Criminal Justice (Violent Crime)

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 9, 2026

SB 1415: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of neglect of care-dependent person and for the offense of abuse of care-dependent person; and, in sexual offenses, further providing for the offense of institutional sexual assault.

This bill creates two new criminal offenses in Pennsylvania to protect vulnerable individuals who rely on others for care. It establishes charges for the neglect and abuse of care-dependent persons, as well as a specific crime for institutional sexual assault committed by caretakers in facilities. Under the proposed changes, these acts would be classified as felonies of the second or third degree, depending on the severity of the harm or the nature of the conduct. The legislation aims to strengthen legal protections for people receiving services in care settings by defining these behaviors as serious crimes with defined penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offenses to protect vulnerable individuals, strengthening accountability and legal protections within the criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 2611: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, providing for the offense of aggravated assault of an insured.

This bill creates a new crime called aggravated assault of an insured, which applies specifically to the chief executive officers of health insurers. Under the law, a CEO would be guilty of this offense if they deny a medically necessary benefit to a patient, and that denial directly causes serious bodily injury or death to the patient. The legislation defines "health insurer" to include various types of medical coverage providers while excluding policies like dental, vision, and workers' compensation plans. If passed, the bill would take effect 60 days after its enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates a new crime to punish CEOs who deny medically necessary benefits causing death, enhancing accountability and protecting public safety.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient rights by criminalizing insurer denials of medically necessary care that cause harm.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 2589: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions relating to operation of vehicles, further providing for homicide by vehicle while driving under influence.

This bill, known as the Legacy Law, amends Pennsylvania's homicide statutes to mandate financial restitution for parents or guardians when a child under 18 or a dependent dies due to a parent driving under the influence. If a court convicts a driver of this offense and the victim was a minor or dependent, the defendant must pay reasonable financial support to the victim's family until the child turns 18 or 19, depending on their education status. The law requires courts to consider various factors, such as the child's needs and the surviving parent's resources, when calculating these payments, which can be made directly to the family or held in a court trust. Additionally, the bill specifies that if a surviving parent has already won a civil lawsuit for damages, the criminal restitution order will be adjusted to avoid double compensation. The new provisions take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by mandating financial restitution for families of victims killed by drunk drivers, enhancing accountability and victim support.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Victims' Rights Violent Crime

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 31, 2026

HB 2339: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of aggravated assault.

This bill expands the legal definition of aggravated assault in Pennsylvania to include school staff members and crossing guards. Specifically, it adds teaching employees, school board members, licensed private school workers, parochial school employees, and school crossing guards to the list of individuals protected by aggravated assault laws. The change applies when these individuals are acting within the scope of their employment or due to their relationship with the school. If passed, the new provisions would take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by expanding aggravated assault protections to school staff, enhancing safety and accountability.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens protection for school staff and crossing guards, enhancing safety for educators and school personnel.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime School Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 8, 2026

HB 2495: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions relating to operation of vehicles, further providing for the offense of homicide by vehicle while driving under influence.

This bill creates a new criminal offense in Pennsylvania for unintentionally causing death while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It directly affects drivers who kill someone while impaired, raising the penalty from a second-degree felony to a mandatory first-degree felony. The law also sets specific minimum prison terms, such as five years for a first offense and longer sentences for repeat offenders or those with prior DUI convictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases mandatory prison sentences and expands criminal liability for DUI fatalities, restricting judicial discretion and enhancing punishment severity.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by increasing penalties for DUI-related fatalities, thereby protecting public welfare on roads.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime Traffic Safety Vehicle Registration

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passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 26, 2026

SB 1212: An Act amending the act of November 29, 2006 (P.L.1471, No.165), known as the Sexual Assault Testing and Evidence Collection Act, further providing for definitions.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Sexual Assault Testing and Evidence Collection Act by updating the legal definition of "awaiting testing" for sexual assault evidence. The change clarifies that evidence awaiting testing includes items collected by law enforcement that have not yet undergone DNA or forensic analysis and are part of an ongoing criminal investigation. This definition update directly affects how law enforcement agencies and the Department of Health classify and manage sexual assault evidence in the state. The amendment ensures consistency in terminology used across the existing evidence collection program without altering other operational procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill clarifies evidence definitions for sexual assault cases, improving law enforcement procedures and victim evidence handling within criminal justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 2279: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in limitation of time relating to criminal proceedings, further providing for other offenses.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's criminal law by establishing a five-year statute of limitations for prosecuting specific serious offenses. It directly affects prosecutors and defendants by setting a deadline within which these cases must be filed after the alleged crime occurs. The law covers a wide range of crimes including murder-related attempts and conspiracies, violent offenses like kidnapping and robbery, financial crimes such as fraud and bribery, and other serious violations like arson and drug delivery resulting in death. The changes apply to all listed offenses regardless of whether the crime was completed or attempted, ensuring that serious allegations can still be pursued within a defined timeframe.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes statute of limitations for serious crimes, strengthening criminal justice system by ensuring timely prosecution while protecting defendants from stale evidence.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 2203: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in burglary and other criminal intrusion, further providing for burglary; in robbery, further providing for robbery; and, in juvenile matters, further providing for definitions, for inspection of court files and records, for conduct of hearings and for transfer to criminal proceedings.

HB 2203 amends Pennsylvania law to increase penalties for burglary and robbery involving controlled substances, designer drugs, or firearms, classifying these as first-degree felonies. It also revises juvenile court definitions by removing certain serious offenses - like first-degree robbery and burglary - from "delinquent act" status when committed by juveniles aged 15+ with prior adjudications. This means juveniles aged 15+ who commit these specific crimes (e.g., stealing drugs/firearms) will now face transfer to adult criminal court instead of juvenile proceedings. The bill directly affects juvenile offenders in cases involving these high-level offenses and alters sentencing classifications under Titles 18 and 42.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for burglary/robbery with drugs/firearms (first-degree felonies) and removes juvenile offenses from delinquent act status, treating repeat offenders as adults.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2165: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in juvenile matters, further providing for definitions.

HB 2165 amends Pennsylvania's definition of "delinquent act" in juvenile court proceedings. It specifically excludes certain serious crimes from being classified as delinquent acts when committed by minors aged 15 or older, including murder, rape, robbery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. The bill also excludes repeat offenses where a minor was previously adjudicated delinquent for similar violent crimes, summary offenses, and crimes already handled in criminal court. This change directly affects minors aged 15+ accused of these excluded offenses, shifting their cases to criminal court instead of juvenile court. The policy change takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExcludes serious juvenile crimes from delinquent act classification, moving cases to criminal court instead of juvenile rehabilitation-focused system85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Violent Crime

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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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