HB608 • 2025

An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for the offense of cruelty to animal.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: ISAACSON
Last action: 2025-10-27
Official status: Laid on the table, Oct. 27, 2025
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for the offense of cruelty to animal.

What This Bill Does

An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for the offense of cruelty to animal.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2025-10-27 JUDICIARY
Reported as committed, Oct. 27, 2025
2025-10-27 H
First consideration, Oct. 27, 2025
2025-10-27 H
Laid on the table, Oct. 27, 2025
2025-03-17 JUDICIARY
Reported with request to re-refer to JUDICIARY, March 17, 2025
2025-03-17 JUDICIARY
Re-referred to JUDICIARY, March 17, 2025
2025-02-12 AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Referred to AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, Feb. 12, 2025

Official Summary Text

An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for the offense of cruelty to animal.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

PRINTER'S NO. 616
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 608
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ISAACSON, BRENNAN, DEASY, FREEMAN, GREEN, HILL-
EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, HOWARD, KENYATTA, McNEILL, SANCHEZ,
SCHLOSSBERG AND STEELE, FEBRUARY 12, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
FEBRUARY 12, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and
related offenses, further providing for the offense of
cruelty to animal.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 5533(b) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 5533. Cruelty to animal.
* * *
(b) Grading.--
(1) Except as [set forth in paragraph (2)] specified in
paragraphs (2) and (3), a violation of this section is a
summary offense.
(2) If the violation causes bodily injury to the animal
or places the animal at imminent risk of serious bodily
injury, a violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the
second degree.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
(3) If the violation causes bodily injury to the animal
due to the cropping, trimming or cutting off the whole or
part of the ear or ears of the animal by a person who is not
a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine or who is not acting
in accordance with section 5542(a) (relating to animal
mutilation and related offenses), a violation of this section
is as follows:
(i) A misdemeanor of the second degree for the first
violation.
(ii) A misdemeanor of the first degree for a second
or subsequent violation.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB0608PN0616 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12