Criminal Justice (Policing)

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 973: An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to area government and intergovernmental cooperation, providing for Municipal Police Enhancement and Consolidation Grant Program and establishing the Municipal Police Enhancement and Consolidation Grant Program Fund.

HB 973 creates a grant program to support municipal police departments in Pennsylvania. It provides funding for police department consolidation, achieving accreditation standards, officer training, and community outreach programs. Grants range from $5,000 to $100,000 per department depending on the purpose, with special provisions for small departments (under 10 officers). The program, administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, is funded through a new Municipal Police Enhancement Consolidation Grant Program Fund. This directly affects cities, boroughs, and townships with their own police departments.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds police consolidation, accreditation, training, and community outreach to strengthen municipal law enforcement and community relations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 345: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in the State System of Higher Education, further providing for definitions and for powers and duties of councils of trustees.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to change firearm authorization rules for campus police at state universities. It requires campus police to meet state certification standards before carrying firearms and voids all existing resolutions authorizing campus police to carry weapons. The policy directly affects campus police officers and trustees councils across Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education. The change takes effect 60 days after enactment, replacing prior authorization processes with new certification requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates state certification for campus police firearm carrying, enhancing accountability and safety in law enforcement, a key criminal justice policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 24, 2025

SB 669: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 23 (Domestic Relations) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) 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 sale or transfer of firearms, for Pennsylvania State Police, for firearm sales surcharge, for Firearm Records Check Fund, for retail dealer required to be licensed and for licensing of dealers and providing for ammunition purchase authorization permits and for transporting ammunition into this Commonwealth; establishing the Ammunition Safety and Enforcement Fund; and making editorial changes.

SB 669 amends Pennsylvania's firearm laws to clarify definitions, restrict firearm possession, and regulate sales and transfers. It introduces new requirements for purchasing ammunition through "ammunition purchase authorization permits" and establishes the "Ammunition Safety and Enforcement Fund" to support enforcement. The bill directly affects gun owners, licensed dealers, and the Pennsylvania State Police by changing how firearms and ammunition are handled and regulated. Key provisions include updating rules for firearm sales surcharges, firearm records checks, and dealer licensing procedures across multiple statutes. These changes aim to modify existing firearm regulations without specifying new criminal penalties or restrictions beyond the defined mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens firearm regulations and establishes enforcement fund, directly supporting law enforcement's role in criminal justice through enhanced regulatory mechanisms and funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Oct 17, 2025

HB 1955: An Act amending Titles 44 (Law and Justice) and 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, codifying prohibition on political subdivisions and Commonwealth agencies imposing quotas on the issuance of citations for certain offenses and prohibiting the practice of station averaging; in licensing of drivers, further providing for schedule of convictions and points; in rules of the road in general, providing for radar enforcement systems pilot program; and making a repeal.

HB 1955 prohibits local governments and state agencies in Pennsylvania from setting targets for issuing traffic citations (quotas) or spreading citation numbers across police stations (station averaging). It also changes how traffic violations affect driver license points and establishes a pilot program testing radar enforcement systems on roads. The bill directly affects local police departments, state agencies, and drivers by altering citation practices and licensing consequences. It codifies existing restrictions on citation quotas while adding new rules for radar use, without changing traffic laws themselves.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits citation quotas and station averaging, directly enhancing police accountability in traffic enforcement per criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes radar enforcement pilot program for traffic safety, directly enhancing transportation safety standards per indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Driver Licensing Roads & Highways

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Oct 27, 2025

HB 1604: An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in employees, providing for mandatory firearms training for certain officers.

HB 1604 would require certain municipal officers in Pennsylvania to complete mandatory firearms training under amendments to Title 53 of the state statutes. The bill directly affects municipal law enforcement personnel, such as police officers or other sworn employees, who handle firearms in their duties. Its key provision mandates that these officers receive regular firearms training as a condition of employment or continued certification. The bill is currently inactive after being "laid on the table" in October 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandatory firearms training for municipal officers strengthens law enforcement competency and accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of enhancing officer safety and reducing misconduct risks.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 30, 2025

SB 302: An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in protection from abuse, further providing for commencement of proceedings.

SB 302 creates a $100 fee for defendants when a protection order is granted without their agreement. The fee is distributed as follows: $25 to the Pennsylvania State Police for the protection order registry, $25 to the law enforcement agency that served the order, $25 to the county sheriff for related costs, and $25 to the Department of Human Services for domestic violence victim services. This bill directly affects individuals subject to protection orders and impacts how courts handle service of these orders. It became law on June 30, 2025 (Act No. 23 of 2025), modifying Pennsylvania’s domestic relations code to fund victim services and registry maintenance.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDistributes $100 fee to DHS for domestic violence victim services, directly funding victim support within criminal justice system per bill's fee allocation structure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Policing

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 · 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 Jan 14, 2025

HB 91: An Act amending the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law, in procedure, further providing for exceptions for public records.

HB 91 amends Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (2008) to clarify that records related to noncriminal investigations by state agencies are exempt from public disclosure - except for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. This means agencies like police departments or environmental agencies must now disclose such records (unlike the Fish and Boat Commission, which retains exemption). The bill specifically revises Section 708(b)(17) of the law to remove a blanket exemption for all agencies, making the Fish and Boat Commission the sole exception. It directly affects public access to noncriminal investigation records held by state agencies, with no new reporting or procedural requirements. The change takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires disclosure of noncriminal police investigations, enhancing law enforcement transparency and accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1341: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in budget and finance, further providing for Commonwealth portion of fines, etc.

HB 1341 changes how Pennsylvania distributes revenue from vehicle fines. It requires municipalities to provide at least 40 hours per week of police services (via their own department, regional department, or contracted services) to receive a share of these fines. Municipalities that don’t meet this service requirement will no longer qualify for the funds, which will instead be transferred to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. This commission will then distribute the funds to programs supporting regional police department accreditation and collaboration across the state. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects municipal fine revenue to Commission requiring police service standards, promoting fiscal accountability in fund distribution.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill ties municipal fine revenue to police service requirements, directing funds to maintain law enforcement capacity via Commission distribution.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Policing

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