The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard HB 1615 on death or injury to animals, sponsored by Sen. Becker. The bill increases the offense level for certain animal cruelty crimes and amends and creates certain definitions for offenses relating to animals. The bill was amended by consent to remove penalty increases from the bill, define "humane euthanasia" and require e … [Read more...] about Death or injury to animals
sentencing
Crimes involving synthetic drugs
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard SB 28, sponsored by Rep. Negele, addressing crimes involving synthetic drugs. The bill specifies that an enhancing circumstance includes a prior conviction for dealing or manufacturing a substance represented to be a controlled substance, makes certain offenses involving synthetic drugs an enhancing circumstance, removes certain … [Read more...] about Crimes involving synthetic drugs
Terrorism
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard SB 240 sponsored by Representative McNamara regarding terrorism and intimidation. The bill repeals and replaces in a new article the offense of possession, use or manufacture of a weapon of mass destruction; agricultural terrorism; terroristic mischief; and terroristic deception. The bill makes providing material support to a … [Read more...] about Terrorism
Misdemeanor penalties
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard SB 336 sponsored by Representative J. Young addressing misdemeanor penalties. The bill makes numerous misdemeanors civil infractions for the first offense and increases the penalty for obstructing a medical person from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor. The bill repeals the crimes of vending machine vandalism and r … [Read more...] about Misdemeanor penalties
Offenses involving critical infrastructure
The House Judiciary Committee heard SB 471, sponsored by Rep. Soliday, on offenses involving critical infrastructure. This bill provides that: a person who, not having a contractual interest in the property, knowingly or intentionally enters the real property of a critical infrastructure facility without the permission of the owner of the critical infrastructure facility or an … [Read more...] about Offenses involving critical infrastructure