Criminal procedure: sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for crimes against animals; revise. Amends sec. 31, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.31). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4646'25

HB 4649 revises Michigan's sentencing guidelines specifically for crimes against animals by amending MCL 777.31 in the Code of Criminal Procedure. The bill directly affects judges who sentence individuals convicted of animal cruelty offenses and the people convicted of those crimes. Its key provision updates the legal framework used to determine appropriate sentences for animal abuse cases, replacing outdated language with revised guidelines. This change aims to clarify sentencing standards for prosecutors and courts handling animal cruelty prosecutions. The bill does not alter penalties but refines the procedural guidelines governing how sentences are applied.