89R13268 PRL-D     By: Metcalf H.B. No. 3816       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the prosecution of the criminal offense of cruelty to   livestock animals.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sections 42.09(a) and (c), Penal Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (a)  A person commits an offense if the person intentionally   or knowingly:                (1)  tortures a livestock animal;                (2)  fails unreasonably to provide necessary food,   water, or care for a livestock animal in the person's custody;                (3)  abandons unreasonably a livestock animal in the   person's custody;                (4)  transports or confines a livestock animal in a   cruel and unusual manner;                (5)  administers poison to a livestock animal, other   than cattle, horses, sheep, swine, or goats, belonging to another   without legal authority or the owner's effective consent;                (6)  causes one livestock animal to fight with another   livestock animal or with an animal as defined by Section 42.092;                (7)  uses a live livestock animal as a lure in dog race   training or in dog coursing on a racetrack;                (8)  trips a horse; [or]                (9)  seriously overworks a livestock animal; or                (10)  administers to a horse participating in a race a   controlled substance as defined by Section 481.002, Health and   Safety Code.          (c)  An offense under Subsection (a)(2), (3), (4), or (9) is   a Class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is a state jail   felony if the person has previously been convicted two times under   this section, two times under Section 42.092, or one time under this   section and one time under Section 42.092.  An offense under   Subsection (a)(1), (5), (6), (7), [or] (8), or (10) is a state jail   felony, except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if   the person has previously been convicted two times under this   section, two times under Section 42.092, or one time under this   section and one time under Section 42.092.          SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.     An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is   governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,   and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For   purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the   effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred   before that date.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.