HB 524, the anti-animal cruelty bill that’s backed by an array of agriculture groups with the lone exception of the Idaho Farm Bureau, passed the Senate today on a 31-4 vote and now heads to Gov. Butch Otter. The bill defines “companion animals” and animal torture, and makes torture of a companion animal a felony on the first offense, if the offender has been convicted of injuring a person within the previous 10 years. Without that past offense, it makes torture of a companion animal a felony on a second or subsequent conviction. Agricultural practices and production animals aren’t covered.

Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, said, “To me, this is just one more step closer to getting up to where these folks are focusing specifically on our agricultural animals, so I’ll be voting no.” The other three “no” votes came from Sens. Steve Bair, R-Blackfoot; Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood; and Steven Thayn, R-Emmett. The bill earlier passed the House, 62-5; its sponsors are the chairs of the House and Senate Agriculture committees, and its co-sponsors are House Speaker Scott Bedke and House Majority Leader Mike Moyle.