Criminal Justice

failed · Pennsylvania · House Sep 30, 2025

HB 1099: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, providing for the offense of undetectable firearms.

HB 1099 would create a new criminal offense under Pennsylvania law for possessing or manufacturing undetectable firearms. These are weapons that cannot be detected by standard metal detectors, such as certain 3D-printed guns. The bill would add this specific prohibition to Pennsylvania's criminal code, making it illegal to have or produce such firearms. It directly affects individuals who possess or create undetectable firearms by establishing clear legal consequences for this activity.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds new criminal offense for undetectable firearms, expanding criminalization under PA law95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 15, 2026

HB 1905: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of ethnic intimidation; and, in particular rights and immunities, further prohibiting civil rights violations.

HB 1905 amends Pennsylvania law to expand the offense of assault to explicitly include "ethnic intimidation" under Title 18, making bias-motivated harassment a specific criminal charge. It also strengthens protections under Title 42 by prohibiting civil rights violations related to discriminatory conduct. The bill directly affects victims of bias-based crimes and law enforcement handling such cases, requiring specific legal procedures for these offenses. Key provisions clarify that assault charges can now be filed when harassment targets a person's ethnicity, religion, or other protected characteristics. The bill remains pending before the Judiciary committee after its referral on September 30, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands assault charge to include bias-motivated harassment and strengthens civil rights protections under criminal law, aligning with reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Violent Crime

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1360: An Act requiring persons convicted of arson and related offenses to register with local authorities; providing for duties of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Parole Board; and imposing a penalty.

HB 1360, the Convicted Arsonist Registry Act, requires individuals convicted of arson under Pennsylvania law (18 Pa.C.S. § 3301(a), (c), (d), or (f)) to register with the Pennsylvania State Police. Registrants must provide personal details - including name, Social Security number, current/residential addresses, student enrollment information, and photographs/fingerprints - and update this information within 14 days of release, parole, probation, or arrival in Pennsylvania. Local fire chiefs and law enforcement officers receive this registration data to aid investigations and public safety. Registration is mandatory for life for most offenders, or until age 25 for juvenile offenders, with records destroyed upon reaching that age.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires arson convicts to register with police for monitoring, enhancing post-release oversight to reduce recidivism and improve public safety within criminal justice framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Policing Probation & Parole

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 7, 2026

HB 1098: An Act amending the act of November 22, 1978 (P.L.1166, No.274), referred to as the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency Law, providing for Investigation and Prosecution of Internet Crimes Against Children Program.

HB 1098 establishes a new program under Pennsylvania's Commission on Crime and Delinquency to combat internet crimes against children. It directs the Commission to provide grants to law enforcement task forces for investigating and prosecuting internet-related crimes against minors under 18, specifically violations of Pennsylvania laws covering sexual offenses, human trafficking, and child exploitation (18 Pa.C.S. §§ 30, 31, 6312, 6318, 6320). The grants will support local police teams, supplement federal child exploitation grants, and fund specialized training for investigators. This program operates alongside existing federal and state funding without replacing it, directly affecting law enforcement agencies working on these cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds law enforcement task forces to investigate and prosecute internet crimes against children, strengthening criminal justice efforts in child protection and law enforcement response.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Juvenile Justice Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 47: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for the offense of sale or transfer of firearms.

SB 47 amends Pennsylvania law to increase liability for licensed firearm sellers who knowingly transfer weapons they believe will be used in crimes. It makes licensed dealers, importers, or manufacturers criminally liable if they sell firearms they have reason to believe will be used for criminal activity, and subjects them to civil lawsuits for injuries caused by those firearms. The bill overrides existing liability laws to hold sellers accountable for both criminal and civil consequences when sales violate firearm transfer rules. It directly affects licensed firearm businesses by expanding their legal exposure beyond standard criminal penalties. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill holds firearm sellers criminally liable for transfers likely used in crimes, aiming to reduce gun violence through accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 28, 2025

HB 383: An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in alimony and support, further providing for alimony.

HB 383 prevents a spouse convicted of a personal injury crime against their partner from receiving alimony, unless a court determines it is necessary to avoid manifest injustice. It also allows victims to recover alimony paid before the conviction. The bill modifies Pennsylvania's alimony guidelines by excluding marital misconduct after separation but requires courts to consider abuse during marriage (defined under state law). This directly affects divorce cases involving domestic violence convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents abusers from receiving alimony, protects victims, and aligns with criminal justice reform by holding offenders accountable in domestic violence cases.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 14, 2025

HB 104: An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in protection from abuse, further providing for definitions and for relief.

