Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S4/7/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 563
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5 By: Senator Irvin
6 By: Representative Cavenaugh
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8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EQUINE WELFARE; TO
10 AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY
11 COMMISSION TO IMPOSE A CIVIL PENALTY FOR CERTAIN
12 ACTIONS AGAINST AN EQUINE; TO ALLOW A BODY CONDITION
13 SCORE TO BE USED TO DETERMINE IF ADEQUATE FOOD AND
14 WATER HAS BEEN SUPPLIED TO AN EQUINE UNDER THE
15 OFFENSE OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS; AND FOR OTHER
16 PURPOSES.
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19 Subtitle
20 TO AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS LIVESTOCK AND
21 POULTRY COMMISSION TO IMPOSE A CIVIL
22 PENALTY FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS AGAINST AN
23 EQUINE; AND TO ALLOW A BODY CONDITION
24 SCORE TO BE USED FOR AN EQUINE UNDER THE
25 OFFENSE OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
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27 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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29 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 2, Chapter 33, Subchapter 1, is amended
30 to add an additional section to read as follows:
31 2-33-117. Equine welfare -- Penalties.
32 A person who commits the offense of cruelty to animals under � 5-62-
33 103(a)(4) against an equine is subject to civil penalties imposed by the
34 Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission not to exceed five thousand dollars
35 ($5,000) per violation.
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*CRH163* 04-07-2025 12:25:54 CRH163
As Engrossed: S4/7/25 SB563
1 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code � 5-62-103(a)(4), concerning the failure to
2 supply an animal with sufficient food and water under the offense of cruelty
3 to animals, is amended to read as follows:
4 (4)(A) Fails to supply an animal in his or her custody with a
5 sufficient quantity of wholesome food and water;.
6 (B) To determine if adequate food and water have been
7 supplied for an equine under subdivision (a)(4)(A) of this section, a body
8 condition score conducted by a licensed veterinarian may be used;
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10 /s/Irvin
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2 04-07-2025 12:25:54 CRH163Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.