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Pittsburgh council asks state to restore local authority over rodeo rules
Summary
Pittsburgh City Council on March 11 approved a will of council urging the Pennsylvania legislature to repeal language in the state budget that preempted municipal regulation of rodeos, and endorsed House Bill 492 and Senate Bill 412 to restore local control.
Pittsburgh City Council voted March 11 to urge the Pennsylvania General Assembly to repeal language in the state budget that, council members said, stripped the city of authority to regulate rodeos and certain rodeo equipment.
The will of council — introduced and read into the record by Councilman Charland — endorses House Bill 492 of 2025 and Senate Bill 412 of 2024 and calls on the legislature “to restore Pittsburgh’s ability to enact and enforce humane policies for the welfare of animals and public safety.”
The resolution recounts that the city enacted a local ban in 1992 limiting devices that cause pain or suffering to animals, and says last year’s state budget included a preemption that removed municipal authority over rodeos. The measure passed by voice vote after a motion, with council members answering “aye.”
An animal-welfare advocate who addressed council after the vote thanked members for the endorsement and said advocates and council “work too hard to pass policies, to have our autonomy stripped away.” A speaker who identified himself as representing the Christian Animal Rights Association said his group opposes rodeos because, he said, the Bible condemns hurting animals for entertainment and welcomed the council endorsement.
The action taken is a nonbinding expression of the council’s position; it asks state lawmakers to remove the preemption so municipalities can again regulate rodeo instruments and other humane-treatment rules. The will of council did not create or change local law itself.
Council did not record a roll-call tally for this item in the transcript; the clerk called for a motion to approve, the motion was seconded, and the measure was adopted by voice vote.
The item was placed on the record as a formal will of council and will serve as the city’s public position for advocates and state legislators working on HB492 and SB412.
Looking ahead, council members and local advocates said they expect to continue outreach to state lawmakers on the bills cited in the resolution.
