Pennsylvania HB 2387: An Act to provide appropriations from the General Fund for the expenses of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Departments of the Commonwealth, the public debt and the public schools for the fiscal year July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020; to provide appropriations from special funds and accounts to the Executive and Judicial Departments for the fiscal year July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, and for the payment of bills remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020; to provide for the appropriation of Federal funds to the Executive and Judicial Departments for the fiscal year July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, and for the payment of bills remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020; and to provide for the additional appropriation of Federal and State funds to the Executive and Judicial Departments for the fiscal year July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3208
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2387
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY HOWARD, MADDEN, PROBST, HILL-EVANS, GUENST,
McNEILL, CONKLIN, PARKER AND CIRESI, APRIL 15, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, APRIL 16, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in particular rights and
immunities, providing for liability for wrongful death of
companion animal.
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:
§ 8320.2. Liability for wrongful death of companion animal.
(a) Liability.--If the companion animal of a person is
killed or sustains injuries that result in death caused by the
intentional, reckless or negligent act of another or the animal
of another, the owner of the companion animal may bring an
action under this section. The trier of fact may find the
individual causing the death, or the owner of the animal causing
the death, liable for up to $15,000 in noneconomic damages as
compensation for the loss of the reasonably expected society,
companionship, love and affection of the companion animal, in
addition to the assessed market value of the companion animal.
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The assessed market value of the companion animal shall include
the purchase cost to the owner of the companion animal, the cost
of any training the companion animal received, the cost of any
veterinary care received by the companion animal as a result of
the injury leading to the companion animal's death and any other
pertinent fact brought before the trier of fact. The trier of
fact may impose punitive damages in addition to other damages if
the death occurred as a result of an intentional act.
(b) Wrongful injury.--If a person's companion animal is
injured by the intentional, reckless or negligent act of another
or the animal of another, the trier of fact may find the
individual causing the death or the owner of the animal causing
the death liable for up to $5,000 in noneconomic damages, in
addition to the assessed market value of the companion animal.
The assessed market value shall include the purchase cost to the
owner of the companion animal, the cost of any training the
companion animal received, the cost of any veterinary care
received by the companion animal as a result of the injury, the
cost of continued veterinary care for the injury for the
reasonably expected remaining life of the companion animal and
any other pertinent cost brought before the trier of fact. The
trier of fact may impose punitive damages in addition to other
damages if the injury occurred as a result of an intentional
act.
(c) Effect on other actions.--The limits for noneconomic
damages specified in this section shall not apply or limit
damages in any causes of action for intentional infliction of
emotional distress or any other civil action other than the
direct and sole loss of a companion animal as authorized by this
section.
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(d) Inapplicability.--This section shall not apply to:
(1) Any not-for-profit entity or governmental agency, or
its employees, which negligently causes the death of a
companion animal while acting on behalf of public health or
animal welfare.
(2) Any killing of a companion animal that has been or
was killing or pursuing with the apparent intent to harm
livestock.
(e) Adjustment of dollar amount.--
(1) On April 1, 2027, and each April 1 in every third
calendar year thereafter, the Supreme Court shall adjust each
dollar amount under this section to reflect any increase in
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as
published by the United States Department of Labor for the
three-year period ending on December 31 of the preceding
year. Adjustments required by this paragraph shall be rounded
to the nearest $25.
(2) The Supreme Court shall transmit notice of the
dollar amount to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania
Bulletin.
(3) The Supreme Court may publish the notice in another
manner that the court concludes would be reasonably likely to
inform persons who are affected by the adjustment of the
dollar amounts.
(f) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection:
"Companion animal." The following:
(1) The term includes:
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(i) A domestic or feral dog, domestic or feral cat,
nonhuman primate, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit not raised
for human food or fiber, exotic or native animal, reptile
or exotic or native bird.
(ii) A feral animal or an animal under the care,
custody or ownership of an individual.
(iii) An animal th