SB1144 • 2025

An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, providing for sentencing for certain aggravated cruelty to animal offenses.

Crime

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: PHILLIPS-HILL
Last action: 2026-01-20
Official status: Referred to JUDICIARY, Jan. 20, 2026
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 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, providing for sentencing for certain aggravated cruelty to animal offenses.

What This Bill Does

An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, providing for sentencing for certain aggravated cruelty to animal offenses.

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

2026-01-20 JUDICIARY
Referred to JUDICIARY, Jan. 20, 2026

Official Summary Text

An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, providing for sentencing for certain aggravated cruelty to animal offenses.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

PRINTER'S NO. 1395
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1144
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY PHILLIPS-HILL, BOSCOLA, MASTRIANO, PENNYCUICK,
CULVER, VOGEL AND J. WARD, JANUARY 20, 2026
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, JANUARY 20, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, providing
for sentencing for certain aggravated cruelty to animal
offenses.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 9720.9. Sentencing for certain aggravated cruelty to animal
offenses.
(a) Sentencing enhancement.-- The Pennsylvania Commission on
Sentencing, in accordance with section 2154 (relating to
adoption of guidelines for sentencing), shall provide for a
sentence enhancement within its guidelines for an offense under
18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a)(2) (relating to aggravated cruelty to
animal) specifying variations from the range of sentences
applicable based on the aggravating circumstance of the offense
committed using a deadly weapon.
(b) Definition.--As used in this section, the following
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words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Deadly weapon." Any of the following:
(1) A firearm as defined under section 9712(e) (relating
to sentences for offenses committed with firearms), whether
loaded or unloaded.
(2) A dangerous weapon as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 913(f)
(relating to possession of firearm or other dangerous weapon
in court facility).
(3) Any device, implement or instrumentality capable of
producing death or serious bodily injury.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20260SB1144PN1395 - 2 -
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