House amends and passes tougher animal-fighting penalties with clarifications for lawful training

The Utah House on Jan. 27 reconsidered and amended House Bill 112, a measure strengthening penalties and definitions related to animal fighting, and passed the bill as amended on a 55–18 vote.

A member moved to reconsider HB112; following a successful division vote to return the bill to the floor, sponsor Representative Judkins introduced Amendment 3. Judkins said the amendment clarifies that lawful training of dogs and possession or use of equipment for lawful training purposes will not be prohibited and explained that it preserves lawful agricultural and hunting activities. He added that the amendment narrows the risk that the statute would unintentionally criminalize common lawful equipment or training activities.

Judkins and supporters also explained the law enforcement rationale: the bill closes a loophole that previously required catching operators in the act to prosecute and expands definitions of paraphernalia while making intent the key element of any prosecution. The sponsor cited prior cockfighting rings broken up in Utah and raised agricultural disease concerns, referencing the 2019 virulent Newcastle disease cases detected in backyard exhibition chickens.

Members discussed and supported the amendment as a way to protect lawful activity and address enforcement challenges; the amendment was adopted and the bill then passed the House by roll call, 55 yeas and 18 nays. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate.

Next steps: HB112 proceeds to the Senate where the amended statutory language and any fiscal/legal analyses will be reviewed.