HB 992

As Introduced
136th General Assembly
   Regular Session  H. B. No. 992
       2025-2026
  Representative Robb Blasdel
  To amend sections 959.132 and 959.99 and to enact  1
  section 959.135 of the Revised Code to prohibit  2
  a person from committing acts of cruelty against  3
  certain horses that interact with humans.  4
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
     Section 1. That sections 959.132 and 959.99 be amended and  5
section 959.135 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as  6
follows:  7
     Sec. 959.132. (A) As used in this section:  8
     "Companion animal" has the same meaning as in section  9
959.131 of the Revised Code.  10
     "Equine" has the same meaning as in section 959.135 of the  11
Revised Code.  12
     "Impounding agency" means a county humane society  13
organized under section 1717.05 of the Revised Code, an animal  14
shelter, or a law enforcement agency that has impounded a  15
companion animal in accordance with this section.  16
     "Offense" means a violation of Chapter 959. of the Revised  17
Code or an attempt, in violation of section 2923.02 of the  18
Revised Code, to violate Chapter 959. of the Revised Code.  19
H. B. No. 992  Page 2
As Introduced
       "Officer" means any law enforcement officer, humane  20
society agent, or other person appointed to act as an animal  21
control officer for a municipal corporation or township in  22
accordance with state law, an ordinance, or a resolution.  23
       (B) An officer may seize and cause to be impounded at an  24
impounding agency an animal that the officer has probable cause  25
to believe is the subject of an offense. No officer or  26
impounding agency shall impound an animal that is the subject of  27
an offense in a shelter owned, operated, or controlled by a  28
board of county commissioners pursuant to Chapter 955. of the  29
Revised Code unless the board, by resolution, authorizes the  30
impoundment of such an animal in a shelter owned, operated, or  31
controlled by that board and has executed, in the case when the  32
officer is other than a dog warden or assistant dog warden, a  33
contract specifying the terms and conditions of the impoundment.  34
       (C) The officer shall give written notice of the seizure  35
and impoundment to the owner, keeper, or harborer of the animal  36
not later than twenty-four hours after the animal was seized and  37
impounded. If the officer is unable to give the notice to the  38
owner, keeper, or harborer of the animal, the officer shall post  39
the notice on the door of the residence or in another  40
conspicuous place on the premises at which the animal was  41
seized. The notice shall include a statement that a hearing will  42
be held not later than ten days after the notice is provided or  43
at the next available court date to determine whether the  44
officer had probable cause to seize the animal and, if  45
applicable, to determine the amount of a bond or cash deposit  46
that is needed to provide for the animal's care and keeping for  47
not less than thirty days beginning on the date on which the  48
animal was impounded.  49
H. B. No. 992  Page 3
As Introduced
       (D) An animal that is seized under this section may be  50
humanely destroyed immediately or at any time during impoundment  51
if a licensed veterinarian determines it to be necessary because  52
the animal is suffering.  53
       (E)(1) Not later than ten days after notice is provided or  54
at the next available court date, the court shall hold a hearing  55
to determine whether the officer impounding an animal had  56
probable cause to seize the animal. If the court determines that  57
probable cause exists, the court shall determine the amount of a  58
bond or cash deposit that is necessary and reasonable to provide  59
for the animal's care and keeping for not less than thirty days  60
beginning on the date on which the animal was impounded.  61
       (2) If the court determines that probable cause does not  62
exist, the court immediately shall order the impounding agency  63
to return the animal to its owner if possible. If the animal  64
cannot be returned because it has died as a result of neglect or  65
other misconduct by the impounding agency or if the animal is  66
injured as a result of neglect or other misconduct by the  67
impounding agency, the court shall order the impounding agency  68
to pay the owner an amount determined by the court to be equal  69
to the reasonable market value of the animal at the time that it  70
was impounded plus statutory interest as defined in section  71
1343.03 of the Revised Code from the date of the impoundment or  72
an amount determined by the court to be equal to the reasonable  73
cost of treatment of the injury to the animal, as applicable.  74
The requirement established in division (E)(2) of this section  75
regarding the payment of the reasonable market value of the  76
animal shall not apply in the case of a dog that, in violation  77
of section 955.01 of the Revised Code, was not registered at the  78
time it was seized and impounded.  79
H. B. No. 992  Page 4
As Introduced
       (3) If the court determines that probable cause exists and  80
determines the amount of a bond or cash deposit, the case shall  81
continue and the owner shall post a bond or cash deposit to  82
provide for the animal's care and keeping for not less than  83
thirty days beginning on the date on which the animal was  84
impounded. The owner may renew a bond or cash deposit by  85
posting, not later than ten days following the expiration of the  86
period for which a previous bond or cash deposit was posted, a  87
new bond or cash deposit in an amount that the court, in  88
consultation with the impounding agency, determines is necessary  89
