Criminal Justice (Policing)

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 26, 2026

HB 2273: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in forfeiture of assets, further providing for motion for return of property; and imposing duties on the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.

This bill requires law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania to provide seized individuals with specific documents within 14 days, including a copy of the relevant statute and a sample motion for returning property. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts will create and publish this sample motion on its public website, though it will not be the only form courts accept. The law applies to state police, local police departments, and campus police, and it takes effect 60 days after passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances police accountability by requiring seizure documentation and providing property return motions, protecting civil rights and improving transparency in criminal justice asset forfeiture.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 2251: An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in employees, further providing for reimbursement of expenses.

HB 2251 amends Pennsylvania law to update reimbursement rules for municipal police training costs. It requires the state commission to reimburse municipalities for 60% of police officers' regular salaries during approved training and for the full cost of tuition, living, and travel expenses. Municipalities must provide documentation and undergo annual audits to qualify for reimbursement. Additionally, the law mandates that at least 25% of state funds for this purpose be allocated to townships and boroughs with populations under 20,000 residents.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides state reimbursement for police training costs, directly funding law enforcement capacity within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 2200: An Act amending Title 44 (Law and Justice) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for enforcement of civil immigration law and for prohibited use of funds.

This bill prohibits Pennsylvania State Police from stopping, detaining, or questioning individuals based solely on immigration status, except when necessary for unrelated criminal investigations. It bans prolonging detention due to immigration status or conducting immigration checks without a prior criminal arrest. Police must share immigration detainer information with federal authorities only if discovered during lawful detention for unrelated matters. The law directly affects all individuals interacting with Pennsylvania State Police, limiting state involvement in federal immigration enforcement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts police from detaining based on immigration status, protecting civil rights and enhancing accountability - key criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill prohibits state police from detaining based on immigration status alone, limits cooperation with federal enforcement, and protects immigrant rights per statute.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 1139: An Act providing for extent of cooperation between certain law enforcement agencies and Federal immigration authorities; prohibiting certain acts by law enforcement agencies; and providing for policies limiting assistance with immigration enforcement.

SB 1139, the Police and Community Safety Act, prohibits Pennsylvania state and local law enforcement agencies from using their resources (including funds, facilities, or personnel) to assist federal immigration enforcement. It bans officers from inquiring about an individual's immigration status except when required by federal law (such as for gun purchases under 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(5)) and prevents agencies from detaining individuals for immigration purposes. The bill aims to build trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement to improve public safety, directly affecting all local police departments, sheriff's offices, and school security in Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits law enforcement from assisting federal immigration enforcement and limits immigration status inquiries, building community trust. Aligns with criminal justice reform by enhancing police accountability and protecting civil rights.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits state/local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration enforcement, limiting cooperation and protecting immigrants from detention for immigration status.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Policing Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 9, 2026

HB 2126: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 23 (Domestic Relations) and 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for definitions, for the offense of persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms, for the offense of firearms not to be carried without a license and for licenses, providing for firearm eligibility license, for application for firearm eligibility license, for fee and qualification, for training course and investigations and for issuance and terms and further providing for sale or transfer of firearms, for Pennsylvania State Police, for proof of license and exception and for administrative regulations; and making editorial changes.

HB 2126 requires Pennsylvania residents to obtain a new "firearm eligibility license" to purchase a firearm, making it illegal to possess a firearm without this license. The bill adds an exception allowing individuals with an expired carry license (within six months) to carry a firearm without penalty if eligible for renewal. It also ensures that individuals prohibited from possessing a firearm (including those without the eligibility license) cannot obtain a license to carry, affecting both firearm purchasers and carry license applicants.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill requires firearm eligibility license to prevent prohibited persons from possessing firearms, enhancing public safety through regulated firearm access, a core criminal justice policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Policing

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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 · 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 Feb 25, 2025

HB 732: An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in protection from abuse, further providing for relief and providing for shared telephone plans.

HB 732 amends Pennsylvania's domestic relations law to help domestic violence victims gain independence from abusers tied to shared telephone plans. The bill requires courts to order abusers to remove victims from shared phone contracts within three days and cover any termination fees. It also mandates telecommunications providers to let victims opt out without fees or penalties when presenting valid documentation like a protection order or police report, and to provide a new phone number within 24 hours. This directly affects domestic violence victims who are financially or contractually linked to abusers through shared phone accounts. The law applies to phone plans entered into on or after its effective date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates courts to remove abusers from victims' phone plans and cover fees, enhancing victim safety and reducing barriers to escape domestic violence, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Aug 4, 2025

HB 1765: An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in employees, providing for insurance benefits for part-time police officers.

HB 1765 would require Pennsylvania municipalities to provide insurance benefits to part-time police officers. The bill amends state law to extend existing insurance coverage provisions - currently applicable to full-time municipal employees - to include part-time police officers specifically. This change would directly affect part-time police officers and the local governments that employ them, mandating that municipalities include these benefits in their employment terms. The bill is currently under review by the Local Government committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates municipalities to fund insurance benefits for part-time police, increasing public safety spending requirements.80% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends insurance benefits to part-time police officers, supporting law enforcement personnel welfare without direct reform impact.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends health insurance coverage to part-time police officers, expanding access to healthcare benefits for municipal employees under existing insurance provisions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends mandatory insurance benefits to part-time police officers, expanding worker benefits under Labor & Employment policies95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 1085: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in general budget implementation, further providing for Motor License Fund.

HB 1085 amends Pennsylvania's Motor License Fund allocation rules for the Pennsylvania State Police. It sets a 2025-2026 funding cap at 68% of the 2016-2017 level ($125 million) and eliminates all future appropriations for this purpose starting in fiscal year 2026-2027. The bill directly affects the State Police budget and the Motor License Fund, which is funded by vehicle registration fees. This is a procedural budget adjustment with no new policy changes, solely modifying existing funding levels.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDefunds State Police budget by eliminating all future appropriations starting in 2026-2027, directly reducing government spending on essential services.90% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill defunds Pennsylvania State Police from Motor License Fund by capping and eliminating future funding, directly reducing law enforcement resources within criminal justice.90% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationEliminates future appropriations for State Police from Motor License Fund, directly reducing transportation-related funding tied to vehicle registration fees.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Policing Vehicle Registration

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