REVISE ANIMAL FIGHTING LAWS.

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View NCGA Bill Details2021
House Bill 544 (Public) Filed Tuesday, April 13, 2021
AN ACT TO CRIMINALIZE THE ACT OF CAUSING A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE TO BE PRESENT AT AN EXHIBITION FEATURING ANIMAL FIGHTING.
Intro. by C. Smith, McNeill, Howard, Carter.

Status: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate action) (May 12 2021)

SOG comments (1):

Long title change

House committee substitute to the 1st edition changed the long title. Original title was AN ACT TO CRIMINALIZE THE ACT OF CAUSING A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE TO BE PRESENT AT AN EXHIBITION FEATURING ANIMAL FIGHTING AND TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THE CRIME OF COCKFIGHTING.

H 544

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: May 11 2021 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes. Amends GS 14-362 by removing the proposed additions that (1) made it a Class I felony to own, possess, train, buy, sell, offer to buy or sell, or transport a cock, with intent that the cock be used in an exhibition featuring the fighting of that cock with another cock or another animal; (2) made it a Class 2 misdemeanor to own, possess, buy, sell, transfer, or manufacture cock fighting paraphernalia, as defined, for the purpose of engaging in or otherwise promoting or facilitating the fighting or baiting of a cock; and (3) made each violation of GS 14-362 a separate offense which cannot be merged with any other offense. Makes conforming changes to the act's long title. 


  • Summary date: Apr 13 2021 - View Summary

    Amends GS 14-362 (concerning cockfighting, a Class I felony), GS 14-362.1 (concerning animal fights and baiting, a Class 2 misdemeanor), and GS 14-262.2 (concerning dog fighting and baiting, a Class H felony) to expand each offense to include causing a person under 18 years of age to be present at an exhibition featuring the fighting of a cock, the fighting or baiting of an animal other than a cock or dog, or the baiting of a dog or the fighting of a dog with another dog or another animal, respectively. 

    Further amends GS 14-362 by adding three new subsections. Makes it a Class I felony to own, possess, train, buy, sell, offer to buy or sell, or transport a cock, with intent that the cock be used in an exhibition featuring the fighting of that cock with another cock or another animal. Makes it a Class 2 misdemeanor to own, possess, buy, sell, transfer, or manufacture cock fighting paraphernalia, as defined, for the purpose of engaging in or otherwise promoting or facilitating the fighting or baiting of a cock. Makes each violation of GS 14-362, as amended, a separate offense which cannot be merged with any other offense. 

    Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2021.