North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee 2 D cosponsors

SB 573 — Reform Animal Cruelty and Neglect laws.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 18% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    0 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 D).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

14 added · 15 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Senate Bill 573 clarifies definitions related to animal care and protection in North Carolina. The language regarding "torture" and "torment" is more precise, ensuring there's no ambiguity in what constitutes mistreatment of animals. Additionally, it emphasizes the standards for proper shelter, which is crucial for animal welfare, especially during extreme weather conditions. These changes matter because they provide better protection for animals and hold owners more accountable for their care.

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FILED SENATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA Mar 25, 2025 S.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 S 1 SENATE BILL 573 Short Title:
573 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS35219-MH-58 Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO REFORM ANIMAL CRUELTY AND NEGLECT LAWS TO ADD STANDARDS FOR ADEQUATE SPACE AND SHELTER AND TO ADDRESS COMPANION ANIMAL HOARDING.
Rules and Operations of the Senate March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO REFORM ANIMAL CRUELTY AND NEGLECT LAWS TO ADD STANDARDS FOR ADEQUATE SPACE AND SHELTER AND TO ADDRESS COMPANION ANIMAL HOARDING.
(c) AsusedThefollowingdefinitionsapply inthissection,thewords"torture","torment", and "cruelly" include or refer to any act, omission, or neglect causing or permitting unjustifiable pain, suffering, or death.
(c) AsusedThefollowingdefinitionsapplyin thissection,thewords"torture", "torment", and "cruelly" include or refer to any act, omission, or neglect causing or permitting unjustifiable pain, suffering, or death.
*DRS35219-MH-58* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 b.
*S573-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 b.
Theshelterisproperlyshadedanddoesnotreadilyconductheatduring periods when the ambient air temperature at the shelter is greater than 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Theshelterisproperlyshadedanddoesnotreadilyconductheat during periods when the ambient air temperature at the shelter is greater than 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Page 2 DRS35219-MH-58 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 a.
Page 2 Senate Bill 573-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 a.
The effective period for a severe weather warning issued for the area by the National Weather Service, including a winter storm, tornado, or severe thunderstorm warning.
The effective period for a severe weather warning issued for the area bythe National Weather Service, including a winter storm, tornado, or severe thunderstorm warning.
– With respect to an act, that the act was committed knowingly and without justifiable excuse,whiletheword"maliciously" means an excuse.
– With respect to an act, that the act was committed knowingly and without justifiable excuse,whiletheword "maliciously"means an excuse.
(4) The lawful destruction of any animal for the purposes of protecting the public, other animals, property, or the public health.
(4) The lawful destruction of anyanimal for the purposes of protecting the public, other animals, property, or the public health.
DRS35219-MH-58 Page 3
Senate Bill 573-First Edition Page 3
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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0 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 177 not signed on

Sponsors (0)

None.

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (177)

177 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 177 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 573?
SB 573 is sponsored by Joyce Waddell (Democratic) and Natalie S. Murdock (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 573?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 573?
Track SB 573 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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