Latest news with #AB381
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘We got justice for Reba,' law sponsor reacts after governor signs into law
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Those behind Assembly Bill 381, also known as 'Reba's Law,' spoke with 8 News Now after Governor Joe Lombardo signed it this week. 'We made it, we did it,' Nevada Assemblymember Melissa Hardy said. 'We got justice for Reba.' Assemblymember Hardy talked about the movement that made waves across the country and in Las Vegas. 'We've said it from day one,' Lindsey Pinapfel of Vegas Pet Rescue Project said in a past interview. 'She is the start, she is the movement.' Reba the English Bulldog was found sealed in a plastic tub in the triple-digit heat in July 2024. Reba, dog found sealed in tub in triple-digit heat, passes away Her death and the anger it inspired led to months of community activism, including a $50,000 reward for information in her case, nearly 50 billboards placed across Southern Nevada. Isaac Laushaul Jr., 32, and Markeisha Foster, 30, were arrested in December 2024 in connection with Reba's death. Each was charged with felony willful/malicious/torture/maiming/killing of a dog, cat, or animal. Community advocacy also inspired Assemblymember Hardy to sponsor the bill in Reba's name at the start of Nevada's 2025 Legislative Session. 'Such a great accomplishment, for not just me sponsoring the bill,' Assemblymember Hardy said. 'But everybody who's been involved in this.' Assemblymember Hardy shared her reaction when she found out Governor Lombardo signed AB 381 into law on Tuesday. 'I was just overcome with emotion and happiness and gratitude,' she said. 'All of it.' The legislation increases penalties for any person who willfully or maliciously hurts or kills an animal. The offense is now a Class B Felony, punishable by one to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine. It was previously a Class D Felony with a penalty of one to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. 'I think it will be a deterrent that Nevada made a statement,' Assemblymember Hardy said. 'That we are not going to allow animals to be abused and tortured.' Another provision of the law applies to animals left in hot cars. If a person comes across a pet locked inside a hot car without air conditioning, they can call 911 or animal control and then use 'any means necessary' to get into the vehicle and save the animal. The person then must wait with the animal and the car until authorities arrive. If all steps are taken, the person will not incur any civil or criminal liability for damages, according to the law's verbiage. 'I was really excited that this was included in there,' Assemblymember Hardy said of the provision. 'Just strengthens this even more.' She called the movement a win for Southern Nevada and a way to protect other animals from Reba's same fate. 'Her story was tragic and horrible, and what she suffered, but now we can talk of Reba and the good that came of this,' Assemblymember Hardy said. 'We have a platform now, and there's awareness about it.' Reba's Law also applies to police dogs. If a person intentionally disables or kills a K-9 on duty, they will face a Class B Felony charge. Foster took a plea deal, which brought her down to a lesser charge. On May 16, documents were filed by Laushaul's attorney asking a judge to move his case from Clark County because of intense media coverage, instead wanting the trial to happen outside of Las Vegas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Blue-nosed pit bull left for dead recovers in foster home as ‘Reba's law' moves forward
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A blue-nosed pit bull named Cole who was left for dead last month after being dumped near a gutter on the historic west side has turned a corner. In March, Cole's skin was inflamed and blistered, his feet raw and swollen he was taken to a local animal hospital for treatment. Abandoned pit bull rescued from road, recovering from dehydration, infection Nearly a month later, 8 News Now checked up on Cole, who made it out of Horizon Ridge Animal Hospital alive, with his appetite back, and his skin healing from mange, Cole is now in a foster home. 'He's just in recovery mode, so Cole is getting weekly baths and treatment for his ears to make sure they treat the infections inside. It's just about him thriving and surviving in a loving home,' Lindsey Pinapfel with Vegas Pet Rescue Project explained. His foster mom, Donna Phan, saw that there was a need and stepped right in to help him. Phan shared with 8 News Now how serious animal cruelty is across the valley. 'It's unfortunate that a lot of people know about the abuse, but they don't speak up. I think silence is the biggest betrayal; Especially because these animals can't speak for themselves,' Phan said. 'Reba's law' revived by Nevada Legislature 'I'm really glad the community has come through, especially with Reba's Law,' she added. Reba's Law also known as Assembly Bill 381 would establish tougher penalties on acts of animal cruelty. Reba, an English bulldog died in July after being left sealed inside a plastic tub in 110-degree heat. She survived, but died days later as a result of heat stroke and shock, according to Vegas Pet Rescue Project. On Monday, the Nevada Assembly moved to revive the bill that missed the Friday deadline to move out of committee. An exemption granted to AB 381 keeps the bill alive, and it advanced on a unanimous vote. It will now go to the full Assembly, where it will be considered for passage. From there, Senate approval is necessary before it can become law. While Cole the pit bull still has a long road back to recovery, he will be up for adoption soon. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Reba's law' revived by Nevada Legislature
