed
2/25/2025SenateS COW:Passed
2/24/2025SenateS06 - Travel:Recommend Do Pass 4-1-0-0-0
2/20/2025SenateS Placed on General File
2/20/2025SenateS Introduced and Referred to S06 - Travel
2/14/2025SenateS Received for Introduction
2/7/2025SenateH 3rd Reading:Passed 57-3-2-0-0
2/6/2025HouseH 2nd Reading:Passed
2/5/2025HouseH COW:Passed
2/4/2025HouseH06 - Travel:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0
1/28/2025HouseH Placed on General File
1/28/2025HouseH Introduced and Referred to H06 - Travel
1/23/2025HouseH Received for Introduction
1/22/2025HouseBill Number Assigned
1/21/2025
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
Introduced
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