Representative Goodman, chair of the Community Safety, Justice & Reentry Committee, said the committee adopted an amendment and reported substitute House Bill 1149 out of committee with a due-pass recommendation.

The committee approved a technical amendment that changes the felony classification for animal fighting involving intentional mutilation from a Class B to a Class C felony and then voted to report the substitute bill out of committee. The change was described by the amendment sponsor as aligning the statute with the sentencing grid so penalties are not inconsistent across felony classes.

Supporters told the committee the bill updates animal cruelty and animal-fighting statutes, shortens the required time for officers or individuals to provide necessary food and water to 24 hours (down from 36), and adds restrictions for people convicted of animal fighting, including a lifetime ban from owning animals in some cases. Representative Goodman said the amendment is largely technical: the statutory label previously read as a Class B felony but mapped to the sentencing grid used for Class C offenses, and making the label Class C better aligns the statute with existing sentencing ranges.

Representative Goodman said, "The maximum sentence for a Class B felony is 10 years in confinement, but where we are listing it on the sentencing grid is a maximum of 5 years, and that's Class C, and that's a better fit." The committee adopted amendment RUSM 153 by voice vote.

After adopting the amendment, committee members moved to incorporate it into a substitute bill and to report the substitute House Bill 1149 out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. The substitute bill was reported out; the chair directed staff to record the voice vote and noted Representative Simmons was excused. The committee record reflects that all members present voted in the affirmative on the substitute bill.

Committee discussion included references to other existing animal-cruelty provisions: first-degree animal cruelty already carries a lifetime ban and second-degree cruelty includes a two-year ban, and the bill extends certain bans and enforcement clarifications to animal-fighting cases. Committee members who spoke in favor characterized the bill as an "important update" to the state's animal cruelty laws and urged passage.

The committee did not discuss implementation details such as enforcement funding or reporting timelines during the floor action recorded in the transcript. The motion to adopt amendment RUSM 153 and the subsequent motion to report substitute House Bill 1149 were moved and seconded on the record; the amendment was adopted and the substitute bill was reported out with a due-pass recommendation.

The committee recessed for other business after concluding the action on House Bill 1149. Next steps: the substitute bill moves forward from committee to the next stage in the legislative process.