North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee 3 D cosponsors

SB 591 — Revise Animal Fighting Laws.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

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  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 20% · 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.

  • 3 sponsors

    0 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (3 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

11 added · 12 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest update to Senate Bill 591, a specific line regarding the ownership responsibilities of property used in certain exhibitions was clarified. The language now emphasizes prohibitions against allowing minors under 18 to be present at these exhibitions. This change is significant because it aims to enhance protections for young people from potentially harmful activities associated with exhibitions.

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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 591 Short Title:
591 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS15285-ML-89 Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE ATTENDANCE OF MINORS AT CERTAIN EXHIBITIONS OF ANIMAL FIGHTING, TO PROHIBIT POSSESSION OF CERTAIN ANIMALS WITH THE INTENT THAT THEY BE USED IN EXHIBITIONS OF ANIMAL FIGHTING, AND TO PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION OF ANIMAL FIGHTING PARAPHERNALIA.
Rules and Operations of the Senate March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE ATTENDANCE OF MINORS AT CERTAIN EXHIBITIONS OF ANIMAL FIGHTING, TO PROHIBIT POSSESSION OF CERTAIN ANIMALS WITH THE INTENT THAT THEY BE USED IN EXHIBITIONS OF ANIMAL FIGHTING, AND TO PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION OF ANIMAL FIGHTING PARAPHERNALIA.
(a) A person who instigates, promotes, conducts, is employed at, provides a dog for, causes or allowsaminor under18 yearsofageto bepresent at, allowspropertyundertheperson's ownershiporcontroltobeusedfor,gambleson,orprofitsfromanexhibitionfeaturingthebaiting of a dog or the fighting of a dog with another dog or with another animal is guilty of a Class H felony.
(a) A person who instigates, promotes, conducts, is employed at, provides a dog for, causes or allowsaminor under18 years ofageto bepresent at, allowspropertyundertheperson's ownershiporcontroltobeusedfor, gambleson,orprofitsfromanexhibitionfeaturingthebaiting of a dog or the fighting of a dog with another dog or with another animal is guilty of a Class H felony.
*DRS15285-ML-89* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (a) For purposes of this section, the term "animal fighting paraphernalia" means equipment, products, implements, and materials of any kind that are used, intended for use, or designed for use in the training, preparation, conditioning, or furtherance of animal fighting, and includes, but is not limited to, the following:
*S591-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (a) For purposes of this section, the term "animal fighting paraphernalia" means equipment, products, implements, and materials of any kind that are used, intended for use, or designed for use in the training, preparation, conditioning, or furtherance of animal fighting, and includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(5) Descriptivematerials accompanyingtheobject whichexplainordepictitsuse.
(5) Descriptivematerials accompanyingtheobject which explainordepictitsuse.
Page 2 DRS15285-ML-89
Page 2 Senate Bill 591-First Edition
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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 · 3 co-sponsors · 176 not signed on

Sponsors (0)

None.

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (176)

176 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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 agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 591?
SB 591 is sponsored by Joyce Waddell (Democratic), Julie Mayfield (Democratic), and Paul A. Lowe, Jr. (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 591?
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 591?
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