Criminal Justice

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 1140: An Act amending the act of October 25, 2012 (P.L.1618, No.197), known as the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline Notification Act, further providing for definitions; providing for training requirements for public lodging establishments and for training requirements for third-party listing platforms and rental operators; further providing for enforcement, for violation, for affirmative defenses, for administrative penalties and for criminal penalties; and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

SB 1140 amends Pennsylvania’s National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline Notification Act to expand training requirements for businesses directly involved in lodging or short-term rentals. It requires hotels, motels, and similar public lodging establishments (offering >10 rooms) to provide human trafficking awareness training to all employees and third-party contractors managing staff who access guest areas. Short-term rental operators and platforms listing such rentals must also implement training for their workers. The bill mandates training completion within 90 days of hire or the law’s effective date, with valid training lasting two years, while allowing prior training to count if completed within the past year.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates human trafficking awareness training for lodging businesses, directly addressing criminal justice by preventing trafficking through proactive prevention and staff training.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 1145: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Compliance Review and Reporting Program; imposing duties on the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services; and imposing penalties.

SB 1145 establishes a Compliance Review and Reporting Program to ensure healthcare facilities serving children comply with mandatory reporting laws for suspected sexual abuse or exploitation. It requires the Pennsylvania Department of Health to review facility records during inspections, verify that required reports were filed with child protective services, and confirm reports match patient encounters with the Department of Human Services. Facilities failing to report must have the names of non-reporting mandated healthcare workers recorded, while non-compliant facilities will be publicly listed on the Department of Health’s website (without victim or reporter details). The bill directly affects hospitals and healthcare facilities licensed to provide child medical care, aiming to strengthen enforcement of existing child abuse reporting requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnforces mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse by healthcare facilities, strengthening compliance with criminal justice protocols for suspected exploitation cases.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2180: An Act imposing requirements when lands containing certain State correctional institutions are offered for sale; and further providing for duties of the Department of Corrections.

HB 2180 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Corrections to notify counties when land containing a permanently closing state correctional facility is offered for sale. The bill mandates that 2% of the facility's total acreage (including road access) be reserved for transfer to the county at no cost, solely for developing affordable housing. Counties must accept this offer within 60 days by submitting a resolution and development plan, and must begin constructing affordable housing units within five years, with units available for lease within ten years of the land transfer. If counties fail to meet these deadlines, the land reverts to the Commonwealth. This bill directly affects counties where correctional facilities are closing, the Department of Corrections, and future affordable housing projects on former prison land.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill repurposes correctional land for affordable housing, aiding reentry programs and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates 2% land transfer to counties for affordable housing development, requiring counties to accept and construct units within 60 days.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Affordable Housing Property Development

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 9, 2026

SB 1137: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for Pennsylvania State Police.

SB 1137 allows individuals denied a firearm transaction due to their criminal, juvenile, or mental health records to challenge the accuracy of those records. The bill requires the Pennsylvania State Police to accept written challenges within 30 days of denial and permits the person to request subpoenas for documents supporting the denial. This process provides a formal mechanism for correcting potential errors in the records used during background checks. The bill directly affects anyone denied a firearm based on these records in Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows correction of erroneous criminal records in firearm background checks, protecting civil rights and ensuring due process in denial decisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Juvenile Justice Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 1122: An Act amending the act of July 22, 1974 (P.L.589, No.205), known as the Unfair Insurance Practices Act, further providing for unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices defined.

HB 1122 amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Insurance Practices Act to explicitly prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against applicants or policyholders based on protected characteristics. The bill adds specific language banning unfair discrimination in underwriting and eligibility decisions due to race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, age, sex, family size, occupation, residence, marital status, or criminal history. This directly affects insurers (who must comply with these rules) and applicants/policyholders (who gain protections against such discrimination). The key change clarifies that insurers cannot deny coverage, adjust rates, or impose terms based on these factors, except where rates are set through proper regulatory processes. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans insurance discrimination based on criminal history, aiding reentry and reducing barriers for formerly incarcerated individuals, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurance discrimination based on protected characteristics, ensuring fair access to health coverage under the Unfair Insurance Practices Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Dec 9, 2025

SB 912: An Act amending Title 44 (Law and Justice) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in DNA data and testing, further providing for policy, for definitions, for State DNA Data Base, for State Police recommendation of additional offenses and annual report, for DNA sample required upon conviction, delinquency adjudication and certain ARD cases, for DNA data base exchange, for expungement and for mandatory cost; and making an editorial change.