and reasonable to provide for the animal's care and keeping for  90
not less than thirty days beginning on the date on which the  91
previous period expired. If no bond or cash deposit is posted or  92
if a bond or cash deposit expires and is not renewed, the  93
impounding agency may determine the disposition of the animal  94
unless the court issues an order that specifies otherwise.  95
       (F) If a person is convicted of committing an offense, the  96
court may impose the following additional penalties against the  97
person:  98
       (1) A requirement that the person pay for the costs  99
incurred by the impounding agency in caring for an animal  100
involved in the applicable offense, provided that the costs were  101
incurred during the animal's impoundment. A bond or cash deposit  102
posted under this section may be applied to the costs.  103
       (2) An order permanently terminating the person's right to  104
possession, title, custody, or care of the animal that was  105
involved in the offense. If the court issues such an order, the  106
court shall order the disposition of the animal.  107
       (G) If a person is found not guilty of committing an  108
offense, the court immediately shall order the impounding agency  109
H. B. No. 992  Page 5
As Introduced
to return the animal to its owner if possible and to return the  110
entire amount of any bond or cash deposit posted under division  111
(E) of this section. If the animal cannot be returned because it  112
has died as a result of neglect or other misconduct by the  113
impounding agency or if the animal is injured as a result of  114
neglect or other misconduct by the impounding agency, the court  115
shall order the impounding agency to pay the owner an amount  116
determined by the court to be equal to the reasonable market  117
value of the animal at the time that it was impounded plus  118
statutory interest as defined in section 1343.03 of the Revised  119
Code from the date of the impoundment or an amount determined by  120
the court to be equal to the reasonable cost of treatment of the  121
injury to the animal, as applicable. The requirements  122
established in this division regarding the return of a bond or  123
cash deposit and the payment of the reasonable market value of  124
the animal shall not apply in the case of a dog that, in  125
violation of section 955.01 of the Revised Code, was not  126
registered at the time it was seized and impounded.  127
       (H)(H)(1) If charges are filed under section 959.131 of  128
the Revised Code against the custodian or caretaker of a  129
companion animal, but the companion animal that is the subject  130
of the charges is not impounded, the court in which the charges  131
are pending may order the owner or person having custody of the  132
companion animal to provide to the companion animal the  133
necessities described in division (D)(2), (D)(3), (E)(2), (E)(3)  134
(E), (F)(2), or (F)(3), (G)(2), or (G)(3) of section 959.131 of  135
the Revised Code until the final disposition of the charges. If  136
the court issues an order of that nature, the court also may  137
authorize an officer or another person to visit the place where  138
the companion animal is being kept, at the times and under the  139
conditions that the court may set, to determine whether the  140
H. B. No. 992  Page 6
As Introduced
companion animal is receiving those necessities and to remove  141
and impound the companion animal if the companion animal is not  142
receiving those necessities.  143
       (2)(a) If charges are filed under section 959.135 of the  144
Revised Code against the custodian or caretaker of an equine,  145
but the equine that is the subject of the charges is not  146
impounded, the court in which the charges are pending may order  147
the owner or person having custody of the equine to provide to  148
the equine the necessities described in division (D)(2), (D)(3),  149
or (D)(4) of section 959.135 of the Revised Code until the final  150
disposition of the charges. If the court issues an order of that  151
nature, the court also may authorize an officer or another  152
person to visit the place where the equine is being kept, at the  153
times and under the conditions that the court may set, to  154
determine whether the equine is receiving those necessities and  155
to remove and impound the equine if the equine is not receiving  156
those necessities.  157
       (b) If an equine is impounded in accordance with this  158
section, the impounding agency may obtain emergency veterinary  159
care for the equine when, in good faith, the impounding agency  160
determines such care is necessary to prevent suffering. The  161
impounding agency and its agents are immune from civil liability  162
for reasonable, good faith actions taken to secure such care.  163
       Sec. 959.135. (A) As used in this section:  164
       (1) "Equine" means any equine used or intended for use in  165
human-equine interaction, regardless of the existence of formal  166
documentation of such interaction.  167
       (2) "Human-equine interaction" means interaction between  168
an equine and one or more humans, including for sport,  169
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As Introduced
recreation, lessons, therapy, instruction, or racing.  170
       (3) "Custodian," "caretaker," "confine," cruelty,"  171
"torment," "torture," and "practice of veterinary medicine" have  172
the same meanings as in section 959.131 of the Revised Code.  173
       (4) "Serious physical harm" means physical harm that  174
carries a substantial risk of death, causes permanent  175
incapacity, or results in prolonged or intractable pain.  176
       (B) No person shall knowingly torture, torment, needlessly  177
mutilate or maim, cruelly beat, poison, needlessly kill, or  178
