South Dakota Farmers Union leaders are pleased Senate Bill 46, the animal cruelty legislation cleared committee action Monday and is headed to the House floor.  Farmers Union Legislative Director MikeTraxinger says it had strong support earlier in the full Senate and that carried over to the House committee.

Traxinger says while the measure calls for making animal cruelty a felony it also calls for protection for animal agriculture practices.

Traxinger is hopeful it will pass the House yet this week prior to the conclusion of the 2014 session.