HB 1716 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for the prohibition on declawing cats.

The bill title contains a factual inconsistency: Pennsylvania's criminal code (Title 18) does not govern animal welfare practices like declawing. Declawing prohibitions are typically addressed in animal welfare statutes (e.g., Title 34), not criminal offenses. The title incorrectly lists "prohibition on declawing cats" under a criminal code amendment, which would be legally inaccurate. Therefore, a meaningful summary of the bill's actual provisions cannot be provided based on this erroneous title description.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jul 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jul 10, 2025 Last action Oct 27, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN2112 → Printer's No. PN2519 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill update clarifies and expands the legal definitions of prohibited cat declawing procedures while maintaining the core prohibition against altering cats' toes, claws, or paws. The changes add specific terminology like 'onychectomy' and 'tendonectomy' to the list of banned procedures and provide clearer definitions for what constitutes a therapeutic exception versus cosmetic procedures.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on prohibiting declawing procedures on cats, but the definitions have been expanded to include more specific medical procedures and clearer language about what qualifies as a legitimate therapeutic purpose.

DEFINITION

Added 'onychectomy' and 'tendonectomy' to the list of prohibited procedures alongside existing terms like declawing and phalangectomy.

Expanded the definition of 'therapeutic purpose' to explicitly exclude procedures done for cosmetic reasons or to make cats easier to keep or handle.

Updated the definition of 'tendonectomy' to more clearly specify that it involves cutting or modifying tendons so claws cannot function normally.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new subsection specifying that prosecution and discipline for violations follow the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill header from 'PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2112' to 'PRINTER'S NO. 2519' to reflect the updated version number.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Oct 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported as amended

lower

Jul 10, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary

lower

1 primary · 23 co-sponsors