Utah 2026 General Session Status: To Executive 2 R cosponsors

HB 341 — Animal Fighting Penalties

Last action — House/ filed

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

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 22, 2026. It awaits signature.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 46% · moderate confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

123 added · 20 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Bill HB 341 made several important changes to the language concerning game fowl fighting. Key adjustments include specifying that activities related to fighting game fowl must occur "in this state" and removing references to "selling a game fowl" from the prohibited actions. These changes clarify the bill's focus on preventing in-state fighting activities while allowing for lawful use of fowl under specific circumstances. This refinement helps ensure that the legislation targets illegal fighting more accurately without unnecessarily impacting lawful activities.

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Latest
H.B.
02-24 11:26 H.B.
341 Amended Excerpts House Amendments February 19, 2026 01:56 PM 1.
341 Animal Fighting Penalties GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
Line 83 through 101a:
Clinton D.
purpose of entertainment, sport, or contest;
Okerlund Senate Sponsor:
Don L.
Ipson 3 LONG TITLE General Description:
This bill amends provisions related to animal fighting.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ amends the crimes of dog fighting, attending a dog fight or related activity, and game fowl fighting;
▸ enacts the offense of attending a game fowl fight or related activity;
and ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None Other Special Clauses:
None Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
76-13-205, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 173 76-13-206, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 173 76-13-207, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 173 ENACTS:
76-13-207.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953 H Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
B Section 1.
Section 76-13-205 is amended to read:
76-13-205 .
Dog fighting.
4 (1)(a) As used in this section, "dog fighting paraphernalia" means a breaking stick, 1 treadmill, wheel, hot walker, cat mill, cat walker, jenni, or other item meant to train a dog to fight with another dog.
(b) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5, 76-13-101, and 76-13-201 apply to this H.B.
341 02-24 11:26 section.
(2) An actor commits dog fighting if the actor:
(a) owns, possesses, keeps, or trains a dog with the intent to engage the dog in [an exhibition of ]fighting with another dog;
(b) causes a dog to fight with another dog;
(c) [ or ]causes a dog to injure another dog for amusement or gain;
[(c)] (d) ties, attaches, or fastens any live animal to a machine or device propelled by any power, for the purpose of causing the animal to be pursued by a dog;
[(d)] (e) permits[ or allows any act that ] or allows another individual to perform an act that violates Subsection (2)(a), (b), [or ](c), or (d) on [any] a premises under the actor's [charge] control;
or [(e)] (f) [controls, aids, or abets any act that violates ] aids or abets another individual to violate Subsection (2)(a), (b), [or ](c),[.] or (d).
(3)[(a)] A violation of Subsection (2) is a third degree felony.
[(b) A fine imposed for a violation of Subsection (2) may not exceed $25,000.] (4) [Possession of a breaking stick, treadmill, wheel, hot walker, cat mill, cat walker, jenni, or other paraphernalia, ] An actor's possession of dog fighting paraphernalia is prima facie evidence of a violation of Subsection (2)(a), (b), (c), or (d) if:
(a) the actor possesses a dog;
and (b) [together with ]evidence exists that the paraphernalia is being used or is intended for use in the [unlawful ]training of [a] the dog to fight with another dog[, together with the possession of any such dog, is prima facie evidence of violation of Subsection (2)(b) or (c).] .
(5) A fine imposed for a violation of Subsection (2) may not exceed $25,000.
[(5)] (6) [Nothing in this section prohibits any of the following] This section does not prohibit:
(a) the use of [dogs] a dog for management of livestock by the owner, the owner's employees or agents, or any other person in the lawful custody of livestock;
(b) the use of [dogs] a dog for hunting;
Show all 86 changed rows (46 more)
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or (c) the training of [dogs] a dog or the possession or use of equipment in the training of [ dogs] a dog for any purpose not prohibited by law.
Section 2.
Section 76-13-206 is amended to read:
76-13-206 .
Attending a dog fight or related activity.
(1) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5, 76-13-101, and 76-13-201 apply to this section.
(2) An actor commits attending a dog fight or related activity if the actor [knowingly or ] - 2 - 02-24 11:26 H.B.
341 intentionally [is] or knowingly:
(a) is present as a spectator at a place, building, or tenement where preparations are being made for [an exhibition of dog fighting] a dog fight;
(b) is present at a dog [fighting exhibition] fight;
(c) causes or allows an individual under 18 years old to attend a dog fight;
or [(c)] (d) is present for any other conduct that would be in violation of Section 76-13-205, Dog fighting.
(3) A violation of Subsection (2) is a class B misdemeanor.
Section 3.
Section 76-13-207 is amended to read:
76-13-207 .
Game fowl fighting.
(1)(a) As used in this section:
