HB 2806 https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB02806
IS SCHEDULED FOR HEARING TODAY 04/28/25 IN PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE –
https://capitol.texas.gov/Committees/MembershipCmte.aspx?LegSess=89R&CmteCode=C410
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PHONE #s IF YOU WANT TO CALL –
All phone numbers begin with 512-463-
PositionMemberChair:Rep. Gary VanDeaver 0692
Vice Chair:Rep. Liz Campos 0452
Rep. John H. Bucy III 0696
Rep. Nicole Collier 0716
Rep. Charles Cunningham 0520
Rep. James B. Frank 0534
Rep. Ann Johnson 0389
Rep. Jolanda Jones 0524
Rep. Mike Olcott 0656
Rep. Katrina Pierson 0484
Rep. Mike Schofield 0528
Rep. Joanne W. Shofner 0592
Rep. Lauren A. Simmons 0518
MESSAGE TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS –
If passed, HB 2806 could charge a dog owner with a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to
180 days in JAIL and a $2000 fine if your playful puppy pushes someone, scratches someone, or nips someone even in play. This bill criminalizes even the most trivial touching by a dog which punishes the owner for something very slight.
Bodily injury as defined in HB 2806 is any injury that is not deemed serious, and can include a nip or scratch that does not even need a Bandaid, and not even one stitch.
This means every dog owner is Texas can be subject to jail for the most miniscule thing their dog did,
and that includes a playful puppy.
ALSO, this bill would provide that people who file sworn statements about a dog being dangerous are done in secret.
This clearly does not provide the accused owner the ability to confront the accuser and is unconstitutional because
it does away with due process for crimes against owners for what a dog does, even a tiny nip.
Current law already allows for prosecution if a dog causes serious bodily injury and was out with criminal negligence.
OPPOSE HB 2806.
THANKS,
MARTIN K
THANKS,
Martin Kralik
MY COMMENTS –
PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
CURRENT LAW ALREADY ALLOWS FOR PROSECUTION OF A DOG OWNER
IF A DOG WAS OUT WITH CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE AND CAUSES SERIOUS INJURY.
HB 2806 CRIMINALIZES DOG OWNERS IF ANY INJURY NO MATTER HOW SLIGHT AND UNINTENTIONAL
AND WILL OVERBURDEN AN ALREADY OVERBURDENED LEGAL SYSTEM AND ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY
FOR EVEN THE SLIGHTEST THING A DOG MIGHT DO – PLAYFULLY NIP, SCRATCH, AND OR BUMP/PUSH SOMEONE.
I OPPOSE HB 2806.
