This bill creates the Health Care Facility Threat Assessment Grant Program within the Pennsylvania Department of Health to improve safety and security at hospitals and other medical facilities. The program will use state funds to hire a contractor that provides a standardized digital platform for conducting threat and risk assessments. This platform is designed to collect real-time data, manage workflows for identifying and mitigating risks, and allow healthcare administrators and public safety officials to collaborate on security evaluations. Additionally, the bill imposes new duties on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to support these efforts.
SB 1014 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code of 1949 to require public schools to adopt a "bell-to-bell phone-free policy" during the entire school day. This policy directly affects all public K-12 schools and students by prohibiting the use of personal electronic devices during instructional time. The key provision mandates that schools establish and enforce this policy, though the bill does not specify exemptions or implementation details. The legislation focuses on reducing distractions in classrooms by limiting student phone access from the start to the end of the school day. It is currently pending in the Education committee.
HB 2176 would require Pennsylvania public and nonpublic schools to integrate social media literacy into their curriculum. The bill mandates that state academic standards include specific lessons on social media's mental, psychological, and physical impacts on students, its effects on learning, safe online behavior (including identifying cyberbullying and predatory activity), and personal device security. The Department of Education must develop educational materials and provide professional development for teachers on these topics. This bill directly affects all Pennsylvania schools, including public school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools, by adding concrete requirements to student learning standards.
HB 1640 protects patient privacy for reproductive health care records in Pennsylvania. It requires healthcare providers (covered entities) to obtain written permission from patients before sharing records related to permitted reproductive services - such as pregnancy care, contraception, or abortion - except in limited circumstances like court orders, abuse investigations, or legal defense needs. The law explicitly preserves existing confidentiality protections under other state laws, including those for mental health and domestic violence services. It applies directly to patients seeking reproductive health care and the healthcare providers handling their records.
HB 1512 requires manufacturers of digital electronic devices (like smartphones and computers) to provide owners and independent repair shops with necessary repair documentation, parts, and tools on fair and reasonable terms. The bill mandates that manufacturers make this information accessible to enable repairs outside of official channels. It also imposes penalties for manufacturers who fail to comply with these requirements. This directly affects device manufacturers and expands repair options for consumers and small repair businesses. The bill passed final passage in the legislature on October 27, 2025, and now awaits review by the Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure committee.
HB 1822 would protect personal data (like home addresses and phone numbers) of Pennsylvania public servants - such as police officers, teachers, and government workers - from being sold or misused by data brokers. It requires data brokers to delete this information upon request and follow new rules when collecting or sharing it. The bill also creates a civil enforcement mechanism, allowing affected individuals to sue companies that violate these protections. Currently, the bill is stalled in the House after being amended and reported by the Judiciary Committee.
HB 997 updates Pennsylvania's data breach notification law, requiring businesses to notify affected individuals more clearly and promptly after a security breach involving personal information. It directly affects businesses that collect or store personal data, such as healthcare providers, retailers, and financial institutions. Key changes include modernizing definitions of personal information, clarifying when notification is required, adding new security protections, and repealing outdated civil relief provisions. The bill also removes certain exemptions that previously allowed businesses to delay or avoid notifying individuals about breaches.
HB 1299 amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to regulate automatic renewal and continuous service offers. It requires businesses to clearly disclose renewal terms, pricing after trials, and cancellation options in a way consumers can retain, and to allow online cancellation. The law applies to most subscription-based goods/services but excludes health clubs, federally regulated utilities, natural gas/electricity contracts, and insurance entities. Violations would be treated as unfair trade practices under existing enforcement mechanisms.
Pennsylvania's SB 649 (now Act No. 35 of 2025) creates a new criminal offense for "digital forgery," targeting individuals who create and distribute fake digital images or audio recordings of real people without consent, intending to defraud or cause harm. It defines a "forged digital likeness" as a computer-generated representation that materially changes a person's appearance, speech, or behavior to deceive others, with penalties ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony for fraud schemes. The law explicitly excludes satire, political commentary, law enforcement activities, and technology providers from prosecution, and allows a defense if the creator clearly disclosed the content as fake. This law directly affects creators of deceptive digital content and aims to protect individuals from identity-based fraud or harm.
HB 1511 creates the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods Program within Pennsylvania's Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The bill requires the Commission to establish this program, which provides funding and guidance for law enforcement agencies to use technology like digital forensics and data analysis to solve violent crimes more effectively. It directly affects Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies handling violent incidents by mandating new reporting requirements and resource allocation for technology-driven investigations. The program aims to improve clearance rates for violent crimes through standardized, tech-enhanced investigative methods.
