HB 2729: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for the offense of animal hoarding; and, in sentencing, providing for sentencing for animal hoarding.
HB 2729 status: Referred — Referred to Agriculture & Rural Affairs (updated Aug 7, 2026).
What this bill does
Overall score
Bill summary
OfficialAn Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for the offense of animal hoarding; and, in sentencing, providing for sentencing for animal hoarding.. Currently in House....
Key analysis
Impact analysis
Environment
Benefits
- Establishes a legal framework to address animal neglect
- Increases accountability for extreme animal confinement
Risks
- Lack of clarity on how this distinguishes between hoarding and rescues
- Potential enforcement burden on local animal control
Economy
Benefits
- None identified
Risks
- Potential increase in state and local expenditures for judicial proceedings
- Potential costs for housing and caring for seized animals
Society
Benefits
- Addresses significant public health and safety concerns related to hoarding
- Provides legal tools to mitigate sanitary risks in neighborhoods
Risks
- Risk of criminalizing individuals suffering from underlying mental health disorders
- Ambiguity in sentencing could result in inconsistent application
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
lowlow
Analysis status
OpenStates summary
Potential constitutional vagueness issues if the definition of hoarding is not narrowly tailored
Analysis based solely on bill abstract
Where it stands
Introduced
CompleteCommittee
CurrentReferred to Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Floor
UpcomingGovernor
UpcomingEnacted
UpcomingHow it affects your district
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