Technology

passed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 23, 2025

HB 1299: An Act amending the act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387), known as the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, providing for unlawful retention policy.

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.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates automatic renewals and disclosure requirements for digital subscriptions, enhancing consumer control over tech services per consumer protection law.85% confidence

Tags Consumer Protection

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 1, 2026

SB 270: An Act amending the act of July 2, 1935 (P.L.589, No.210), referred to as the Milk Sanitation Law, prohibiting the sale of human milk over the Internet.

SB 270 amends Pennsylvania's Milk Sanitation Law to ban the online sale of human milk. The bill specifically prohibits selling or offering human milk via the internet, including through classified advertisements or direct transactions between individuals. This directly affects online sellers and buyers of human milk, adding a new restriction to the existing law that previously regulated physical milk sales. The amendment takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly prohibits internet sales of human milk, restricting technology use for commercial transactions per the amendment to Milk Sanitation Law.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Dec 3, 2025

HB 2064: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in governance of the system, further providing for fee increases and automation fee.

HB 2064 increases the maximum fee that clerks of courts in Pennsylvania counties of second class A and third through eighth class (including home rule counties of the same class) can charge for initiating a legal action to $10 (from $5). The fee must be deposited into a county-specific "automation fund" to cover only court technology updates and automation improvements. Future fee increases are capped at the three-year Consumer Price Index change and can occur no more than once every three years. This bill directly affects residents and businesses filing lawsuits in these specific counties.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates fees specifically for court technology automation improvements via dedicated 'automation fund', directly funding tech infrastructure.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1640: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in rules of evidence, providing for protection of reproductive health services records.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects patient privacy for reproductive health records, requiring written consent before sharing - directly aligns with patient rights protection in healthcare.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyHB 1640 explicitly protects patient data privacy for reproductive health records by requiring written consent before sharing, directly aligning with data privacy as a core technology policy aspect.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 24, 2025

HB 989: An Act amending the act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387), known as the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, further providing for contracts and effect of rescission.

HB 989 extends a 3-day "cooling-off period" for consumers who purchase goods or services priced at $25 or more through door-to-door sales, phone calls, or online platforms. It requires sellers to provide a bilingual receipt and a detachable cancellation form at the time of sale, clearly stating the right to cancel within three business days. Consumers must return merchandise in its original condition and notify sellers in writing to cancel, with sellers required to refund payments within 10 business days. This bill directly affects buyers in these specific sales scenarios and mandates new disclosure requirements for sellers under Pennsylvania's consumer protection law.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExtends consumer protection to online sales via mandatory cancellation rights and disclosures, aligning with digital consumer rights regulations.85% confidence

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 10, 2025

SB 930: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in student supports, further providing for definitions; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions, for School Safety and Security Committee, for school safety and security assessment providers, for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator, for school safety and security training and for reporting and memorandum of understanding; in school security, further providing for training, for school resource officers, for school security guards and for duties of commission; in Safe2Say Program, further providing for intent, for definitions, for Safe2Say Program and for annual report; in threat assessment, further providing for definitions, for threat assessment teams and for threat assessment guidelines, training and information materials; and making editorial changes.

SB 930 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to strengthen school safety and security systems. It establishes a School Safety and Security Committee, requires schools to appoint coordinators for safety planning, and mandates annual training for staff on topics like cyber safety, active shooter drills, and mental health awareness. The bill creates a grant program funding mental health services and cyber security measures (e.g., preventing data breaches), with funds restricted to these purposes. Schools must report safety meeting attendance and security personnel details annually, starting in 2026, to their boards of directors. These changes directly affect public school districts, charter schools, and their administrators.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates School Safety Grant Program funding mental health and cyber security services, allocating state funds for public safety programs.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program for mental health/cybersecurity services and mandates safety training, strengthening school safety infrastructure under education framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates grant program funding mental health services and mental health awareness training in schools, directly advancing healthcare access through school-based mental health initiatives.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates cyber safety training and funds cybersecurity measures (e.g., preventing data breaches) to protect student data within school systems.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Testing & Assessment

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 13, 2025

HB 891: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, providing for Keystone State Apprenticeship Tax Credit; establishing the Keystone State Apprenticeship Tax Credit Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry.

