HB 2387 — 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.

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
 1   Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
 2      Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in particular rights and
 3      immunities, providing for liability for wrongful death of
 4      companion animal.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.    Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 8   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 9   § 8320.2.   Liability for wrongful death of companion animal.
10      (a)   Liability.--If the companion animal of a person is
11   killed or sustains injuries that result in death caused by the
12   intentional, reckless or negligent act of another or the animal
13   of another, the owner of the companion animal may bring an
14   action under this section. The trier of fact may find the
15   individual causing the death, or the owner of the animal causing
16   the death, liable for up to $15,000 in noneconomic damages as
17   compensation for the loss of the reasonably expected society,
18   companionship, love and affection of the companion animal, in
19   addition to the assessed market value of the companion animal.
 1   The assessed market value of the companion animal shall include
 2   the purchase cost to the owner of the companion animal, the cost
 3   of any training the companion animal received, the cost of any
 4   veterinary care received by the companion animal as a result of
 5   the injury leading to the companion animal's death and any other
 6   pertinent fact brought before the trier of fact. The trier of
 7   fact may impose punitive damages in addition to other damages if
 8   the death occurred as a result of an intentional act.
 9      (b)     Wrongful injury.--If a person's companion animal is
10   injured by the intentional, reckless or negligent act of another
11   or the animal of another, the trier of fact may find the
12   individual causing the death or the owner of the animal causing
13   the death liable for up to $5,000 in noneconomic damages, in
14   addition to the assessed market value of the companion animal.
15   The assessed market value shall include the purchase cost to the
16   owner of the companion animal, the cost of any training the
17   companion animal received, the cost of any veterinary care
18   received by the companion animal as a result of the injury, the
19   cost of continued veterinary care for the injury for the
20   reasonably expected remaining life of the companion animal and
21   any other pertinent cost brought before the trier of fact. The
22   trier of fact may impose punitive damages in addition to other
23   damages if the injury occurred as a result of an intentional
24   act.
25      (c)     Effect on other actions.--The limits for noneconomic
26   damages specified in this section shall not apply or limit
27   damages in any causes of action for intentional infliction of
28   emotional distress or any other civil action other than the
29   direct and sole loss of a companion animal as authorized by this
30   section.

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 1      (d)   Inapplicability.--This section shall not apply to:
 2            (1)   Any not-for-profit entity or governmental agency, or
 3      its employees, which negligently causes the death of a
 4      companion animal while acting on behalf of public health or
 5      animal welfare.
 6            (2)   Any killing of a companion animal that has been or
 7      was killing or pursuing with the apparent intent to harm
 8      livestock.
 9      (e)   Adjustment of dollar amount.--
10            (1)   On April 1, 2027, and each April 1 in every third
11      calendar year thereafter, the Supreme Court shall adjust each
12      dollar amount under this section to reflect any increase in
13      the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as
14      published by the United States Department of Labor for the
15      three-year period ending on December 31 of the preceding
16      year. Adjustments required by this paragraph shall be rounded
17      to the nearest $25.
18            (2)   The Supreme Court shall transmit notice of the
19      dollar amount to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
20      publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania
21      Bulletin.
22            (3)   The Supreme Court may publish the notice in another
23      manner that the court concludes would be reasonably likely to
24      inform persons who are affected by the adjustment of the
25      dollar amounts.
26      (f)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
27   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
28   subsection:
29      "Companion animal."    The following:
30            (1)   The term includes:

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 1                (i)    A domestic or feral dog, domestic or feral cat,
 2          nonhuman primate, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit not raised
 3          for human food or fiber, exotic or native animal, reptile
 4          or exotic or native bird.
 5                (ii)    A feral animal or an animal under the care,
 6          custody or ownership of an individual.
 7                (iii)    An animal that is bought, sold, traded or
 8          bartered.
 9          (2)   The term does not include an agricultural animal,
10      game species or an animal regulated under Federal law,
11      including a research animal.
12      "Injuries that result in death."      Includes not only injuries
13   which lead directly to the death of a companion animal, but any
14   injury which so impairs the companion animal's quality of life
15   or ability to perform any service role that a reasonable
16   veterinarian would regard euthanasia as a reasonable or humane
17   course of treatment.
18      Section 2.      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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