An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of terroristic threats.
SB 96 amends Pennsylvania's assault laws to clarify and strengthen penalties for "terroristic threats," specifically targeting threats that cause fear or disrupt public spaces. It directly affects schools, universities, and public facilities by requiring convicted offenders to pay restitution covering actual emergency response costs, including fire/police services, unused food, and staff wages during evacuations. The law specifies that threats causing school/university disruptions or targeting educational institutions carry felony penalties, while other threats are misdemeanors. This policy change shifts focus from solely punishing the threat to compensating communities for real costs incurred during responses.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 22, 2025
Last action Apr 3, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Apr 1, 2025
How they voted
37–12
Passed
Total votes 49
Apr 1, 2025
D
Democratic22
54% Nay
R
Republican27
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Apr 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Re-reported as committed
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported as committed
upper
Jan 22, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
upper
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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