HB 1515 — An Act amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law, providing for insurance.

PRINTER'S NO.   1771

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1515
                                                  Session of
                                                    2025

     INTRODUCED BY TOMLINSON AND GUENST, MAY 28, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
        MAY 29, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), entitled
 2      "An act relating to dogs, regulating the keeping of dogs;
 3      providing for the licensing of dogs and kennels; providing
 4      for the protection of dogs and the detention and destruction
 5      of dogs in certain cases; regulating the sale and
 6      transportation of dogs; declaring dogs to be personal
 7      property and the subject of theft; providing for the
 8      abandonment of animals; providing for the assessment of
 9      damages done to animals; providing for payment of damages by
10      the Commonwealth in certain cases and the liability of the
11      owner or keeper of dogs for such damages; imposing powers and
12      duties on certain State and local officers and employees;
13      providing penalties; and creating a Dog Law Restricted
14      Account," providing for insurance.
15      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
16   hereby enacts as follows:
17      Section 1.    The act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225),
18   known as the Dog Law, is amended by adding an article to read:
19                                  ARTICLE I-A
20                         ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
21   Section 101-A.    Insurance.
22      (a)   Prohibited conduct.--Subject to subsection (b), an
23   insurer may not, based solely upon an insured's harboring or
24   owning of a dog of a specific breed or mixture of breeds:
 1            (1)   Refuse to issue or renew a homeowner's insurance
 2      policy of the insured.
 3            (2)   Cancel a homeowner's insurance policy of the
 4      insured.
 5            (3)   Charge or impose an increased premium or rate for a
 6      homeowner's insurance policy of the insured.
 7      (b)   Construction.--Subsection (a) shall not be construed to
 8   prohibit an insurer from refusing to issue or renew a
 9   homeowner's insurance policy, canceling a homeowner's insurance
10   policy or charging or imposing an increased premium or rate for
11   a homeowner's insurance policy based upon the insured's
12   harboring or owning of a dog of any breed or mixture of breeds
13   that has been determined to be a dangerous dog in accordance
14   with section 502-A.
15      (c)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
16   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
17   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
18      "Homeowner's insurance policy."      A policy, contract or plan
19   of casualty insurance that provides property and liability
20   coverage to an insured.
21      "Insurer."    A person licensed by the Insurance Department to
22   provide a homeowner's insurance policy within this Commonwealth
23   in accordance with the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284),
24   known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921.
25      Section 2.    The addition of section 101-A of the act shall
26   apply to homeowner's insurance policies issued, renewed or
27   modified on or after the effective date of this section.
28      Section 3.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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