commit an act of cruelty against an equine.  179
       (C) No person shall knowingly cause serious physical harm  180
to an equine.  181
       (D) No person who confines or is the custodian or  182
caretaker of an equine shall negligently do any of the  183
following:  184
       (1) Torture, torment, or commit an act of cruelty against  185
the equine;  186
       (2) Deprive the equine of necessary sustenance;  187
       (3) Impound or confine the equine without affording it  188
access to shelter appropriate for the species, size, and health  189
of the equine, including protection from heat, cold, wind, rain,  190
snow, or excessive direct sunlight, and including access to dry  191
resting areas and safe footing, or otherwise expose it to  192
adverse environmental conditions likely to cause sickness or  193
suffering;  194
       (4) Fail to provide necessary and timely veterinary care  195
when the person knew or reasonably should have known the equine  196
was ill, injured, or in pain;  197
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As Introduced
       (5) Transport the equine in a manner likely to cause  198
injury or suffering, including confinement in extreme  199
temperatures, the deprivation of water, overcrowding, or unsafe  200
handling conditions.  201
       (E) Divisions (B), (C), and (D) of this section do not  202
apply to any of the following:  203
       (1) An equine used in scientific research conducted by an  204
institution in accordance with federal law;  205
       (2) The lawful practice of veterinary medicine by a person  206
who has been issued a license, temporary permit, or registration  207
certificate to do so under Chapter 4741. of the Revised Code;  208
       (3) Equines being used exclusively in bona fide  209
agricultural production or farm work;  210
       (4) The administering of medicine to an equine that was  211
properly prescribed by a person who has been issued a license,  212
temporary permit, or registration certificate under Chapter  213
4741. of the Revised Code.  214
       (F) The director of agriculture, in consultation with the  215
Ohio livestock care standards board and recognized equine  216
organizations identified by the director, shall adopt rules  217
under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that are necessary to  218
implement and enforce this section. The rules shall include  219
species-appropriate shelter standards, minimum care  220
requirements, veterinary care guidelines, transportation  221
standards, seizure procedures, and recordkeeping requirements.  222
       Sec. 959.99. (A) Whoever violates section 959.18 or 959.19  223
of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.  224
       (B) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever  225
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As Introduced
violates section 959.02 of the Revised Code is guilty of a  226
misdemeanor of the second degree. If the value of the animal  227
killed or the injury done amounts to three hundred dollars or  228
more, whoever violates section 959.02 of the Revised Code is  229
guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.  230
       (C) Whoever violates section 959.03, 959.06, division (C)  231
of section 959.09, 959.12, or 959.17 or division (A) of section  232
959.15 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the  233
fourth degree.  234
       (D) Whoever violates division (A) of section 959.13 or  235
section 959.21 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of  236
the second degree. In addition, the court may order the offender  237
to forfeit the animal or livestock and may provide for its  238
disposition, including, but not limited to, the sale of the  239
animal or livestock. If an animal or livestock is forfeited and  240
sold pursuant to this division, the proceeds from the sale first  241
shall be applied to pay the expenses incurred with regard to the  242
care of the animal from the time it was taken from the custody  243
of the former owner. The balance of the proceeds from the sale,  244
if any, shall be paid to the former owner of the animal.  245
       (E)(1) Whoever violates division (B) or (E) of section  246
959.131 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the  247
first degree on a first offense and a felony of the fifth degree  248
on each subsequent offense.  249
       (2) Whoever violates division (C) of section 959.131 of  250
the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.  251
       (3) Whoever violates section 959.01 of the Revised Code or  252
division (D) of section 959.131 of the Revised Code is guilty of  253
a misdemeanor of the second degree on a first offense and a  254
H. B. No. 992  Page 10
As Introduced
misdemeanor of the first degree on each subsequent offense.  255
        (4) Whoever violates division (F) of section 959.131 of  256
the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.  257
        (5) Whoever violates division (G) of section 959.131 of  258
the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.  259
        (6)(a) A court may order a person who is convicted of or  260
pleads guilty to a violation of section 959.131 of the Revised  261
Code to forfeit to an impounding agency, as defined in section  262
959.132 of the Revised Code, any or all of the companion animals  263
in that person's ownership or care. The court also may prohibit  264
or place limitations on the person's ability to own or care for  265
any companion animals for a specified or indefinite period of  266
time.  267
        (b) A court may order a person who is convicted of or  268
pleads guilty to a violation of division (A) of section 959.13  269
or section 959.131 of the Revised Code to reimburse an  270
impounding agency for the reasonable and necessary costs  271