HB 104 amends Pennsylvania's protection from abuse law to define "electronic monitoring device" and allow courts to mandate its use for high-risk defendants. The bill defines a GPS-enabled device worn on the wrist or ankle that continuously tracks location within 100 miles, with data retained indefinitely by police. Courts may require this device for defendants found to pose a substantial risk of violating protection orders or committing crimes against victims, setting specific distance limits and restricted locations. The device must stay in place for the full duration of the protection order unless removed for "good cause" with notification to the victim. This directly affects individuals subject to abuse protection orders who are deemed high-risk by courts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates electronic monitoring for high-risk defendants to prevent abuse violations, reducing incarceration while enhancing victim safety and court oversight in domestic violence cases.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 19, 2025

SB 872: An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Nonnarcotic Medication Assisted Substance Abuse Treatment Grant Pilot Program, further providing for definitions, repealing provisions relating to establishment of pilot program, providing for establishment and further providing for county participation requirements, for use of grant funding, for powers and duties of department, for report to General Assembly and for construction; imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency; and making an editorial change.

SB 872 replaces Pennsylvania’s temporary "Nonnarcotic Medication Assisted Substance Abuse Treatment Grant Pilot Program" with a permanent "Medication-Assisted Substance Abuse Treatment Grant Program" administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The bill requires counties with correctional facilities offering substance abuse treatment to apply for grants, enabling them to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combined with counseling to eligible offenders both during incarceration and after release. Key provisions mandate county assessments to identify suitable candidates, individualized treatment plans, access to MAT, and coordination with probation/parole, while requiring biennial reports to the legislature on program effectiveness. The law prioritizes nonnarcotic MAT funding and prohibits using grant money to replace existing programs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePermanently funds MAT programs in correctional facilities to improve rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates permanent grant program funding medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for substance abuse in correctional facilities, expanding healthcare access and funding for treatment services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Probation & Parole Substance Abuse

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 23, 2025

HB 326: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in criminal homicide, repealing provisions relating to the offense of drug delivery resulting in death; in assault, providing for the offense of drug delivery resulting in death or serious bodily injury; in arson, criminal mischief and other property destruction, further providing for additional fine for arson committed for profit; in wiretapping and electronic surveillance, further providing for definitions; in limitation of time, further providing for no limitation applicable and for other offenses; and, in sentencing, further providing for sentences for second and subsequent offenses.

HB 326 repeals Pennsylvania's current law on "drug delivery resulting in death" and replaces it with a new offense covering both death and serious bodily injury caused by drug delivery. It classifies causing death as a first-degree felony (with a maximum 40-year prison sentence) and causing serious injury as a third-degree felony, while adding a defense for those who delivered drugs without receiving payment. The bill also increases fines for arson committed for profit and updates the definition of "crime of violence" to include the new drug delivery offense. These changes directly affect individuals who distribute drugs leading to harm and impact how courts prosecute such cases.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for drug delivery causing death (first-degree felony, 40-year max) and serious injury (third-degree felony), replacing less severe law. Adds limited non-payment defense but overall strengthens criminal sanctions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Sentencing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SB 415: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in computer offenses, providing for the offense of ransomware; and imposing duties on the Office of Administration.

SB 415 creates new criminal penalties for ransomware attacks targeting Pennsylvania state government systems. It prohibits possessing, using, or threatening to use ransomware (defined as software blocking access or encrypting data for payment demands) with penalties ranging from misdemeanors to felonies based on the ransom amount ($10,000+ triggers felony charges). The law requires managed IT service providers to notify state agencies within one hour of detecting ransomware, and agencies to report attacks to police within two hours. These provisions aim to prevent, detect, and respond to cyberattacks on Commonwealth agencies while mandating public notification after incidents.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal penalties for ransomware attacks on government systems, strengthening legal tools to combat cybercrime and protect public infrastructure within criminal justice framework.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates criminal penalties for ransomware attacks and mandates rapid notification to enhance cybersecurity protections for state systems.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Cybersecurity

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