HB 355 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in minors, further providing for the offense of corruption of minors and for the offense of unlawful contact with minor.

HB 355 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code to strengthen protections for minors by updating the offenses of "corruption of minors" and "unlawful contact with minor." The bill specifically targets adults who exploit or sexually exploit minors through interactions like grooming or inappropriate contact, making these acts clearer and more severe under state law. It directly affects minors (ages 12-17) and adults who engage in prohibited conduct with them, including online interactions. The law increases penalties for these offenses by clarifying prohibited behaviors and strengthening sentencing guidelines, now effective as Act No. 5 of 2025.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Jan 27, 2025 Signed Jun 27, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1151 Printer's No. PN1596 · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was updated to reflect its progression through the legislative process, adding new sponsors and a second amendment date. Substantively, the bill now includes a new crime called 'Unlawful Contact with Minor,' which criminalizes law enforcement officers impersonating minors to engage in prohibited sexual or exploitative acts. Additionally, a sentencing enhancement was added to allow for harsher penalties if the offender is a mandated reporter.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded by adding a new specific offense targeting law enforcement impersonation and by creating a new crime category for corruption of minors that includes sexual contact.
ENFORCEMENT

Added a new crime, 'Unlawful Contact with Minor,' specifically targeting law enforcement officers who assume the identity of a minor to engage in prohibited sexual or exploitative activities.

REQUIREMENT

Added a sentencing enhancement requiring the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to consider harsher penalties for cases where the defendant is a mandated reporter.

TECHNICAL

Updated the list of bill sponsors and the amendment history to reflect changes made during the second consideration of the bill in the House of Representatives.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 25, 2025 · House May 5, 2025

How they voted

500
Passed
Total votes 50
Jun 25, 2025
D Democratic23
23 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican27
27 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
7
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Jun 27, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor
upper
Jun 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
Jun 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported as committed
upper
May 12, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
upper
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
May 5, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (203-0)
house
May 5, 2025
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
Jan 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 26 co-sponsors

Sponsors