Criminal Justice

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 23, 2025

HB 293: An Act amending Title 16 (Counties) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for electronic device licenses; and imposing penalties.

HB 293 requires dealers who buy electronic devices (like phones or tablets) from the public for resale to obtain a $50 annual license from their county sheriff. It mandates dealers to verify sellers' identities with photo ID, keep detailed transaction records for 180 days, and share copies with the district attorney within 24 hours. Dealers must also retain purchased devices unaltered for five business days to allow law enforcement inspections. The bill directly affects pawn shops, thrift stores, and other resellers of used electronics, not new-device retailers or charities. Violations may result in penalties, though specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates electronic device dealers to verify identities, retain records, and share data with law enforcement, directly strengthening crime investigation tools and aiding theft prevention within criminal justice enforcement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 17, 2025

HB 210: 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 required posting.

HB 210 requires businesses (such as restaurants, hotels, and retail stores) to post signs in visible restroom locations - including stalls, mirrors, and above hand dryers - with the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline number (1-888-373-7888) and a statement about legal protections for trafficking victims. The signs must be at least 8.5x11 inches, feature the hotline number in bold and large font, and be available in English, Spanish, and any other language required by the Voting Rights Act in the business's county. The Department of Labor and Industry will design and provide the sign template online for businesses to print. This law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill requires businesses to post trafficking hotline for victim access, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of victim protection and resource accessibility in trafficking cases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Human Trafficking

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Feb 13, 2026

HB 1935: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of terroristic threats.

HB 1935 requires individuals convicted of terroristic threats to pay restitution for costs incurred during evacuations, including emergency response, transportation, and employee wages for first responders. It also mandates a sentencing enhancement for threats targeting schools or institutions of higher education, which the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing must consider. The bill defines "school entity" to include public, charter, private, and cyber charter schools, and "institution of higher education" to cover specific universities like Penn State, Pitt, Temple, and others. These changes directly affect offenders who make terroristic threats in educational settings, holding them financially accountable for the costs their actions trigger.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates restitution and sentencing enhancements for terroristic threats targeting schools, increasing penalties rather than promoting reform or reducing recidivism.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates sentencing enhancements for threats targeting schools/institutions of higher education, directly protecting educational environments through legal measures.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Victims' Rights Violent Crime

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 7, 2026

HB 558: An Act amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, in creation of leases, statute of frauds and mortgaging of leaseholds, providing for rental applications.

HB 558 caps residential rental application fees at $20 per applicant and restricts landlords from charging more for background checks that must include criminal history and credit score checks. It directly affects residential landlords and tenants in Pennsylvania by limiting fee amounts and specifying how fees may be used. The bill exempts commercial or nonresidential properties from these fee limits. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill limits fees for background checks including criminal history, reducing barriers for tenants with records and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reintegration.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCaps residential tenant application fees at $20, reducing financial barriers to housing access and strengthening tenant protections per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 3, 2025

HR 94: A Resolution designating February 28, 2025, as "HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.

This House Resolution designates February 28, 2025, as "HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws but formally recognizes the issue of HIV criminalization - where individuals with HIV face criminal charges for non-disclosure or conduct that would not be prosecuted if they did not have HIV. The resolution highlights how such laws increase stigma, disproportionately impact marginalized groups (including people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals), and contradict current public health knowledge that undetectable HIV cannot be transmitted. The designation aims to raise awareness and encourage education about HIV treatment, prevention, and the need to address outdated criminal laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeHighlights HIV criminalization as discriminatory, promoting reform by raising awareness of unjust laws impacting marginalized groups in criminal justice.90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 24, 2025

HB 1647: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sexual offenses, providing for the offense of possession, trafficking or importing a child sex doll.

HB 1647 makes it a third-degree felony in Pennsylvania to possess, traffic, or import a "child sex doll" - defined as an anatomically correct doll resembling a child under 12 years old and intended for sexual use. The bill creates specific offenses for possessing such dolls, trafficking them (including manufacturing or selling), and importing them into the state, with possession of two or more dolls creating a legal presumption of trafficking intent. It includes an exception for common carriers (like shipping companies) who lack knowledge of the dolls' contents. This law directly affects individuals involved in handling these dolls, imposing criminal penalties without changing existing statutes on child sexual abuse.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony offense for child sex dolls, expanding criminalization. Aligns with 'oppose' indicator of increasing criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Human Trafficking

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 22, 2025

SB 768: 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 residing with a person not to possess a firearm; and imposing penalties.

Pennsylvania's SB 768 requires firearm owners living with someone who cannot legally possess a firearm (such as a convicted felon or someone under a restraining order) to store their guns securely. This means using a lockable device, built-in firearm lock, or locked container - except when the gun is carried on the person or within immediate reach. Violating this rule is a minor offense for a first violation, a misdemeanor for repeat offenses, and a felony if the improperly stored gun is used in a crime causing injury or death. The law directly affects households with gun owners and prohibited individuals, aiming to prevent unauthorized access. It takes effect 60 days after passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires secure firearm storage for owners living with prohibited persons, preventing access and reducing gun violence - advancing public safety through criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Firearms

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 543: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for the offense of masked intimidation; and imposing penalties.

SB 543 creates a new misdemeanor offense in Pennsylvania for "masked intimidation," defined as intentionally harassing, intimidating, or threatening someone while hiding one's face with a mask. It directly affects individuals who use face coverings to cause fear of physical harm, excluding common scenarios like holiday costumes, occupational safety, weather protection, artistic performances, or health-related mask-wearing during emergencies. The bill specifies that violating this provision carries a third-degree misdemeanor penalty but explicitly states it does not infringe on First Amendment rights. Key exceptions include masks worn for religious reasons, winter sports, medical safety, or emergency situations. The law would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new misdemeanor offense for masked intimidation, expanding criminalization without reform focus or defendant protections.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 75: 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.

SB 75 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act to decriminalize minor marijuana offenses. It removes criminal penalties for possessing up to 30 grams of marijuana (or 8 grams of hashish) for personal use, distributing small amounts without intent to sell, or smoking small amounts in public spaces. Instead of misdemeanor charges, these violations now carry only minor fines: $25 for possession or non-sale distribution, and $100 for public smoking. The bill explicitly states these offenses will not trigger license suspensions under Pennsylvania law. This change directly affects individuals caught with small amounts of marijuana for personal use or non-commercial distribution.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDecriminalizes minor marijuana offenses by removing criminal penalties and replacing them with fines, reducing unnecessary incarceration and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 742: 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 DNA sample required upon conviction, delinquency adjudication and certain ARD cases, for collection from persons accepted from other jurisdictions, for expungement and for mandatory cost.

HB 742 amends Pennsylvania law to expand DNA collection requirements beyond felony sex offenses. It defines "other specified offenses" for adults (including certain felonies, misdemeanors like assault, and offenses requiring sex offender registration) and for juveniles (such as murder, aggravated assault, or terrorism when tried as an adult). The bill mandates DNA sampling upon conviction, delinquency adjudication, or certain ARD cases for these offenses, applies to individuals transferred from other jurisdictions, and includes provisions for expungement and mandatory costs. This affects individuals convicted of specified crimes who may now have DNA collected for the state database.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands DNA collection requirements for law enforcement, strengthening data gathering in criminal justice system90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Violent Crime

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