SB563

Senate Bill 563 amends Arkansas law concerning equine welfare and the enforcement of cruelty-to-animals statutes. The bill authorizes the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission to impose civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation against individuals found to have committed acts of cruelty toward equines. Additionally, the legislation amends the legal definition of failure to provide sufficient food and water. It explicitly allows for the use of a body condition score, performed by a licensed veterinarian, to serve as evidence in determining whether an equine has been provided with adequate sustenance. These changes are intended to provide clearer regulatory and evidentiary standards for addressing equine neglect and mistreatment.