HB 407 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

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

HB 407 creates a new criminal offense for unauthorized location tracking in Pennsylvania, making it illegal to install or use technology (such as apps or devices) to monitor someone's location without their consent. Exceptions include law enforcement during investigations, parents tracking minor children, guardians monitoring incapacitated persons, and other specific scenarios like fleet vehicle tracking with proper consent. The bill does not change existing stalking laws but adds this new provision to address technology-enabled harassment. It directly affects individuals who might use location-tracking tools to harass others, while clarifying permitted uses for safety and legal purposes.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Last action Apr 9, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN0379 → Printer's No. PN1295 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to broaden the definition of unauthorized location tracking to include software programs and applications, not just physical devices. It also added new exceptions allowing tracking in specific family custody situations and by vehicle manufacturers if a notice is displayed. Most significantly, the penalty for violating these rules was increased from a third-degree misdemeanor to a second-degree misdemeanor if the victim has a protective order, and to a first-degree misdemeanor if the actor has a prior conviction.

Scope change

The scope of the offense was expanded to cover digital software and apps, and the severity of penalties was increased based on the existence of protective orders or prior convictions.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'technological device' was updated to explicitly include 'programs or applications,' expanding the law to cover software-based tracking.

REQUIREMENT

New exceptions were added allowing tracking when parents have primary physical custody or when vehicle manufacturers install trackers with a conspicuous notice.

A new requirement mandates that defendants must pay the cost to remove any unauthorized tracking device from a person or property.

ENFORCEMENT

Penalties were escalated: violations involving victims under protective orders are now second-degree misdemeanors, and repeat offenders face first-degree misdemeanor charges.

Floor votes · House Apr 7, 2025

How they voted

203–0

Passed

Total votes 203

Apr 7, 2025

D Democratic102

102 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican101

101 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 9, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Apr 7, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (203-0)

house

Apr 7, 2025

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported as committed

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary

lower

1 primary · 20 co-sponsors