Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 22 D · 2 R cosponsors

HB 1716 — 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.

Last action — Laid on the table

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced July 10, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 62% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 24 sponsors

    1 primary, 23 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (22 D · 2 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

97 added · 49 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of HB 1716 clarifies the definition of procedures that alter a cat's toes or claws, specifying that only certain surgical procedures are considered animal mutilation. Importantly, it allows licensed veterinarians to perform specific surgeries for therapeutic reasons, but requires them to report these procedures to local animal control within ten business days. This change helps ensure that necessary medical interventions can be conducted while also promoting transparency and accountability in veterinary practices, ultimately aiming to protect animal welfare.

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PRINTER'S NO.
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
2112 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
2112 PRINTER'S NO.
1716 2025 INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, MALAGARI, FIEDLER, HOHENSTEIN, HILL- EVANS, McNEILL, CERRATO, SANCHEZ, GIRAL, KHAN, SCHLOSSBERG, DALEY, BENHAM, STEELE, GUENST, SHUSTERMAN, BRENNAN, GILLEN, CIRESI AND GREEN, JULY 10, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JULY 10, 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 animal mutilation and related offenses.
2519 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
1716 2025 INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, MALAGARI, FIEDLER, HOHENSTEIN, HILL- EVANS, McNEILL, CERRATO, SANCHEZ, GIRAL, KHAN, SCHLOSSBERG, DALEY, BENHAM, STEELE, GUENST, SHUSTERMAN, BRENNAN, GILLEN, CIRESI, GREEN, HOGAN AND CONKLIN, JULY 10, 2025 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, OCTOBER 27, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania <-- Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and mutilation and related offenses.ing for the offense of animal The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
"Tendonectomy." A procedure in which the tendons to the 20250HB1716PN2112 - 2 - limbs, paws or toes of a cat are cut or modified so that the cat's claws cannot function normally.
20250HB1716PN2519 - 2 - "Tendonectomy." A procedure in which the tendons to the limbs, paws or toes of a cat are cut or modified so that the cat's claws cannot function normally.
20250HB1716PN2112 - 3 -
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 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA HEREBY ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
TITLE 18 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:
§ 5533.1.
DECLAWING OF CATS PROHIBITED.
(A) OFFENSE DEFINED.--IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO PERFORM SURGICAL CLAW REMOVAL, INCLUDING AN ONYCHECTOMY, DECLAWING, PARTIAL DIGITAL AMPUTATION, PHALANGECTOMY OR TENDONECTOMY PROCEDURE, ON ANY CAT OR OTHERWISE ALTER A CAT'S TOES, CLAWS OR PAWS TO PREVENT OR IMPAIR THE NORMAL FUNCTION OF THE CAT'S TOES, CLAWS OR PAWS, UNLESS THE PROCEDURE IS DEEMED NECESSARY FOR A THERAPEUTIC PURPOSE BY A LICENSED DOCTOR OF VETERINARY MEDICINE.
(B) LIMITATION.--THIS OFFENSE SHALL NOT INCLUDE THE TRIMMING OF A NONVIABLE CLAW HUSK OR PLACING OF A NONPERMANENT NAIL CAP ON A CAT.
20250HB1716PN2519 - 3 - (C) PROSECUTION AND PROCEDURE.--THE PROSECUTION OF AND PROCEDURE FOR DISCIPLINE FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACT OF DECEMBER 27, 1974 (P.L.995, NO.326), KNOWN AS THE VETERINARY MEDICINE PRACTICE ACT.
(D) DEFINITIONS.--AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SUBSECTION UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
"ONYCHECTOMY." A PROCEDURE IN WHICH A PORTION OF THE PAW OF A CAT IS AMPUTATED OR REMOVED OR DISABLES A CLAW, INCLUDING PROCEDURES COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS DECLAWING.
"PARTIAL DIGITAL AMPUTATION." A PROCEDURE FOR THE EXCISION OF SOME OR ALL OF ONE OR MORE OF THE PHALANGES OF THE PAW OF A CAT.
"PHALANGECTOMY." A PROCEDURE FOR THE EXCISION OF ONE OR MORE OF THE PHALANGES OF THE PAW OF A CAT.
"TENDONECTOMY." A PROCEDURE IN WHICH THE TENDONS TO THE LIMBS, PAWS OR TOES OF A CAT ARE CUT OR MODIFIED SO THAT THE CAT'S CLAWS CANNOT FUNCTION NORMALLY.
"THERAPEUTIC PURPOSE." A PURPOSE NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE PHYSICAL MEDICAL CONDITION OF THE CAT, SUCH AS AN EXISTING OR RECURRING PHYSICAL ILLNESS, INFECTION, DISEASE, INJURY OR ABNORMAL CONDITION IN A CLAW, NAIL BED OR TOE BONE, THAT COMPROMISES THE CAT'S HEALTH.
THE TERM SHALL NOT INCLUDE A PROCEDURE PERFORMED FOR A COSMETIC OR AESTHETIC PURPOSE OR TO MAKE THE CAT MORE CONVENIENT TO KEEP OR HANDLE.
SECTION 2.
THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.
20250HB1716PN2519 - 4 -
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How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends existing law to prohibit the declawing of cats except for therapeutic purposes and establishes reporting requirements for veterinarians.

