Pennsylvania HB 2696: An Act amending the act of October 24, 2018 (P.L.733, No.118), known as the Assistance and Service Animal Integrity Act, further providing for definitions; establishing the trained service dog card; providing for the documentation of service dogs and for admittance of registered service dog to public accommodations; establishing a trained service dog card database; providing for immunity from liability; providing for the offense of fraudulent misrepresentation of a service dog; and making editorial changes.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3775
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2696
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY MALAGARI, O'NEAL, McNEILL, SANCHEZ, STEELE,
GUENST, PROBST, BRENNAN, HOHENSTEIN, PARKER, SOLOMON,
DOUGHERTY, PASHINSKI, GALLAGHER, D. WILLIAMS AND INGLIS,
JULY 13, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
JULY 15, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of October 24, 2018 (P.L.733, No.118), entitled
"An act providing for requirements for documentation of the
need for an assistance animal or service animal in housing
and for the offenses of misrepresentation of entitlement to
assistance animal or service animal and misrepresentation of
animal as assistance animal or service animal," further
providing for definitions; establishing the trained service
dog card; providing for the documentation of service dogs and
for admittance of registered service dog to public
accommodations; establishing a trained service dog card
database; providing for immunity from liability; providing
for the offense of fraudulent misrepresentation of a service
dog; and making editorial changes.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of October 24, 2018 (P.L.733, No.118),
known as the Assistance and Service Animal Integrity Act, is
amended by adding a chapter heading to read:
CHAPTER 1
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Section 2. Section 1 of the act is renumbered to read:
Section [1] 101. Short title.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Assistance
and Service Animal Integrity Act.
Section 3. Section 2 of the act is repealed:
[Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Assistance animal." An animal, other than a service animal,
that qualifies as a reasonable accommodation under the Fair
Housing Act (Public Law 90-284, 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.),
section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-
112, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.) or local law. The term includes an
emotional support animal when the animal qualifies as a
reasonable accommodation.
"Association." The owners association established to operate
a condominium, cooperative or planned community located in this
Commonwealth.
"Disability." A physical or mental impairment which
substantially limits one or more major life activities.
"Service animal." An animal, other than an assistance
animal, that qualifies as a service animal under the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336, 104 Stat.
327) or as a guide or support animal under the act of October
27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human
Relations Act, or local law.]
Section 4. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 102. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
20260HB2696PN3775 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"Disability." A physical or mental impairment which
substantially limits one or more major life activities.
"Service dog." A dog individually trained to do work or
perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a
disability.
Section 5. The act is amended by adding a chapter heading to
read:
CHAPTER 3
ANIMAL ASSISTANCE IN HOUSING
Section 6. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 301. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Assistance animal." An animal, other than a service animal,
that qualifies as a reasonable accommodation under 42 U.S.C. Ch.
45 (relating to fair housing), 29 U.S.C. Ch. 16 (relating to
vocational rehabilitation and other rehabilitation services) or
local law. The term includes an emotional support animal when
the animal qualifies as a reasonable accommodation.
"Association." The owners association established to operate
a condominium, cooperative or planned community located in this
Commonwealth.
"Service animal." As follows:
(1) A dog individually trained to perform work or tasks:
(i) for the benefit of an individual with a
disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric,
intellectual or other mental disability;
(ii) directly related to the individual's
20260HB2696PN3775 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

disability;
(iii) including:
(A) if the individual is blind or has low
vision, providing navigation and similar tasks of
spatial awareness;
(B) if the individual is deaf or hard of
hearing, alerting the individual to the presence of
people or sounds;
(C) providing nonviolent protection or rescue
work;
(D) pulling a wheelchair