Last week the Iowa Senate voted 44 to 3 to strengthen the state’s animal cruelty laws. The bill establishes the crime as an aggravated misdemeanor that also requires a special sentence requiring a convicted offender to undergo one to three years of supervision and counseling. Iowa Cattlemen’s Association CEO Matt Deppe says the legislation addresses pets or companion animals and doesn’t impact livestock.

He says the bill clearly separates companion animals from livestock and goes after the bad actors and those that deliberately abuse those pets.

Deppe says ICA keeps their members on top of any potential legislation that may effect agriculture and also makes sure they establish relationships with legislators to help them understand how agriculture works.

Deppe says their members will be visiting one on one with state lawmakers on March 18 with their Cattlemen at the Capital event.