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Nevada Assembly moved quickly Monday to revive 'Reba's Law,' a bill that missed the Friday deadline to move out of committee. An exemption granted to Assembly Bill 381 keeps the bill alive, and it advanced on a unanimous vote. The bill inspired emotional support when it was first heard on March 19, and when the deadline came and went without passage, the public reacted with surprise. 'I'm very pleased to see that this bill will be moving forward,' Republican Assem. Melissa Hardy, who sponsored the bill, said on Monday. 'As I stated from the beginning, the intent was to seek justice for Reba and to be the voice for the voiceless, those that are harmed, abused and killed that can't speak for themselves.' Reba, an English bulldog that died in July after being left sealed inside a plastic tub in 110-degree heat. She survived, but died days later as a result of heat stroke and shock, according to Vegas Pet Rescue Project. 'Although we can't bring her back, this will hopefully provide accountability and save other animals that won't have to suffer as she did,' Hardy said. Democratic Assem. Brittney Miller, chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, explained how lawmakers brought AB381 back despite the passing of the deadline. 'Amendments come and go and change at rapid speed as we approach the deadline,' Miller said. As that plays out, committee chairs monitor which bills have enough votes to pass and which ones don't. 'This bill was never put up for a vote. What we were referring to is did we have the votes internally in order to vote it out of committee for committee passage,' she said. 'Sometimes amendments work in a different direction and members make decisions in different directions,' Miller said. In this case, an amendment that would have repealed part of existing law caused some supporters to withdraw their votes. Language that defined what constitutes abandoning an animal was specific about injured animals, and didn't include anything about the possibility that healthy animals can also be abandoned. The move to give the bill an exemption allowed the committee to pass it on Monday. AB381 now goes to the full Assembly, where it will be considered for passage. From there, Senate approval is necessary before it can become law. Miller said the bill, as it stands now, is more robust and will make a better law if it is passed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Yahoo
Reba's Law fails to move forward in the Nevada Legislature
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A bill that would have established tougher penalties on acts of animal cruelty failed to move forward during the legislative session. Assembly Bill 381 was not only about sending the worst offenders to prison but also about establishing a wider range of penalties so that prosecutors could have made the punishment fit the crime. Deadline arrives as Nevada lawmakers work furiously to pass bills out of committee Currently the law on such crimes only allows prosecutors to seek misdemeanors as punishments for people involved in a wide variety of animal cruelty cases. The sentences available range from one to four years in prison, even when the animal dies. AB381, which was nicknamed 'Reba's Law' would have imposed one to 10 years in prison in most extreme animal cruelty cases. However, the assembly judiciary committee did not vote on it ahead of Friday's deadline. 'Reba's Law' at Nevada Legislature toughens penalties for animal cruelty, torture Back in 2024, Reba, an English Bulldog died from a heatstroke, after she was found inside a sealed plastic tub in 110-degree heat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Legislation would mandate prison time for killing a domestic animal
() State lawmakers are considering a measure that would increase the penalties for willful and malicious abuse and neglect of dogs, cats, and other domestic animals, The bill, Reba's Law, is named for the bulldog who died of heat stroke days after she was found in a sealed tote behind a Las Vegas business last summer. Assembly Bill 381 aims to increase penalties for willful and malicious acts that result in the death of an animal from the current potential one to four year sentence to mandatory imprisonment for one to 10 years, and a possible maximum fine of $10,000. 'This bill obviously cannot bring her (Reba) back or change the circumstances of what happened to this sweet, innocent animal and many others that unfortunately suffer as she did, but it can protect other animals throughout the state in the future,' the measure's sponsor, Assemblymember Melissa Hardy, testified Wednesday during a hearing of the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Hardy said she decided to sponsor Reba's Law shortly after learning of the dog's death. 'By supporting AB 381 we must make sure heinous and willful acts of abuse, neglect and harm carry stiff penalties and consequences,' she testified. Following the arrest of two suspects in Reba's death last year, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson told reporters he'd 'received hundreds of emails from Nevadans, actually from people all over the world… urging justice on behalf of Reba.' Wolfson complained that under current law, prosecutors can only seek to imprison offenders for up to four years. 'As prosecutors, we can only file charges that our lawmakers provide for us.' The Current's review of data provided by the DA's office indicated that despite Wolfson's plea for stricter penalties, the DA's office rarely sought prison time for defendants in animal abuse and neglect cases. Wolfson declined to comment. Assemblymember Joe Dalia asked Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Agnes Botelho, who handles animal abuse cases, how often she is pursuing the current maximum penalty of one to four years in prison. 'It's not very often,' Botelho responded. The bill also seeks to charge individuals with committing 'an act of torture or cruelty' if they allow the torture or cruelty to occur and do nothing to stop it. The provision drew criticism from victims of domestic abuse and their advocates who testified that perpetrators of domestic abuse are known to commit violence upon a victim's pets as a means of control and retaliation. The measure removes the option for a court to order that an abused or tortured animal, once seized, may be sold at auction. It also allows authorities to seize an abused or tortured animal discovered on land used for agricultural purposes, which is currently not permitted. Robin Pulido, a teacher, testified she has 'had a lot of students for whom the tales they told about things happening to their animals gave you the clue that it was happening to them, too. And I just think that an animal has less of a voice than a child, and if children aren't heard, animals are not heard.'
