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Bill

HB 1456

An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for Statewide toll-free animal abuse reporting telephone number.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz and 13 co-sponsors

Establishes Pennsylvania statewide toll-free hotline for reporting animal abuse to centralize reporting and coordinate law enforcement response.

Referred to Agriculture & Rural Affairs
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1456

Legislative bill overview

HB 1456 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code to establish a statewide toll-free telephone hotline specifically for reporting animal abuse. The bill falls under the riot and disorderly conduct section of Title 18, though its core function is creating an accessible reporting mechanism for animal welfare violations across Pennsylvania.

Why is this important

Animal abuse reporting infrastructure affects both animal welfare outcomes and law enforcement efficiency. A centralized hotline standardizes how abuse allegations are received, documented, and distributed to appropriate authorities, potentially reducing response times and ensuring consistent handling of reports across urban and rural areas.

Potential points of contention

  • Placement in criminal code: The bill's location within the "riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses" section appears misaligned with its actual purpose, raising questions about legislative drafting and whether animal cruelty statutes would be more appropriate housing
  • Funding and implementation: No fiscal note details operational costs, staffing requirements, or ongoing funding mechanisms for maintaining a statewide toll-free service
  • Integration with existing systems: Unclear how this hotline coordinates with existing Pennsylvania animal cruelty laws, local law enforcement 911 systems, and animal control agencies already handling abuse reports

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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