An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure), 61 (Prisons and Parole) and 63 (Professions and Occupations (State Licensed)) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in crimes against unborn child, further providing for the offense of murder of unborn child; in arson, criminal mischief and other property destruction, further providing for the offense of arson and related offenses; in judicial boards and commissions, further providing for adoption of guidelines for sentencing; in posttrial matters, further providing for jurisdiction and proceedings; in sentencing, providing for sentence for general murder of the second degree, further providing for sentences for second and subsequent offenses and for life imprisonment for homicide, repealing provisions relating to transfer of inmates in need of medical treatment and providing for modification of an imposed term of imprisonment for reasons of illness; in general administration, providing for earned vocational training and education credit; in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for parole power, for short sentence parole, for parole procedure and for victim statements, testimony and participation in hearing; and, in powers and duties, further providing for consideration of criminal convictions.

Added mandatory life imprisonment without parole for second-degree murder involving victims under 13, law enforcement officers, or when the offender used rape or involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

Established a 35-year minimum prison sentence for second-degree murder, with a potential reduction to 10 years only under specific mitigating circumstances like being an accomplice or having no weapon.

Expanded the definition of 'crime of violence' to include a wider range of offenses, which affects sentencing enhancements for repeat offenders.

Updated the rules for earned vocational training and education credits, including clarifying exclusions for certain violent and sexual offenses.

Added new provisions for victim statements and testimony during parole hearings for offenders sentenced to life for second-degree murder.

Added specific exclusions preventing inmates convicted of murder, criminal homicide of law enforcement, sexual offenses, and crimes of violence from earning vocational training credits.

New provision bars inmates found guilty of major disciplinary infractions involving drugs, violence, or sexual acts during their sentence from earning credits.

Changed credit limits for general education and degrees from fixed amounts to 'up to' 120 and 180 days, respectively.

Added a new requirement that inmates must have at least nine months remaining before parole eligibility to receive credits.

Added a new construction clause stating inmates cannot sue to challenge the department's determination of program participation or completion.

Added a new subsection requiring the Board to send notice to prosecutors and courts regarding parole eligibility six months before the minimum sentence expires.

Added a new provision stating that earning vocational credits counts as education and training activities for individualized assessments under the Crime Victims Act.

Renumbered the effective date section from Section 4 to Section 4 3.

The bill text was updated to reflect new sponsorship members added in 2026 and the date it was amended on second consideration (February 4, 2026), replacing the original introduction date.

The definition of who earns credits was clarified to apply to inmates with an 'aggregate minimum sentence' who are 'committed' to the department.

The minimum time required before an inmate can earn credits was increased from four months to nine months remaining before parole eligibility.

New exclusions were added to prevent inmates convicted of criminal homicide of a law enforcement officer, certain sexual offenses requiring registration, and second or subsequent crimes of violence from earning credits.

A new exclusion was added for individuals found guilty of major disciplinary infractions involving drugs, violence, or sexual acts after the effective date of the subsection.

The requirement for parole approval was updated to account for 'recidivism risk reduction incentive' minimum dates alongside standard minimum dates.

A new construction clause was added to clarify that the chapter does not confer a legal right to participate in programs or to sue the department regarding program determinations.