Criminal Justice

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 348: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, providing for report of theft or loss of firearm; and imposing a penalty.

SB 348 requires firearm owners or lawful possessors in Pennsylvania to report a lost or stolen firearm to local police within 24 hours, providing specific details like the serial number, model, and caliber. Police must then forward this information to the Pennsylvania State Police, who will share it with all law enforcement agencies to aid in locating the firearm. Violating this reporting requirement is a minor offense punishable by a fine of up to $500. The bill directly affects individuals who own or legally possess firearms, creating a new administrative duty to report losses or thefts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires firearm theft reporting to aid law enforcement, enhancing public safety and police effectiveness in criminal justice context.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 22, 2025

SB 769: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, providing for safe storage of firearm when not in use; and imposing penalties.

SB 769 requires firearm owners in Pennsylvania to store guns safely when not in use, directly affecting all gun owners who store firearms outside of immediate personal carry. The bill mandates storage using a lockable device, a built-in firearm lock, or a securely locked container. Violations are minor offenses for first-time violations, misdemeanors for repeat offenses, and felonies if the unsecured firearm is used in a crime causing injury or death. The bill is pending in the Judiciary Committee and has not yet been voted on.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates safe firearm storage to prevent accidental injuries/deaths, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing gun violence and enhancing public safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 407: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of stalking.

HB 407 creates a new criminal offense for unauthorized location tracking in Pennsylvania, making it illegal to install or use technology (such as apps or devices) to monitor someone's location without their consent. Exceptions include law enforcement during investigations, parents tracking minor children, guardians monitoring incapacitated persons, and other specific scenarios like fleet vehicle tracking with proper consent. The bill does not change existing stalking laws but adds this new provision to address technology-enabled harassment. It directly affects individuals who might use location-tracking tools to harass others, while clarifying permitted uses for safety and legal purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds new offense for unauthorized location tracking, protecting privacy rights and enhancing stalking laws under criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits unauthorized location tracking via technology, strengthening data privacy protections under criminal law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 604: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for sale or transfer of firearms, for duties of the Pennsylvania State Police and for the offense of altering or obliterating marks of identification and providing for destruction of confiscated or recovered firearms.

HB 604 modifies Pennsylvania's firearms laws to clarify procedures for handling confiscated guns. It requires law enforcement to make "reasonable efforts" to return seized firearms to their lawful owners within 120 days, failing which the guns must be destroyed. If the owner is identified but prohibited from owning firearms, or if the owner cannot be found, destruction is mandatory under new rules. The bill also establishes a detailed registry for confiscated firearms (tracking serial numbers, make/model, and date seized) and specifies that guns can only be melted at state smelters after completing this process. This directly affects Pennsylvania State Police and local law enforcement agencies managing seized firearms.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires return of confiscated firearms to lawful owners, protecting civil rights under firearms procedures without expanding criminalization.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 23, 2025

HB 1632: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in certification of teachers, providing for human trafficking awareness and prevention.

HB 1632 requires Pennsylvania teachers to complete a new human trafficking awareness training as part of their continuing education requirements starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The training, developed by the Department of Education with input from the Attorney General's office and human trafficking organizations, covers federal/state laws, victim identification methods, risk factors, and reporting resources like the state hotline. It must be at least one hour long, available online, and counts toward teachers' existing professional development credits. The bill directly affects all professional educators in Pennsylvania who need continuing education under current certification rules.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates human trafficking awareness training for teachers to improve victim identification and reporting, aiding law enforcement in criminal justice efforts.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates teacher training on human trafficking awareness, enhancing educator preparedness to protect students and aligns with supporting teachers' professional development in K-12 safety protocols.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 559: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for definitions and for possession of firearm by minor; and making editorial changes.

SB 559 amends Pennsylvania law to restrict firearm and assault weapon possession by minors. It prohibits individuals under 18 from possessing standard firearms (with limited exceptions for supervised activities or hunting) and raises the age limit for assault weapons to under 21, barring possession without specific exemptions. The bill defines "assault weapon" to include firearms with features like detachable magazines, folding stocks, or specific grips, and lists exceptions for active-duty military personnel, peace officers, and weapon-carrying probation officers. Adults who knowingly provide firearms to minors in violation of these rules face felony charges, and illegally possessed firearms must be seized and forfeited upon conviction. The bill is currently pending in the Judiciary Committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts minors' firearm access, preventing potential crimes under criminal law (Title 18 amendments).90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Probation & Parole

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failed · Pennsylvania · House Sep 30, 2025

HB 1859: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms and for abandonment of firearms, weapons or ammunition; in community and municipal courts, further providing for masters; adding provisions relating to extreme risk protection orders; imposing duties on the Office of Attorney General; and imposing penalties.

HB 1859 proposed changes to Pennsylvania's firearm laws, targeting individuals prohibited from possessing firearms (such as those under extreme risk protection orders) and establishing rules for safely surrendering firearms. It added provisions for "extreme risk protection orders" (court orders to temporarily remove firearms from high-risk individuals), clarified restrictions on firearm possession, and required the Attorney General to create a system for reporting firearm abandonment. The bill also updated procedures for community courts and imposed penalties for violations, but it was defeated in final passage on September 30, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) to prevent firearm access for high-risk individuals, aligning with criminal justice reform to reduce gun violence through court-ordered temporary removal.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1281: An Act providing for duties of certifying officials and certifying agencies relating to the processing of certification form petitions.

HB 1281 establishes clear duties for Pennsylvania law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts (referred to as "certifying agencies") when processing certification forms required for U visas. The bill directly affects crime victims seeking U visas (which require certification that they were helpful to investigations), their legal representatives, and the agencies handling these requests. Key provisions require certifying officials to respond to petitions, develop and publicly post a detailed processing protocol (including online), and maintain records of all certifications. This bill does not change U visa eligibility but standardizes how Pennsylvania agencies handle the certification process for victims of qualifying crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStreamlines U visa certification process for crime victims, enhancing victim access to protections within criminal justice system95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationHB 1281 streamlines U visa certification for immigrant crime victims by requiring state agencies to respond to petitions and publish clear processes, directly supporting immigrant access to protective visa status.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Victims' Rights

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 14, 2025

HB 1465: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in falsification and intimidation, further providing for the offense of false reports of child abuse.

HB 1465 amends Pennsylvania law concerning false reports of child abuse. The bill changes the penalty for individuals who intentionally or knowingly make a false report of child abuse or induce a child to do so. It upgrades the offense from a second-degree misdemeanor to a first-degree misdemeanor. This change directly affects individuals convicted of such actions by increasing the severity of the criminal charge.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalty for false child abuse reports from 2nd to 1st degree misdemeanor, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 1311: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to offenses involving danger to the person, further providing for definitions.

HB 1311 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code by revising the definition of "serious provocation" in cases involving danger to the person. The amendment explicitly states that this term does not include the discovery, knowledge, or potential disclosure of a victim's gender identity, expression, or sexual orientation, nor does it cover unwanted nonforcible romantic or sexual advances by the victim or a prior romantic relationship between the victim and defendant. This change affects criminal cases where defendants might otherwise claim "serious provocation" as a defense, particularly in incidents involving LGBTQ+ individuals or relationship dynamics. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExcludes gender identity/sexual orientation from 'serious provocation' defense, protecting victims' rights and preventing discriminatory use of bias in criminal cases.90% confidence

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