Technology

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 15, 2026

HB 2637: An Act providing for a temporary prohibition on artificial intelligence chatbots in children's toys; and imposing penalties.

This Pennsylvania bill temporarily bans the sale, manufacture, and distribution of children's toys containing artificial intelligence chatbots for a period of three years. It defines an AI chatbot as technology that uses generative AI to hold interactive conversations with users, while excluding toys that only provide pre-written responses. The law applies to any product intended for children under 14 years old and allows the Attorney General to enforce the ban through civil penalties and legal injunctions if violations occur. After the three-year period expires, the prohibition will automatically end, though any violations committed during the ban remain subject to enforcement.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill imposes a temporary ban on AI chatbots in children's toys, restricting the use and sale of this specific technology.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 26, 2026

HB 2672: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in organization of departmental administrative boards and commissions and of advisory boards and commissions, providing for Cybersecurity Coordination Board.

This bill creates a new Cybersecurity Coordination Board within the Pennsylvania Office of Administration to improve state cybersecurity efforts. The board will collect and share security information, advise the Governor on best practices, and coordinate with federal agencies, local governments, and private sector partners. Its membership includes representatives from key state offices, elected officials, local government leaders, and three appointed cybersecurity experts. The board will also invite federal agency representatives to serve in advisory roles and will elect its own leadership while appointing an executive director to manage its daily operations.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes a Cybersecurity Coordination Board to enhance state cybersecurity efforts, share security information, and coordinate with partners, directly strengthening the topic area.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Cybersecurity

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 5, 2026

HB 2603: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in wiretapping and electronic surveillance, further providing for definitions and providing for wearable recording devices; and imposing penalties.

This Pennsylvania bill regulates wearable recording devices, such as smartwatches and glasses, by requiring them to have a visible light that indicates when they are recording audio or video. It mandates that retailers provide customers with clear written notices about how these devices must be operated and prohibits the sale or use of devices that lack this visual indicator or have it disabled. Under the new rules, individuals must obtain explicit consent from anyone they record in private areas, and they cannot record others without their knowledge if the device's visual indicator is missing or turned off. Manufacturers face escalating financial penalties for selling non-compliant devices, while retailers who fail to provide proper notices may incur fines after repeated violations. Law enforcement officers and correctional facility personnel are exempt from these requirements when conducting investigations or ensuring security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances police accountability and protects civil rights by regulating wearable recording devices and requiring consent, reducing covert surveillance risks.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates visual indicators on recording devices and requires explicit consent, directly protecting consumer privacy and data rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 30, 2026

HR 583: A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to pass H.R. 7658 and S. 3949, the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026, or create and enact other legislation to require the implementation of stronger security measures to protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

This Pennsylvania House resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026 to protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from theft and fraud. The bill proposes requiring all states to upgrade to more secure chip-enabled EBT cards and mandates that federal security regulations be updated at least every five years. It directly affects the millions of low-income individuals and families in Pennsylvania and across the country who rely on SNAP for food assistance. The measure aims to address rising instances of benefit theft through methods like card skimming and cloning, which have left many residents without food.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly mandates stronger cybersecurity measures and chip-enabled EBT cards to protect SNAP benefits from theft and fraud.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Cybersecurity

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 17, 2026

HB 2595: An Act amending the act of November 30, 2004 (P.L.1672, No.213), known as the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act, providing for interconnection reviews.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act to establish a formal process for reviewing connections between renewable energy systems and the electric grid. It requires electric distribution companies to determine at a scoping meeting whether a feasibility, impact, or facilities study is needed and mandates that these studies be completed within 90 days. Upon finishing the study, the utility must agree to perform any necessary grid upgrades, providing a timeline and cost estimates that are subject to commission approval. If the utility fails to complete these upgrades on time or within the estimated budget, the customer can use a dispute resolution process, and the commission may enforce penalties against the utility.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill streamlines interconnection reviews for renewable energy systems, facilitating grid upgrades and accelerating clean energy deployment.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill streamlines renewable energy grid interconnection, promoting clean energy adoption and environmental protection.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill streamlines renewable energy grid interconnection, advancing clean technology infrastructure and deployment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Solar Transmission

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 2666: An Act providing for limitations on the use of user data in the creation of artificial intelligence simulations and for private right of action; and imposing penalties.