incurred by the agency for the care of an animal or livestock  272
that the agency impounded as a result of the investigation or  273
prosecution of the violation, provided that the costs were not  274
otherwise paid under section 959.132 of the Revised Code.  275
        (7) If a court has reason to believe that a person who is  276
convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of section 959.131  277
or 959.21 of the Revised Code has a mental or emotional disorder  278
that contributed to the violation, the court may impose as a  279
community control sanction or as a condition of probation a  280
requirement that the offender undergo psychological evaluation  281
or counseling. The court shall order the offender to pay the  282
costs of the evaluation or counseling.  283
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As Introduced
       (F) (F)(1) Whoever violates division (B) of section  284
959.135 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the  285
first degree on a first offense and a felony of the fifth degree  286
on each subsequent offense. However, if an offender is convicted  287
of or pleads guilty to two or more violations of section 959.135  288
of the Revised Code involving the same equine within a two-year  289
period, any subsequent violation is a felony of the fourth  290
degree.  291
       (2) Whoever violates division (C) of section 959.135 of  292
the Revised Code is guilty of one of the following:  293
       (a) A felony of the third degree if the violation results  294
in the permanent loss of use of a limb, loss of an eye, severe  295
lameness, or the death of an equine;  296
       (b) A felony of the fourth degree on a first offense and a  297
felony of the third degree on each subsequent offense if  298
division (F)(2)(a) of this section does not apply.  299
       (3) Whoever violates division (D)(1) or (D)(2) of section  300
959.135 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the  301
first degree on a first offense and a felony of the fifth degree  302
on each subsequent offense. However, if an offender is convicted  303
of or pleads guilty to two or more violations of section 959.135  304
of the Revised Code involving the same equine within a two-year  305
period, any subsequent violation is a felony of the fourth  306
degree.  307
       (4) Whoever violates division (D)(3), (D)(4), or (D)(5) of  308
section 959.135 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor  309
of the second degree on a first offense and a misdemeanor of the  310
first degree on each subsequent offense. However, if an offender  311
is convicted of or pleads guilty to two or more violations of  312
H. B. No. 992  Page 12
As Introduced
section 959.135 of the Revised Code involving the same equine  313
within a two-year period, any subsequent violation is a felony  314
of the fourth degree.  315
       (5)(a) A court may order a person who is convicted of or  316
pleads guilty to a violation of section 959.135 of the Revised  317
Code to forfeit to an impounding agency, as defined in section  318
959.132 of the Revised Code, any or all of the equines in that  319
person's ownership or care. The court also may prohibit or place  320
limitations on the person's ability to own or care for any  321
equines for a specified or indefinite period of time.  322
       (b) A court may order a person who is convicted of or  323
pleads guilty to a violation of section 959.135 of the Revised  324
Code to reimburse an impounding agency for the reasonable and  325
necessary costs incurred by the agency for the care of an equine  326
that the agency impounded as a result of the investigation or  327
prosecution of the violation, provided that the costs were not  328
otherwise paid under section 959.132 of the Revised Code.  329
       (6) If a court has reason to believe that a person who is  330
convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of section 959.135  331
of the Revised Code has a mental or emotional disorder that  332
contributed to the violation, the court may impose as a  333
community control sanction or as a condition of probation a  334
requirement that the offender undergo psychological evaluation  335
or counseling. The court shall order the offender to pay the  336
costs of the evaluation or counseling.  337
       (G) Whoever violates section 959.14 of the Revised Code is  338
guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree on a first offense  339
and a misdemeanor of the first degree on each subsequent  340
offense.  341
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As Introduced
       (G)(H) Whoever violates section 959.05 or 959.20 of the  342
Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.  343
       (H)(I) Whoever violates section 959.16 of the Revised Code  344
is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree for a first offense  345
and a felony of the third degree on each subsequent offense.  346
       (I)(J) Whoever violates division (B) or (C) of section  347
959.15 of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony and shall be  348
fined not more than ten thousand dollars.  349
       Section 2. That existing sections 959.132 and 959.99 of  350
the Revised Code are hereby repealed.  351
       Section 3. Section 959.99 of the Revised Code is presented  352
in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both  353
H.B. 281 and S.B. 164 of the 134th General Assembly. The General  354
Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of  355
section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be  356
harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation,  357
finds that the composite is the resulting version of the section  358
in effect prior to the effective date of the section as  359
presented in this act.  360