HB 891 creates the Keystone State Apprenticeship Tax Credit Program, providing tax incentives to Pennsylvania businesses that hire apprentices. It directly affects employers participating in approved apprenticeship programs, with preference given to those training disadvantaged youth (low-income individuals aged 16-24) and businesses in key sectors like clean energy, healthcare, and technology. The program allocates up to $10 million annually in tax credits from 2025 to 2030, administered by the Department of Labor and Industry, which will determine eligibility and prioritize employers based on specific criteria like apprentice graduation rates and program novelty. Businesses must register apprenticeship agreements with the department to qualify for the credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit program for apprenticeship hiring, providing incentives to businesses and allocating $10M annually through tax credits, directly advancing tax policy for workforce development.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax incentives for apprenticeships training disadvantaged youth (16-24), expanding educational access for low-income individuals in key sectors.65% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill prioritizes clean energy businesses for tax credits, directly advancing renewable energy sector growth through incentives in key sectors.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates tax credits for businesses hiring apprentices, prioritizing disadvantaged youth and key sectors, directly advancing workforce development and employment opportunities.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly prioritizes technology businesses for tax credits in apprenticeship programs, directly funding tech sector workforce development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Tax Incentives Renewable Energy Apprenticeships

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 518: An Act amending the act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387), known as the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, further providing for definitions and for unlawful acts or practices and exclusions.

HB 518 amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices law to address consumer guarantees generated by artificial intelligence. It specifically makes it unlawful for businesses to fail to honor written guarantees, warranties, or policies created by consumer-facing AI systems. The bill defines "artificial intelligence" broadly to include systems that perform human-like tasks (e.g., learning, decision-making) without significant human oversight. This directly affects businesses using AI for customer commitments, adding a new prohibited practice under the state's consumer protection law. The change clarifies that deceptive AI-generated promises now fall under existing penalties for unfair trade practices.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates businesses honor AI-generated consumer guarantees under Unfair Trade Practices law, directly regulating AI use for consumer protection and strengthening digital rights accountability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Tags Consumer Protection

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 12, 2025

HB 1437: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in sales and use tax, further providing for exclusions from tax.

HB 1437 creates a temporary sales tax exemption in Pennsylvania for specific personal items during an annual window. It excludes clothing accessories, footwear, school supplies, computers/software, and certain bedding items from sales tax when purchased by individuals for nonbusiness use during the first Friday in August through the following Sunday. The Department of Revenue must post a list of qualifying items online by July 10 each year. This policy change directly affects individual consumers shopping for these items during the defined exclusion period.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates temporary sales tax exemption for essential consumer items (clothing, school supplies, computers), providing direct tax relief to individuals during back-to-school season.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts school supplies and computers/software from sales tax, reducing costs for families purchasing educational items and improving access to learning materials.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly exempts computers/software from sales tax, making technology more affordable for individual consumers during a specific window, directly supporting technology adoption.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 21, 2025

HR 87: A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study reviewing the risk to critical infrastructure from foreign purchases of critical infrastructure assets and adjacent land in this Commonwealth.

HR 87 is a resolution directing Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to study security risks to critical infrastructure from foreign purchases of infrastructure assets and adjacent land. The study will examine current state protections, compare approaches used by other states, and assess whether adopting a process similar to the federal CFIUS review (which evaluates foreign investments for national security risks) would be feasible. It requires the Commission to report findings and recommendations to the General Assembly within 24 months. This resolution does not create new laws but aims to inform future policy decisions about protecting critical infrastructure.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill studies foreign ownership risks to critical infrastructure, aiming to enhance cybersecurity protections through potential adoption of CFIUS-like review process85% confidence

Track