This bill, known as the Digital Afterlife Consent and AI Identity Protection Act, restricts digital platforms from using a user's data to create artificial intelligence simulations of them after death or during long periods of inactivity. It requires platforms to obtain explicit, separate consent from users before deploying such simulations and mandates that this consent be revocable at any time or expire two years after the user passes away. Furthermore, the law grants the user's estate the authority to override prior consent, terminate simulations, and request the deletion of AI-generated content, while also requiring clear labels on any content produced by these systems to indicate it is artificial.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects user data privacy and digital rights by regulating AI use of personal data, preventing unauthorized post-mortem simulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 4, 2026

SB 1349: An Act providing for transparency in use of generative artificial intelligence; requiring disclosure of synthetic content; providing for establishment of content verification tools; imposing duties on the Bureau of Consumer Protection in the Office of Attorney General; and imposing penalties.

SB 1349, known as the Digital Provenance Act, requires large online platforms and major AI tool providers in Pennsylvania to clearly label images, videos, and audio created or altered by generative artificial intelligence. These covered entities must embed a permanent, machine-readable label in their synthetic content that identifies the specific AI system used and the date of creation, while also offering a free public tool for users to verify the authenticity of digital media. The law imposes strict privacy rules on these providers, prohibiting them from collecting personal data through their verification tools and mandating that any uploaded content be deleted once the verification process is complete. Additionally, the Bureau of Consumer Protection in the Office of Attorney General will be tasked with enforcing these transparency requirements and can impose penalties for non-compliance.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates transparency and disclosure for AI content, protecting consumers from misinformation and enhancing digital trust.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 9, 2026

HB 2617: An Act amending the act of October 22, 2014 (P.L.2611, No.165), known as the State Agency Green Technology Implementation Act, further providing for the title of the act, for short title, for legislative intent, for definitions and for authority of Secretary of General Services.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's State Agency Green Technology Implementation Act to broaden the scope of technologies that state agencies can test, specifically adding "emerging" and "cost-reductive" options alongside existing energy-efficient ones. The legislation grants the Secretary of General Services the authority to approve pilot programs for new technologies that meet high-performance building standards and have been independently certified or previously used by another state government. By requiring proof of energy savings and independent assessments for cost-reduction projects, the bill aims to ensure that state agencies only adopt solutions that are validated for their effectiveness before wider implementation.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill expands state agency authority to test emerging and cost-reductive green technologies, advancing energy efficiency and clean tech adoption.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill expands green technology testing to include emerging and cost-reductive options, promoting energy efficiency and environmental protection.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill expands state agency authority to test emerging and cost-reductive green technologies, directly advancing technology adoption.90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 12, 2026

SB 1345: An Act amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, in zoning, providing for optional temporary moratorium on acceptance or consideration of new applications for high impact data centers.

This bill allows Pennsylvania municipalities to temporarily pause the review of new applications for high-impact data centers, which are defined by their significant electrical power usage. Under the new rules, local governments can impose a moratorium lasting up to 18 months to conduct studies on infrastructure capacity, public safety, and environmental impacts before approving such facilities. The measure is optional and does not affect existing data centers or other types of development, but it requires municipalities to hold public hearings and make reasonable progress on planning activities during the pause. Additionally, the bill provides a process for applicants to request waivers if strict enforcement would cause unique hardship, ensuring that the pause serves as a planning tool rather than a permanent ban.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill allows municipalities to pause data center applications, restricting infrastructure expansion and potentially limiting technology growth.75% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 24, 2026

SB 1368: An Act prohibiting nudification applications from being offered on online application marketplaces; and prescribing penalties.

This Pennsylvania bill prohibits the development and distribution of artificial intelligence applications that generate realistic images of people in states of nudity or engaged in sexual acts. It specifically targets online app stores, requiring them to remove these prohibited tools within five days after receiving a report and mandating that they provide a public portal for users to submit such notices. The law includes exceptions for general-purpose editing software, tools used for medical or law enforcement purposes, and services designed to detect or block these harmful applications. Violations of the act can result in civil penalties of up to $100,000 for each illegal download of the application.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts AI development and distribution by imposing removal mandates and penalties, limiting technological innovation in the sector.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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