PA House passes bill outlawing animal trafficking in PA
The legislation prohibits the purchase and sale of animal parts from imperiled species; levies significant fines
Rep. Leanne Krueger June 25, 2025 | 9:56 AM
HARRISBURG, June 25 – New legislation to protect imperiled wildlife passed the PA House Tuesday by a bipartisan vote of 127-76.
House Bill 994, prime sponsored by state Rep. Leanne Krueger, would close gaps in the existing federal Endangered Species Act, where there are exceptions that allow some sellers to trade legally.
House Bill 994 would ban commercial transactions in the sale of covered animal parts and products and close the permit loophole in federal law which allows some sales. Products such as elephant ivory and rhino horn generally cannot be imported, exported or sold across state lines. But current PA law does allow for sale within the state with a permit.
House Bill 994 would more comprehensively prohibit both selling and buying protected animal parts, such as ivory and taxidermied bodies, within Pennsylvania. In addition, it outlines clear civil penalties for participating in the trade. People in violation of the bill, if it becomes law, would face significant fines. Traffickers of animal parts in the U.S. tend to target states with weaker laws, and H.B. 994 aims to eliminate the weak spots for Pennsylvania.
The trade of ivory and other animal parts is a strong contributing factor in the endangerment and extinction of wildlife. By participating in this trade, even unwittingly, Pennsylvanians could be enabling illegal poaching activities in other countries. A study done by Humane World for Animals recently discovered a substantial ivory trade within the Commonwealth, including the sale of ivory from elephants, whale, and hippo, as well as taxidermied giraffe and other iconic species. Their three-month investigation revealed $38,000 worth of wildlife products for sale across 27 counties.
“Wildlife trafficking is a global crisis,” said Krueger. “It’s a cruel and senseless trade, and there is no reason Pennsylvanians need to be part of it. We have a responsibility to preserve such species to protect the environment, our global culture, and the animals themselves. Passing this bill into law is vital to their survival.”
The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration.