Nuevo León lawmakers propose criminalizing animal cruelty incitement

The Movimiento Ciudadano party has introduced a legislative reform in Nuevo León to criminalize the apology or incitement of animal cruelty. The proposal aims to target individuals who promote, motivate, or encourage others to commit acts of violence against animals, particularly through mass media and social networks.

Deputy Baltazar Martínez Ríos stated that the initiative seeks to establish penalties of up to three years in prison and fines exceeding 35,000 pesos for those inciting such acts. He noted that the current state legal framework lacks specific sanctions for the promotion of cruelty, which can lead to the normalization of abuse.

According to Martínez, the state's Secretariat of Environment has received over 2,000 reports of animal abuse so far in 2026. The legislator emphasized that the reform is intended to strengthen prevention and fulfill the 2024 constitutional mandate to prohibit animal mistreatment and guarantee state protection for animals.