SB 912 expands Pennsylvania's DNA collection requirements to include individuals convicted of or adjudicated for criminal homicide, felony sex offenses, and certain other specified offenses (like specific misdemeanors such as simple assault or indecent exposure). It establishes a statewide DNA database under the State Police to store forensic profiles from these individuals, as well as DNA from missing persons and unidentified decedents. The bill mandates annual reports tracking demographic data, costs, and processing times for DNA samples, and includes provisions for expunging DNA records. It directly affects people convicted of covered offenses by requiring DNA samples upon conviction or adjudication, with samples stored in the state database for forensic use.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands DNA collection for violent offenses, enhancing forensic capabilities and database infrastructure in criminal investigations per Pennsylvania law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Policing Violent Crime

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Oct 27, 2025

HB 1932: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sexual offenses, repealing provisions relating to the offense of sexual intercourse with animal; and, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for definitions and for the offense of aggravated cruelty to animal, providing for the offense of sexual crimes against animals and further providing for exemption of normal agricultural operations.

This bill removes the existing offense of "sexual intercourse with animal" from Pennsylvania law and replaces it with new provisions defining "sexual crimes against animals" and "aggravated cruelty to animals" (severe animal cruelty). It also explicitly exempts normal agricultural operations from these new provisions. The changes would affect how certain animal-related offenses are prosecuted in court, but not farmers or standard farming practices. The bill is currently pending in the Judiciary Committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill modernizes animal offense definitions, replaces outdated terms with precise legal standards, and exempts agriculture to prevent overcriminalization, advancing criminal justice reform through clearer, fairer law enforcement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Nov 24, 2025

SB 520: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 30 (Fish), 34 (Game), 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in wiretapping and electronic surveillance, further providing for definitions and repealing provisions relating to public access; in enforcement relating to fish, further providing for powers and duties of waterways conservation officers and deputies; in enforcement relating to game, further providing for powers and duties of enforcement officers; in recordings by law enforcement officers, further providing for definitions and for audio recording or video recording policies; in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for powers and duties of Department of Corrections; and making transfers between the State Gaming Fund and certain restricted accounts.

SB 520 amends Pennsylvania law to clarify who can legally record communications during enforcement duties, directly affecting waterways conservation officers, game enforcement officers, and parole agents. It expands definitions to allow these officers to use body cameras or recording devices after approved training, while removing public access requirements under the Right-to-Know Law for such recordings. Key provisions include defining "law enforcement officer" to include specific conservation and game officers, requiring training for device use, and repealing prior rules about public access to recordings. The bill also updates enforcement officer powers related to fish and game regulations. This enacted law (Act No. 53 of 2025) focuses on operational clarity for law enforcement recording practices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands body camera use for conservation/game officers, clarifying recording policies to enhance accountability under criminal justice enforcement, though removes public access under Right-to-Know Law.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 545: An Act amending Titles 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in limitation of time, further providing for six months limitation; in matters affecting government units, further providing for exceptions to sovereign immunity, for limitations on damages and for exceptions to governmental immunity and providing for claims for compensation for wrongful conviction; in general administration, providing for services after wrongful conviction; and, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for powers and duties of department.

HB 545 creates a new legal process for individuals wrongfully convicted in Pennsylvania to seek compensation. It establishes eligibility for those whose convictions were overturned due to actual innocence (including overturned convictions, acquittals after retrial, or pardons), excluding accomplices or those who committed perjury. The bill adds a new subchapter (8581-8586) to Title 42, outlining procedures for filing claims, determining compensation amounts, and requiring notice to the Treasury. It also modifies sovereign immunity laws to ensure these claims cannot be blocked by government immunity defenses. This directly affects wrongfully convicted individuals or their heirs who meet specific innocence-based criteria.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates state compensation for wrongful convictions, requiring Treasury funding and increasing government spending on post-conviction remedies.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes compensation process for wrongfully convicted, advancing criminal justice reform and protecting civil rights through post-conviction remedies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 6, 2025

SB 612: An Act providing for the provision of disposable menstrual products.

Pennsylvania's SB 612, the Menstrual Equity Act, requires specific public entities to provide free disposable menstrual products (like tampons and pads) in restrooms without stigma. It directly affects schools, colleges, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, government offices offering public services (e.g., unemployment assistance), and armories. The law mandates these locations make products available at no cost starting July 1, 2025, with state secretaries overseeing implementation. Key provisions focus on accessibility and eliminating cost barriers for people who menstruate in these settings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires correctional facilities to provide free menstrual products, improving health and dignity for incarcerated individuals, a direct reform in corrections within criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides free menstrual products in public facilities to ensure access to essential health necessities, supporting public health initiatives and reducing barriers to health access.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires free menstrual products in workplaces like government offices (e.g., unemployment assistance), enhancing dignity and safety for employees, aligning with workplace standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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