A House panel is set to debate a measure that would offer protections to the herd of wild horses living near Arizona's Salt River.
Rep. Kelly Townsend of Mesa is sponsoring a proposal that would establish the herd of about 100 horses as state property under care of the Arizona Department of Agriculture.
It would also stop the slaughter or euthanasia of the horses without department authorization and would opt the state out of paying for management of the herd.
Advocates for the horses say the bill doesn't add enough protections and criminalizes euthanasia for humane reasons. Townsend did not immediately return requests for comment.
The House federalism committee plans to debate House Bill 2340 Wednesday morning.
