A bill for an act relating to public contact with dangerous wild animals, and making penalties applicable.

HF 24 prohibits allowing the public to have direct contact with certain dangerous wild animals, specifically adding sharks over 23 inches in length or with documented biting histories to the definition. The bill defines "direct contact" as physical touch or proximity without a permanent barrier, and bans such contact even if other laws might otherwise permit it. Violating this prohibition is an aggravated misdemeanor, punishable by up to two years in jail and fines between $855 and $8,540. This law directly affects facilities like aquariums or wildlife exhibits that previously allowed public interaction with these animals.