Technology

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 652: An Act amending the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, providing for reporting requirements of interactive computer service providers; and imposing penalties.

HB 652 requires social media platforms and websites with public user profiles (like Facebook or Instagram) to report specific drug-related activity to Pennsylvania State Police. If a platform learns someone is unlawfully manufacturing, delivering, or possessing drugs in Pennsylvania, it must provide contact details, digital evidence (like IP addresses or timestamps), and related messages within 24 hours. Platforms face fines up to $300,000 for failing to report, but the law explicitly prohibits them from monitoring users or proactively searching for drug activity. This bill directly affects major online platforms that facilitate user interaction and public content sharing.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill mandates platforms to report user data (messages, IP addresses) to police for drug activity, weakening data privacy protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 24, 2025

SB 22: An Act amending Title 50 (Mental Health) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for protection of minors on social media; and imposing penalties.

SB 22 amends Pennsylvania's mental health laws to protect minors under age 16 on social media. It prohibits social media companies from intentionally causing minors to access harmful content that risks their physical or mental health, with penalties including fines. Companies must take "good faith" steps to block such content, and recovered damages from violations will fund mental health services for students. The law directly affects social media platforms operating in Pennsylvania and aims to address rising teen mental health concerns linked to social media use.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFines from violations fund mental health services for students, directly advancing mental health initiatives under healthcare policy.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts social media content policies for minors, imposing penalties on platforms to prevent harmful exposure, directly limiting tech company operations under mental health protection framework90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Social Media

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 317: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in computer offenses, providing for artificial intelligence; and imposing a penalty.

HB 317 requires creators and distributors of AI-generated content in Pennsylvania to watermark at least 30% of images, text, simulations, or videos with 50% opacity and the label "Artificial Intelligence Generated Material." It directly affects individuals and businesses producing AI content, with exceptions for film/TV productions using AI for visual effects without involving specific individuals or with their written consent. Violations carry a $1,000 fine for a first offense and $10,000 for repeat offenses within five years. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyMandates AI content labeling with opacity/label requirements, imposing compliance costs and fines - restricts unregulated AI distribution per bill's explicit penalties.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 21, 2025

HB 688: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in charter schools, providing for cyber charter school moratorium.

HB 688 imposes a 13-year freeze on new cyber charter school approvals in Pennsylvania, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2038. The bill prohibits the Pennsylvania Department of Education from reviewing or approving any new applications for cyber charter schools during this period, regardless of when the application was submitted. This directly affects organizations or entities seeking to establish new cyber charter schools in the state. The policy change specifically targets new school applications while leaving existing cyber charter schools unaffected.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationImposes 13-year moratorium on new cyber charter school approvals, restricting expansion of virtual education options within K-12 education policy.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyImposes 13-year moratorium on new cyber charter schools, restricting technology-based education expansion per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 1188: An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for protection of State-owned electronic devices and networks from applications controlled by foreign adversaries.

Pennsylvania's HB 1188 bans state-owned electronic devices and networks from using artificial intelligence applications controlled by "foreign adversaries" as defined by federal law (10 U.S.C. § 4872(d)(2)). It directly affects Pennsylvania government agencies, local municipalities, and schools (via "local education agencies") by prohibiting the installation of such AI apps on state devices or access through state networks. Exceptions include law enforcement, security research, and risk mitigation activities. Violations require referral to the State Ethics Commission for investigation under existing ethics laws. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBans state use of AI apps controlled by foreign adversaries, restricting specific technology access for security compliance.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SB 702: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for telemedicine prohibited for medication safety.

This bill amends Pennsylvania law to prohibit healthcare providers from using telemedicine to prescribe certain medications to patients within the state. Specifically, it disallows the use of telemedicine for medications that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated with a "risk evaluation and mitigation strategy." These strategies are special safety programs implemented by the FDA for medications with specific serious risks. The aim is to enhance medication safety by ensuring such medications are not prescribed remotely via telemedicine.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProhibits telemedicine for FDA-mandated risk medications, restricting patient access to certain prescriptions via remote care.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly prohibits telemedicine for prescribing certain medications, restricting technology use in healthcare to enhance safety, directly limiting a technology application.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 29, 2025

HB 1513: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in computer offenses, providing for liability for Internet publishers and distributors of material harmful to minors.

HB 1513 would amend Pennsylvania's criminal code to establish criminal liability for internet publishers and distributors who knowingly make material harmful to minors available online. The bill targets content such as explicit sexual material deemed harmful to minors, creating a legal framework for prosecution without requiring proof of intent to harm minors. It directly affects online platforms, website operators, and content distributors that host or share such material. The bill is currently pending in the Communications & Technology committee for further review.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by imposing liability on internet publishers for harmful material without requiring intent to harm minors, increasing prosecution scope.85% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill imposes criminal liability on internet platforms for distributing minors-harmful content, restricting online content distribution and increasing legal risk for publishers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

Track

passed · Pennsylvania · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 1014: 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, providing for bell-to-bell mobile device policy.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates phone-free classrooms to reduce distractions, directly supporting learning environment in K-12 schools. No funding cuts or curriculum restrictions; clear intent to strengthen educational focus.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill mandates restriction of personal electronic devices in schools during instruction, limiting technology access and use in educational settings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 491: An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in alternative form of regulation of telecommunications services, further providing for network modernization plans and for additional powers and duties of commission.

SB 491 modifies Pennsylvania's telecommunications regulations by relieving local telecom companies of certain service obligations. Starting in 2026, companies won't need to provide broadband where other providers already serve a location (Section 3014(b)(9)), and by 2027, they’re exempt from extending service when alternatives exist (Section 3014(b)(10)-(11)). The bill also requires the Public Utility Commission to permanently waive specific regulatory rules for telecom carriers (Section 3019(c)), while explicitly removing the Commission’s jurisdiction over VoIP and broadband services. These changes directly affect telecom companies and customers in areas with competing broadband providers.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill exempts telecoms from extending broadband where alternatives exist, reducing service expansion requirements and limiting internet access expansion.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access Telecommunications

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 22, 2025

HB 140: 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.

HB 140 amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to add specific definitions related to algorithmic rent-setting software. The bill defines "unfair methods of competition" to include using software that analyzes rental data (like historical prices or occupancy rates) to recommend rent amounts, lease terms, or occupancy levels for residential or commercial properties. Landlords using such software would be directly affected, as its use could now be considered an unfair practice under the law. The definition explicitly excludes aggregated rental reports published monthly and tools used for affordable housing program compliance.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill defines algorithmic rent-setting as unfair, protecting tenants from exploitative pricing practices under consumer protection law.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts algorithmic rent-setting software by defining its use as 'unfair methods of competition' under consumer protection law, limiting tech application in housing.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

Track