An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for definitions; and, in employees, further providing for canine training standards for police officers.
HB 1344 amends Pennsylvania state law to establish minimum training standards for police officers who work with police dogs. The bill directly affects municipal police departments and officers using canine units across the state. Its key provision requires officers to complete specific, standardized training programs before deploying police dogs, ensuring consistent competency and safety protocols. The legislation focuses on setting clear, measurable requirements for handler training rather than addressing broader police practices.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Jun 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Apr 30, 2025
Signed Jun 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Printer's No. PN2885
→
Printer's No. PN3058
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was re-reported from the Appropriations Committee with a new definition for 'police animal' added to Title 18, expanding the scope to include specific law enforcement entities like the Department of Corrections and Office of Attorney General. The effective date was changed from 60 days to 180 days, and minor wording adjustments were made regarding fentanyl safety protocols.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded by adding a new definition section in Title 18 that explicitly lists additional agencies and units eligible to use police animals, whereas the previous version did not contain this specific definition.
DEFINITION
Added a new definition for 'police animal' in Title 18 to clarify which specific government entities and units (e.g., Department of Corrections, Capitol Police) are authorized to use these animals.
TIMELINE
Changed the effective date of the act from 60 days to 180 days.
REQUIREMENT
Removed redundant and capitalized text regarding safety protocols for fentanyl exposure to improve clarity and consistency.
Floor votes · Senate Jun 23, 2026 · House Mar 23, 2026
How they voted
49–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 50
Jun 23, 2026
D
Democratic23
95% Yea
R
Republican27
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
22
Key actions
8
Committee
8
Amendments
1
Jun 29, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor
upper
Jun 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
Jun 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Re-reported as committed
upper
Jun 10, 2026
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations
upper
Jun 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported as committed
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
upper
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as amended
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amended in House Committee on Appropriations
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Jun 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as committed
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 13 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Mike Armanini
RRepublican
Co
Brian Smith
RRepublican
Co
Donna Scheuren
RRepublican
Co
Jeremy Shaffer
RRepublican
Co
Jim Rigby
RRepublican
Co
Joe Ciresi
DDemocratic
Co
Lee James
RRepublican
Co
Mark Gillen
RRepublican
Co
Milou Mackenzie
RRepublican
Co
Mindy Fee
RRepublican
Co
Natalie Mihalek
RRepublican
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