The new two-year legislative session is well underway, and dozens of bills affecting animals have already been introduced. Some build on hard-fought progress from past years, while others threaten to roll back protections. Below you’ll find summaries of the key bills we’re tracking — including who introduced them, what they would do, and where they currently stand in the legislative process.
Humane PA is working across party lines to make sure lawmakers hear from the people who care about animals. Please make sure that your state legislators know that you want them to SUPPORT all anti-cruelty bills and OPPOSE any bills that would harm animals. As these bills move through the legislative process, we will continue to update this page.
Please also share this page with your legislators so they can bookmark it as a quick reference.
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Animal Protection Caucus: Pennsylvania has an Animal Protection Caucus formed in the 21/22 legislative session. The Animal Protection Caucus is a bipartisan collaboration of Representatives and Senators determined to lead and support animal welfare legislation in Pennsylvania. Ask your legislators to join!
Senate Bills to support:
SB 381: Beagle Bill: This bill will defund painful dog and cat testing in Pennsylvania and shine a light on the scope of cruel and wasteful experimentation, Introduced by Senator Doug Mastriano and Sen. Carolyn Comitta. Co-Sponsorship Memo. Status: Passed Senate unanimously!
SB 846 Prohibiting the Declawing of Cats. This bill would ban declawing for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons, as well as for reasons of convenience. Introduced by Senator Tracy Pennycuick and Senator Carolyn Comitta. Co-Sponsorship Memo Fact Sheet.
SB 412: Reinstating Pittsburgh’s Rodeo Ban: this bill will repeal the preemption of Pittsburgh’s rodeo ban, reinstating the local law that has been in place for more than 30 years. Introduced by Sen. Lindsey Williams Co-Sponsorship Memo.
SB 950 Holding Funeral Homes Accountable for Pet Cremations – Introduced by Senator Nick Pisciottano (D‑Allegheny), along with Senators Rosemary Brown and Camera Bartolotta. Co‑Sponsorship Memo.
Senate Bills to Oppose:
SB 67 Repealing Sunday Hunting Prohibition in Pennsylvania – Would completely remove Pennsylvania’s last protections against Sunday hunting. Introduced by Sen. Dan Laughlin Co-Sponsorship Memo.
House Bills to support:
HB97: Pet Custody in Divorce Cases. Introduced by Representative Anita Kulik. Co‑Sponsorship Memo. Status: Passed the House on September 29, 2025 (121 Yes – 82 No), referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on October 3, 2025.
HB294;HB295 HB296; Beagle Freedom Bills: Protecting animals being bred and used for research in Animal Testing Laboratories. Introduced by Representative Ryan A. Bizzarro, Representative Jeanne McNeill and Representative Melissa L. Shusterman. Co-Sponsorship Memo.
HB385: Taking the Judiciary Out of the Dog Law Fund: Introduced by Representative Jason Orititay. Co-Sponsorship Memo.
HB406: Animal Kidnapping: tougher penalties for intentionally selling or taking any dog, cat, equine animal, swine, or cattle. Introduced by Rep. Brandon J. Markosek Co-sponsorship Memo
HB1716 Banning the Declawing of Cats. This bill would ban declawing for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons, as well as for reasons of convenience. Introduced by Representative Liz Hanbidge and Representative Steven R. Malagari. Co-Sponsorship Memo. Fact Sheet.
HB376: Animal Cruelty: Transporting Dogs: Introduced by Representative Jeanne McNeil. Co-Sponsorship Memo.
HB436: Protecting Animals from Cruelty by Restricting Ownership: This bill will require all convicted abusers to be prohibited from owning or working with animals for a minimum of two years, and get counseling. Introduced by Rep. Jeanne McNeil Co-Sponsorship Memo.
HB492: Reinstating Pittsburgh’s Rodeo Ban: this bill will repeal the preemption of Pittsburgh’s rodeo ban, reinstating the local law that has been in place for more than 30 years. Introduced by Rep. Dan Deasy. Co-Sponsorship Memo.
HB530: Restrictions on Ownership: requiring convicted animal abusers to be prohibited from owning, possessing, controlling, or working with animals for at least two years. Introduced by Rep. Jeanne McNeill. Co-Sponsorship Memo.
HB 879 The Animal Welfare Cooperation Act – permitting the Attorney General to investigate and institute criminal proceedings for a felony offense regarding cruelty to animals. Introduced by Representative MaryLouise Isaacson. Co-Sponsorship Memo. Status: Reported as committed by House Judiciary Committee on October 27, 2025 (25-1 vote).
HB 1816: Victoria’s Law would prohibit pet stores from selling cats, rabbits and dogs bred in puppy mills; require license information be included in advertisements; and protect consumers against misleading sales and unethical breeding practices. Introduced by Rep. Jeanne McNeill.
License Fee Exemption for Detection Dogs: About to be introduced by Representative Steve Malagari. Co-Sponsorship Memo.
HB608: Animal Cruelty: Ear Cropping: This bill will increase the penalty for ear cropping if it is not done by a licensed veterinarian. Introduced by Rep. MaryLouise Isaacson. Co-Sponsorship Memo.
Bill: HB 994: Prohibiting Wildlife Trafficking in Pennsylvania. Introduced by Representative Leanne Krueger. Co-Sponsorship Memo. Passed the House June 24, 2025 127-76.
HB 1097 Banning Cruel, Live Pigeon Shoots. Introduced by Representative Perry Warren. Co-Sponsorship Memo. Fact Sheet.
An Act establishing the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Program and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Fund. About to be introduced by Representative Tarah Probst. Co-Sponsorship Memo.
HB 1183: Encouraging Pennsylvanians to Adopt Pets from Animal Shelters – Introduced by Representatives Jason Ortitay and Tarik Khan. Co‑Sponsorship Memo.
Restricting the Use of Sticky Traps: About to be introduced by Representative Zachary Mako. Co-sponsorship Memo
House Resolutions to support:
House Bills to oppose:
HB 1431: Repealing Sunday‑Hunting Prohibition – completely removes Pennsylvania’s last protections against Sunday hunting. Repealed Pennsylvania’s ban on Sunday hunting, allowing most game species to be hunted on Sundays (excluding migratory game birds) and updating trespass rules and landowner permissions. Introduced by Rep. Mandy Steele. Co-Sponsorship Memo. Status: Passed the House on June 11, 2025 by a vote of 131 Yes -72 No. Passed the Senate 18-Yes 15- no. How did your legislator vote? Signed into law by Governor Shapiro on July 9, 2025, effective September 7, 2025, as Act 36 of 2025.
You can make the difference. Every call, email, and meeting with legislators helps move these bills forward — or stop harmful ones in their tracks. Humane PA will keep you updated as the 2025-26 session unfolds, but your voice is essential.
📣 Take Action: Contact your legislators today and urge them to support animal protection bills — and oppose measures that put animals at risk. Legislators often want to know what Humane PA’s position is on bills, so you can also send them this link to bookmark for an easy reference tool for them.
The Path from Idea to Bill to Law in Pennsylvania!
For information on the outcome of bills affecting animals in previous sessions check our Archive section.