Relating to prosecution of the criminal offense of cruelty to livestock animals.
Bill overview
Relating to prosecution of the criminal offense of cruelty to livestock animals.
Reference notes
HB 3816 sources, status methodology and verification
Sources
- HB 3816 official legislative recordPrimary bill-status record.
- Current official bill textOfficial bill text or printing.
Methodology
KeepTXRed treats the official legislative record and latest official action as the factual status layer for HB 3816. Status labels are normalized for browsing, while the legislative timeline and documents preserve official action text and source links. Any KeepTXRed explanation below is editorial context and remains separate from the official record.
Last verified
Legislative record synchronized September 5, 2026 at 12:55 AM UTC; latest recorded official action May 22, 2025.
Bill → law → agency context
This relationship layer distinguishes what the normalized official record can prove from what it cannot. Enactment and effective dates come from the bill record. Agency names below are shown only when an official fiscal document supplies a verified agency reference; being cited in a fiscal note does not by itself prove that the agency administers the resulting law.
Official fiscal-note agency context
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KeepTXRed explanation
This reviewed explanation is separate from the official bill record and is provided for general information, not legal advice.
KeepTXRed summary
HB 3816 was a House-passed animal-cruelty proposal addressing administration of certain controlled substances to livestock. It did not become law.
What would change
The House-passed version would have expanded the Penal Code definition of “torture” for livestock-cruelty cases to include administering a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance to a livestock animal unless done under a valid prescription or practitioner order in professional practice.
Who may be affected
Livestock owners, trainers, veterinarians, racing participants, prosecutors, law enforcement and animal-welfare regulators.
When it would take effect
HB 3816 did not take effect. It passed the House and was referred to Senate Criminal Justice, where it was left pending on May 22, 2025.
Limits and uncertainty
No new livestock-cruelty theory based on Penalty Group 1 drug administration was enacted through HB 3816. Existing animal-cruelty and controlled-substance laws remain controlling.
Editorial sources and review notes
Official House-passed text, House analysis and legislative stages reviewed.
Editorial explanation reviewed 9/6/2026.
Current status
Passed
Left pending in committee
Latest official action
Left pending in committee
May 22, 2025 · house
Who this bill may affect
A verified audience or subject classification has not been attached to this bill yet.
Use the bill overview and official documents to determine whether the proposal may apply to you, your business, or a public agency.
Sponsors
sponsor
author
Committee history
- Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Out of committee
- Criminal Justice
In committee
Legislative timeline
Left pending in committee
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Official record
Official bill text
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