Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain conduct constituting the offense of dog fighting or the offense of cockfighting.
Summary
HB 1795 increases criminal penalties for certain conduct related to dog fighting and cockfighting under the Texas Penal Code. The bill amends Section 42.10, which addresses dog fighting, and Section 42.105, which addresses cockfighting, to make specified conduct punishable more severely than under current law. In particular, it removes or revises misdemeanor treatment for some subdivisions and clarifies that certain offenses remain state jail felonies, while one cockfighting-related subdivision is set as a Class C misdemeanor unless the person has a prior conviction, in which case it becomes a Class A misdemeanor.
The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, and preserves prior law for conduct occurring before that date. As a result, it would strengthen Texas’s criminal penalties for animal fighting offenses going forward and affect prosecutors, defendants, and courts handling these cases. It does not create a new offense, but changes the punishment structure for existing animal fighting crimes.
Impact
HB 1795 amends the Penal Code provisions governing dog fighting and cockfighting, changing the classification of certain offenses and increasing penalties for specified conduct. The practical effect is to make some animal-fighting-related conduct easier to punish as a felony or higher-level misdemeanor, while preserving a limited misdemeanor treatment for one cockfighting subdivision with an enhancement for repeat offenders. The bill would affect criminal enforcement, charging decisions, and sentencing under Sections 42.10 and 42.105 of the Penal Code.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally supportive sentiment, with the bill advancing through the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and being reported to Calendars. No recorded votes or committee transcript objections are provided, so there is no evidence in the record supplied of organized opposition or significant debate. The bill’s caption and structure indicate a policy focus on tougher treatment of animal fighting offenses, which is typically framed as an animal welfare and public safety measure.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the degree of penalty enhancement for conduct already criminalized under the animal fighting statutes. Supporters would likely favor stronger deterrence and harsher punishment for dog fighting and cockfighting, while critics could question whether the revised classifications are proportionate, especially where the bill changes some conduct to lower-level misdemeanor treatment but enhances repeat-offender consequences. Because no committee transcript or vote detail is provided, specific arguments from legislators or witnesses are not available.