(i) "Game fowl" means a fowl reared or used for fighting other fowl.
(ii) "Promote" means to engage in promoting, producing, or staging events or activities that involve game fowl fighting.
(b) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5, 76-13-101, and 76-13-201 apply to this section.
(2) An actor commits game fowl fighting if the actor intentionally or knowingly:
[(a) intentionally causes a game fowl to fight with or attack another game fowl for the purpose of entertainment, sport, or contest;
Ĥ→ [ {(b) sells a game fowl;} ] [ {(c)} ](b) ←Ĥ owns, possesses, keeps, or trains a game fowl with the intent to engage 88a the game fowl in fighting another game fowl Ĥ→ in this state ←Ĥ ;
Ĥ→ [(b) sells a game fowl;] [(c)] (b) ←Ĥ owns, possesses, keeps, or trains a game fowl with the intent to engage 88a the game fowl in fighting another game fowl Ĥ→ in this state ←Ĥ ;
Ĥ→ [ {(d)} ](c) ←Ĥ causes a game fowl to fight with another game fowl;
Ĥ→ [(d)] (c) ←Ĥ causes a game fowl to fight with another game fowl;
Ĥ→ [ {(e)} ](d) ←Ĥ causes a game fowl to injure another game fowl for amusement or 91a gain;
Ĥ→ [(e)] (d) ←Ĥ causes a game fowl to injure another game fowl for amusement or 91a gain;
Ĥ→ [ {(f)} ](e) ←Ĥ permits or allows another individual to perform an act that 92a violates Subsection (2)(a), (b), (c), Ĥ→ or ←Ĥ (d) Ĥ→ [ {, or (e)} ] ←Ĥ on a premises under the actor's control;
Ĥ→ [(f)] (e) ←Ĥ permits or allows another individual to perform an act that 92a violates Subsection (2)(a), (b), (c), Ĥ→ or ←Ĥ (d) Ĥ→ [, or (e)] ←Ĥ on a premises under the actor's control;
or Ĥ→ [ {(g)} ](f) ←Ĥ aids or abets another individual to violate Subsection (2)(a), (b), 94a (c), Ĥ→ or ←Ĥ (d) Ĥ→ [ {, or (e)} ] ←Ĥ .
or Ĥ→ [(g)] (f) ←Ĥ aids or abets another individual to violate Subsection (2)(a), (b), - 3 - H.B.
341 02-24 11:26 94a (c), Ĥ→ or ←Ĥ (d) Ĥ→ [, or (e)] ←Ĥ .
(4) This section does not prohibit Ĥ→ :
(4) This section does not prohibit Ĥ→ :[ ] 99a (a) ←Ĥ the lawful use of Ĥ→ [livestock] fowl ←Ĥ by the Ĥ→ [livestock] 99b fowl ←Ĥ owner, an employee or agent of the Ĥ→ [livestock] fowl ←Ĥ owner, or a person [in the] 100a with lawful custody of Ĥ→ [livestock] the fowl;
99a (a) ←Ĥ the lawful use of Ĥ→ livestockfowl ←Ĥ by the Ĥ→ livestock 99b fowl ←Ĥ owner, an employee or agent of the Ĥ→ livestockfowl ←Ĥ owner, or a person [in the] 100a with lawful custody of Ĥ→ livestockthe fowl;
101a Ĥ→ (b) the lawful breeding, selling, or possessing of fowl ←Ĥ - 1 - House Committee Amendments
101a Ĥ→ (b) the lawful breeding, selling, or possessing of fowl ←Ĥ Section 4.
Section 76-13-207.5 is enacted to read:
76-13-207.5 .
Attending a game fowl fight or related activity.
(1) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5, 76-13-101, and 76-13-201 apply to this section.
(2) An actor commits attending a game fowl fight or related activity if the actor intentionally or knowingly:
(a) is present as a spectator at a place, building, or tenement where preparations are being made for a game fowl fight;
(b) is present at a game fowl fight;
(c) causes or allows an individual under 18 years old to attend a game fowl fight;
or (d) is present for any other conduct that would be in violation of Section 76-13-207, Game fowl fighting.
(3) A violation of Subsection (2) is a class B misdemeanor.
Section 5.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
- 4 -
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Amendments

2 amendments

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Action History

  1. House/ filed

  2. House/ received from Senate

  3. Senate/ to House

  4. Senate/ strike enacting clause

  5. Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]

  6. Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar

  7. Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]

  8. Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]

  9. Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]

  10. Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  11. Senate/ received from House

  12. House/ to Senate

  13. House/ passed 3rd reading

  14. House/ uncircled

  15. House/ circled

  16. House/ 3rd reading

  17. House/ 2nd reading

  18. House/ comm rpt/ amended [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  19. House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  20. House Comm - Amendment Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  21. House/ to standing committee [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  22. House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst

  23. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0341

  24. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0341

  25. House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  26. House/ received bill from Legislative Research

  27. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0341

  28. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0341

  29. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed

  30. Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 102 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (102)

102 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.

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Subjects

public-safety
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 341?
HB 341 is sponsored by Don L. Ipson (Republican) and Clinton Okerlund (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 341?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 22, 2026. It awaits signature.
Where can I track HB 341?
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