SB 520 Pennsylvania Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 30 (Fish), 34 (Game), 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in wiretapping and electronic surveillance, further providing for definitions and repealing provisions relating to public access; in enforcement relating to fish, further providing for powers and duties of waterways conservation officers and deputies; in enforcement relating to game, further providing for powers and duties of enforcement officers; in recordings by law enforcement officers, further providing for definitions and for audio recording or video recording policies; in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for powers and duties of Department of Corrections; and making transfers between the State Gaming Fund and certain restricted accounts.

SB 520 amends Pennsylvania law to clarify who can legally record communications during enforcement duties, directly affecting waterways conservation officers, game enforcement officers, and parole agents. It expands definitions to allow these officers to use body cameras or recording devices after approved training, while removing public access requirements under the Right-to-Know Law for such recordings. Key provisions include defining "law enforcement officer" to include specific conservation and game officers, requiring training for device use, and repealing prior rules about public access to recordings. The bill also updates enforcement officer powers related to fish and game regulations. This enacted law (Act No. 53 of 2025) focuses on operational clarity for law enforcement recording practices.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Nov 2025

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

House Passage

Nov 2025

Signed into Law

Nov 2025

Introduced Mar 26, 2025 Signed Nov 24, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1008 → Printer's No. PN1010 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This version of the bill expands its legal scope to include the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and the Department of Corrections, adding new powers for correctional staff regarding intercepted communications. It also reorganizes the repeals and amendments related to public access to recordings and clarifies the definitions of law enforcement officers to include specific conservation officers.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly applies to the Board of Probation and Parole and the Department of Corrections, whereas the previous version did not include these entities in its scope.

SCOPE

Added provisions for the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and the Department of Corrections, including new duties for the Department of Corrections.

DEFINITION

Updated the list of law enforcement officers to include waterways conservation officers and deputy waterways conservation officers.

REQUIREMENT

Added a specific exception preventing agents from intercepting communications inside the residence of a Department of Corrections employee without consent or court approval.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a requirement that parolees receive written notice upon release that their communications may be intercepted by approved agents.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the text regarding the repeal of Section 5729 and the amendment of Title 61 to improve clarity and structure.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 26, 2025 · House Nov 19, 2025

How they voted

50–0

Passed

Total votes 50

Jun 26, 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

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Nov 24, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor

lower

Nov 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

lower

Nov 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Nov 18, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Appropriations

lower

Jul 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported as committed

lower

Jun 30, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary

lower

Jun 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

upper

Jun 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amended on third consideration

upper

Jun 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Re-reported as amended

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Appropriations

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported as committed

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary

upper

1 primary · 11 co-sponsors