Technology

passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 25, 2026

HB 2540: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, providing for transition to chip-enabled access cards.

This bill directs Pennsylvania's Human Services department to replace current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cards with new chip-enabled versions by January 1, 2028. The new cards will be provided free of charge to eligible recipients and will include security features like tap-to-pay technology to prevent benefit theft. The department must issue regular reports on the transition progress to state legislators and take steps to secure funding, including applying for federal grants.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates adoption of chip-enabled cards with security features to prevent benefit theft, enhancing cybersecurity and digital infrastructure.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2371: 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; and, in gross receipts tax, further providing for imposition of tax; and providing for reporting and for transfers.

HB 2371 modifies Pennsylvania's tax code to temporarily exempt mobile telecommunications services from sales and gross receipts taxes for six months starting in 2026. The bill requires providers to report these services separately and mandates that the tax savings be passed directly to consumers through lower bills, with penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, the legislation ensures that a specific transfer of funds from the Alternative Fuels Incentive Act remains consistent with the previous fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides temporary tax relief on mobile telecommunications services, reducing consumer costs and aligning with fiscal support goals.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill temporarily exempts mobile telecommunications services from taxes, lowering costs and promoting internet access and digital equity.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Telecommunications

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 30, 2026

HB 2535: An Act providing for the public safety regulation of large load users; requiring the submission of emergency operations plans and generalized infrastructure inventories as a condition of occupancy; protecting confidential security information; and providing for enforcement and penalties.

HB 2535, known as the Commercial Data Center Public Safety Act, regulates large data centers in Pennsylvania that consume 25 megawatts or more of power. To receive a certificate of occupancy, these facilities must submit detailed emergency plans and inventories listing battery types, cooling agents, and fire suppression systems to local fire officials. The bill also mandates annual updates to these documents and restricts access to the information to authorized safety and law enforcement personnel to protect confidential security details.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill enhances cybersecurity and public safety by mandating emergency plans and restricting access to confidential security information for large data centers.85% confidence

Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 1, 2026

HB 2557: An Act amending Title 4 (Amusements) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for the regulation of skill games and certain covered devices and for powers and duties of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board; and imposing penalties.

This bill establishes a new regulatory framework for skill video gaming devices in Pennsylvania, requiring the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to oversee their operation. It defines "covered devices" as electronic machines that accept value and offer payouts while simulating slot machines, but explicitly excludes traditional slot machines, family entertainment center games, and pure multiplayer video competitions. The legislation mandates that these devices connect to a central computer system for real-time auditing of financial transactions and operational details. Additionally, the bill outlines specific duties for the Gaming Control Board and sets penalties for violations of the new regulations.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes a regulatory framework for skill gaming devices to ensure consumer protection and oversight by the Gaming Control Board.75% confidence

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 9, 2026

HB 2512: An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in transportation network service, further providing for rates and forms of compensation.

This bill prohibits transportation network companies, such as ride-sharing services, from using specific data from a passenger's phone to calculate fares. It bans charging higher prices based on the device's hardware state, like battery life or age, and forbids using geolocation data to set prices unless the variation reflects legitimate differences in travel costs, taxes, or real-time demand. The law also prevents companies from raising fares simply because a user has certain software installed or because their device is in a specific mode. These rules aim to ensure that ride prices are determined by the trip itself rather than the characteristics of the passenger's equipment.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects consumer data privacy by restricting how ride-sharing companies can use device data and geolocation to set fares.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill protects consumer rights by preventing discriminatory pricing based on device data, enhancing fairness in transportation network services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 28, 2026

HB 2547: An Act amending the act of November 30, 2004 (P.L.1672, No.213), known as the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act, further providing for definitions.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act to officially include linear generators in the state's list of alternative energy sources. It defines linear generators as systems that convert linear motion directly into electricity without flames or sparks, capable of operating on various fuels like hydrogen, ammonia, and biogas. By adding this technology to the "Tier I" category, the legislation ensures that electricity produced by these generators counts toward the renewable energy goals set for electric distribution and supply companies. The changes apply to existing and future energy production methods and will take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill expands Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act to include linear generators, thereby strengthening renewable energy infrastructure and diversifying clean energy sources.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill expands clean energy portfolio by including linear generators, promoting alternative energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill expands alternative energy sources by including linear generators, advancing clean technology adoption and infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy

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passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 3, 2026

SB 1279: An Act providing for issuance of housing construction permits by executive agencies, for designation of Commonwealth Housing Regulatory Compliance Officer and for timelines for permits related to housing construction; and imposing duties on the Office of Transformation and Opportunity.

SB 1279, known as the Reduce the Red Tape for Housing Act, aims to streamline housing construction permitting in Pennsylvania by requiring executive agencies to set specific processing timelines and adopt digital application systems. The bill introduces a new role called the Commonwealth Housing Regulatory Compliance Officer to coordinate between state agencies, local governments, and developers, while also allowing developers to hire independent third-party reviewers to expedite approvals. Additionally, the Office of Transformation and Opportunity must evaluate ways to improve the building materials supply chain and report on progress in reducing regulatory hurdles for housing projects.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill streamlines permitting and reduces red tape to accelerate housing construction, facilitating increased housing development.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates adoption of digital application systems for housing permits, directly advancing technology use in government processes.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 10, 2026

SB 1335: 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.

This bill creates a new program within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to fund the investigation and prosecution of internet crimes against children. It authorizes the commission to provide grants to law enforcement agencies for establishing task forces that specialize in investigating online sexual offenses and human trafficking involving minors. The funding can also be used to supplement existing federal grants and to train investigators and prosecutors in handling these specific cases. Additionally, the bill requires the commission to set guidelines for awarding these grants, ensuring they are distributed across different geographic areas.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds investigation and prosecution of internet crimes against children, strengthening law enforcement capabilities and protecting victims.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill funds investigation and prosecution of internet crimes against children, enhancing cybersecurity and protecting minors online.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 1332: An Act providing for notice of use of artificial intelligence or generative artificial intelligence in political advertisements.

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1332 requires political advertisements that use artificial intelligence or generative AI to clearly disclose this fact to the public. The law mandates that text-based ads display a visible statement with details about the content's origin, while audio or video ads must include an audible tagline at the beginning. Violations of this disclosure requirement can result in civil fines of up to $3,000, along with the payment of legal fees and court costs. The bill applies to all political ads produced after its effective date of 30 days.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates disclosure of AI use in political ads to protect consumers from deception and enhance transparency in digital communications.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 26, 2026

HB 2534: An Act providing for artificial intelligence transparency, for duties of covered providers of generative artificial intelligence systems and for large online platforms and generative artificial intelligence system hosting platforms; and imposing a penalty.

This bill, known as the Artificial Intelligence Transparency Act, requires large companies in Pennsylvania that create or host generative AI systems with over one million monthly users to provide free tools for detecting AI-generated content. These covered providers must offer a publicly accessible tool that allows users to upload images, videos, or audio to determine if they were created by the company's AI and to reveal specific technical details about the content's origin without exposing private user data. Additionally, the law mandates that large online platforms and hosting sites make AI-generated content clearly visible to users and prohibits the sharing of certain personal information linked to AI systems. The legislation also establishes penalties for entities that fail to comply with these transparency and disclosure requirements.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates AI transparency tools to detect generated content, protecting consumers and enhancing digital rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy

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