Criminal Justice

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 31, 2025

SB 915: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for the offense of riot.

This Pennsylvania bill amends the state's riot law by defining when group actions become a third-degree felony. It targets participants who act with intent to commit crimes, block government actions, or use weapons (including firearms), and organizers who coordinate, control, or fund riots involving two or more people. Organizers causing death face first-degree felony charges instead of third-degree. The law directly affects individuals involved in organized group disturbances meeting these criteria. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for riot-related offenses, expanding criminalization by defining new felony criteria for participants and organizers, directly opposing reform by strengthening punitive measures.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 741: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, providing for the offense of unauthorized use of electronic tracking device.

SB 741 creates a new criminal offense in Pennsylvania for the unauthorized use of electronic tracking devices. It makes it illegal to install or place an electronic tracking device on another person or their property without their consent to track their location or movement. The bill includes exceptions for situations like parents tracking their minor children, legal guardians tracking incapacitated persons, and law enforcement in official duties or with court orders. Businesses are also exempt when tracking fleet vehicles or if they have obtained informed consent, and penalties range from a second-degree to a first-degree misdemeanor.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects civil rights by prohibiting unauthorized tracking, aligning with privacy protections in criminal justice. Exceptions for law enforcement with court orders strengthen oversight, not weaken it.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCriminalizes unauthorized tracking devices without consent, directly protecting data privacy and location data from misuse per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 4, 2026

HB 910: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in offenses against the family, further providing for the offense of dealing in infant children.

HB 910 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code to elevate "dealing in infant children" from a misdemeanor to a first-degree felony. It makes it a crime to trade, buy, sell, or deal with infants under one year old, directly targeting individuals involved in illegal infant trafficking. The bill explicitly excludes legal surrogacy and adoption from this offense. This law takes effect 60 days after enactment, focusing on criminalizing the commercial exchange of very young children.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeElevates illegal infant trafficking from misdemeanor to felony, strengthening enforcement against criminal child exploitation while excluding legal processes.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 3, 2025

SB 1027: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of ethnic intimidation; in particular rights and immunities, further providing for civil rights violations; and, in employees, further providing for definitions and providing for annual officer training on hate-based intimidation.

SB 1027 amends Pennsylvania laws to strengthen protections against hate-based crimes and intimidation. It specifically expands the criminal offense of "ethnic intimidation" under Title 18, clarifies civil rights violations related to hate-based acts under Title 42, and defines key terms for municipal employees under Title 53. The bill requires municipal officers to complete annual training on recognizing and addressing hate-based intimidation. This directly affects victims of hate crimes, law enforcement, and local government employees who interact with the public. The changes aim to improve legal responses to bias-motivated offenses without altering existing penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStrengthens hate crime protections, expands ethnic intimidation offenses, and mandates hate-based intimidation training for officers, advancing civil rights in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Violent Crime

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 1543: An Act amending the the act of October 24, 2012 (P.L.1209, No.151), known as the Child Labor Act, further providing for occupations and establishments.

HB 1543 amends Pennsylvania's Child Labor Act to permit minors aged 15 and older to work in specific nonprofit culinary programs. It directly affects minors participating in educational programs run by 501(c)(3) nonprofits in certain cities or counties, designed to support at-risk youth involved with the criminal justice system. The bill allows these minors to perform food service duties like serving food and clearing tables, but explicitly prohibits them from dispensing or serving alcoholic beverages. The amendment takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables culinary work for at-risk youth in criminal justice system via nonprofit programs, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 622: An Act amending the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, further providing for prohibited acts and penalties.

HB 622 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act to impose stricter penalties for violations involving fentanyl. It creates a new felony offense for knowingly violating specific drug provisions related to fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, or any substance containing trace amounts of fentanyl. Individuals convicted face up to 20 years in prison, a $500,000 fine, or both. The bill directly affects those distributing, selling, or possessing fentanyl-related substances in violation of existing law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeImposes stricter penalties including 20-year sentences for fentanyl violations, expanding criminalization per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 16, 2025

SB 875: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in criminal history record information, further providing for clean slate limited access; in motivational boot camp, further providing for definitions, for selection of inmate participants, for motivational boot camp program, for procedure for selection of participant in motivational boot camp program, for completion of motivational boot camp program and for evaluation; in State drug treatment program, further providing for definitions; and, in miscellaneous provisions, providing for report on incarcerated individuals with certain health conditions.

SB 875 creates a "clean slate" provision for individuals who successfully complete Pennsylvania's motivational boot camp program. It allows their criminal history records to become "limited access" for 3 years (misdemeanors) or 5 years (felonies) after program completion, provided they have no new convictions, paid all restitution, and completed the program. This means most background checks would not reveal these records during the limited access period. The bill specifically applies to participants who meet eligibility criteria under the motivational boot camp program, excluding those with certain serious offenses or enhancements. The Department of Corrections must certify successful completion to courts to trigger this record access change.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates 'clean slate' for boot camp completers, reducing record barriers to aid reintegration and lower recidivism through limited access provisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 39: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in inchoate crimes, providing for the offense of possession of firearm or other dangerous weapon in public recreation area.

SB 39 creates a new misdemeanor offense for knowingly possessing a firearm or dangerous weapon in a public recreation area (like a city park or public pool), with penalties ranging from a third-degree misdemeanor (for simple possession) to a first-degree misdemeanor (if intended for criminal use). It specifically excludes law enforcement officers, Pennsylvania Game Commission instructors, and veterans groups during ceremonial duties from this rule. The bill defines "dangerous weapon" to include items like knives with automatic blades or explosives, and clarifies that private recreation areas (e.g., privately owned parks) are not affected by this law. This bill directly impacts individuals entering public recreational spaces with weapons, while maintaining existing rights for private property owners.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new misdemeanor offense for firearm possession in public areas, expanding criminalization without reform elements; excludes specific groups but increases penalties for general public.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Oct 29, 2025

HB 1974: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in powers and duties of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, establishing the Contingency Management Support Grant Program.

HB 1974 creates a new Contingency Management Support Grant Program within the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. The bill establishes a mechanism for distributing grants to support substance use disorder treatment programs that use evidence-based contingency management approaches (like providing rewards for treatment adherence). This program directly affects licensed treatment providers and individuals receiving substance use disorder services by providing funding for these specific support services. The bill amends the 1929 Administrative Code to authorize this grant program under the department's existing authority.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new grant program funding substance use disorder treatment, directly allocating state funds for public health services under Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds evidence-based substance use disorder treatment programs to reduce recidivism and improve rehabilitation, directly advancing criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates grant program funding evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, directly advancing healthcare services for addiction through targeted funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 591: An Act amending the act of November 22, 1978 (P.L.1166, No.274), referred to as the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency Law, further providing for definitions and for powers and duties of the commission; and establishing the Constable William Davidson Reward Fund.

This bill establishes the Constable William Davidson Reward Fund to provide rewards of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals who kill or cause the death of a law enforcement officer in Pennsylvania. It amends the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency Law to authorize the commission to administer the fund and offer these rewards for crimes covered under state murder and criminal homicide statutes targeting officers. The fund, which will be non-lapsing and funded by state appropriations, is intended to encourage public cooperation in solving violent crimes against law enforcement personnel.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes reward fund for info leading to arrests of those killing law enforcement officers, directly strengthening law enforcement response to officer homicides under criminal homicide statutes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Violent Crime

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