  • Section 5542

    (e.1) Declawing of cats.-- (1) A person commits an offense under section 5533 if the person performs an onychectomy, a declawing, partial digital amputation, phalangectomy or tendonectomy procedure by any means unless the procedure is deemed necessary for a therapeutic purpose by a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine. The offense under this subsection shall include any procedure to alter a cat's toes, claws or paws to prevent the normal functioning of the cat's toes, claws or paws, but shall not include the trimming of a nonviable claw husk or placing a nonpermanent nail cap on a cat. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), if a licensed veterinarian determines that a phalangectomy procedure is necessary for a therapeutic purpose, the licensed veterinarian, on or before 10 business days after performing the procedure, shall file a written statement with the animal control agency with jurisdiction over the area in which the procedure was performed stating the purpose for the phalangectomy, onychectomy, partial digital amputation or tendonectomy procedure, including a laboratory pathology report confirming the pathology, identifying information of the cat, including its microchip number if applicable, age, gender, markings and a photo of the face and current address and telephone number of the owner or keeper of the cat. The licensed veterinarian shall provide a copy of the written statement to the owner or keeper of the cat. (3) As used in this subsection, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this paragraph unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Onychectomy." A procedure in which a portion of the paw of a cat is amputated or removed or disables a claw, including procedures commonly referred to as declawing. "Partial digital amputation." A procedure for the excision of some or all of one or more of the phalanges of the paw of a cat. "Phalangectomy." A procedure for the excision of one or more of the phalanges of the paw of a cat. "Tendonectomy." A procedure in which the tendons to the limbs, paws or toes of a cat are cut or modified so that the cat's claws cannot function normally. "Therapeutic purpose." A purpose necessary to address the physical medical condition of the cat, such as an existing or recurring physical illness, infection, disease, injury or abnormal condition in a claw that compromises the cat's health. The term does not mean cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the cat.

    This new subsection establishes that declawing is illegal unless a veterinarian certifies it as necessary for the cat's health, and it requires veterinarians to report such procedures.

Action History

  1. Laid on the table

  2. First consideration

  3. Reported as amended

  4. Referred to Judiciary

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 23 co-sponsors · 229 not signed on · 10 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (23)

Not signed on (229)

229 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Committee vote (Judiciary): Reported As Amended

Passed 14 Yea · 12 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 14000
Republican 01000
Unaffiliated 0200
Total 141200
% of votes cast 54%46%0%0%
How each member voted (26)
Member Party Vote
Torren Ecker — Nay
Stephenie Scialabba — Nay
Aerion Abney Democratic Yea
Andre D. Carroll Democratic Yea
Benjamin V. Sanchez Democratic Yea
Chris Pielli Democratic Yea
Christopher M. Rabb Democratic Yea
Emily Kinkead Democratic Yea
Joseph C. Hohenstein Democratic Yea
Kristine C. Howard Democratic Yea
Kyle Donahue Democratic Yea
La'Tasha D. Mayes Democratic Yea
Liz Hanbidge Democratic Yea
Malcolm Kenyatta Democratic Yea
Melissa L. Shusterman Democratic Yea
Tim Briggs Democratic Yea
Andrew Kuzma Republican Nay
Jim Rigby Republican Nay
Joe Hamm Republican Nay
Joe Kerwin Republican Nay
Joshua D. Kail Republican Nay
Kate A. Klunk Republican Nay
Rob W. Kauffman Republican Nay
Robert Leadbeter Republican Nay
Stephanie Borowicz Republican Nay
Timothy R. Bonner Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Committee vote (Judiciary): Adopt Amendment

Passed 14 Yea · 12 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 14000
Republican 01000
Unaffiliated 0200
Total 141200
% of votes cast 54%46%0%0%
How each member voted (26)
Member Party Vote
Torren Ecker — Nay
Stephenie Scialabba — Nay
Aerion Abney Democratic Yea
Andre D. Carroll Democratic Yea
Benjamin V. Sanchez Democratic Yea
Chris Pielli Democratic Yea
Christopher M. Rabb Democratic Yea
Emily Kinkead Democratic Yea
Joseph C. Hohenstein Democratic Yea
Kristine C. Howard Democratic Yea
Kyle Donahue Democratic Yea
La'Tasha D. Mayes Democratic Yea
Liz Hanbidge Democratic Yea
Malcolm Kenyatta Democratic Yea
Melissa L. Shusterman Democratic Yea
Tim Briggs Democratic Yea
Andrew Kuzma Republican Nay
Jim Rigby Republican Nay
Joe Hamm Republican Nay
Joe Kerwin Republican Nay
Joshua D. Kail Republican Nay
Kate A. Klunk Republican Nay
Rob W. Kauffman Republican Nay
Robert Leadbeter Republican Nay
Stephanie Borowicz Republican Nay
Timothy R. Bonner Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 1716?
HB 1716 is sponsored by Liz Hanbidge (Democratic), Steven R. Malagari (Democratic), Elizabeth Fiedler (Democratic), Joseph C. Hohenstein (Democratic), Carol Hill-Evans (Democratic), Jeanne McNeill (Democratic), Melissa Cerrato (Democratic), Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic), Jose Giral (Democratic), Tarik Khan (Democratic), Michael H. Schlossberg (Democratic), Mary Jo Daley (Democratic), Jessica Benham (Democratic), Mandy Steele (Democratic), Nancy Guenst (Democratic), Melissa L. Shusterman (Democratic), Tim Brennan (Democratic), Mark M. Gillen (Republican), Joe Ciresi (Democratic), G. Roni Green (Democratic), Joe Hogan (Republican), Scott Conklin (Democratic), Chris Pielli (Democratic), and Jacklyn Rusnock (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 1716?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced July 10, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 1716?
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