Technology

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Dec 22, 2025

SR 204: A Resolution urging all agencies of the Commonwealth to have the ability to use diacritical marks on names on all Commonwealth-issued documents by July 1, 2027.

This resolution urges all Pennsylvania state agencies to update their systems to allow diacritical marks (like accents) in names on official documents by July 1, 2027. It directly affects residents whose names include such marks, who currently face issues with mismatched names on documents like driver's licenses. The key provision sets a specific deadline for agencies to modernize outdated technology, particularly noting PennDOT's legacy systems as a current barrier. It does not create new law but formally requests agencies prioritize this change to ensure names are spelled correctly on all Commonwealth-issued documents.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates system updates for diacritical marks, advancing tech infrastructure to improve inclusivity and fix legacy system barriers in document processing.85% confidence

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 1, 2026

HB 2176: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for social media literacy education.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates social media literacy curriculum integration, addressing mental health impacts and online safety per state standards, strengthening educational content on digital citizenship.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates social media literacy education on safe behavior, cyberbullying, and device security, enhancing cybersecurity awareness and digital rights education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety Online Safety Social Media

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 1130: An Act amending the act of November 29, 2006 (P.L.1435, No.156), known as the Public Utility Confidential Security Information Disclosure Protection Act, further providing for prohibition.

SB 1130 amends Pennsylvania's Public Utility Confidential Security Information Disclosure Protection Act to clarify when public utilities' security information can be shared for construction or renovation projects involving public buildings. It adds an exception allowing agencies to disclose such information (after notifying the utility) for these specific construction purposes, without triggering the act's disclosure prohibition or making the information subject to public disclosure under the Right-to-Know Law. The bill directly affects public utilities, government agencies, and construction entities working on public projects. This change ensures security details remain protected while enabling necessary project work without unintended public release.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAmends security information disclosure rules to allow necessary utility security sharing for construction projects without public disclosure, maintaining cybersecurity protections while enabling essential infrastructure work.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Dec 12, 2025

HB 2100: An Act providing for the use of mental health chatbots and artificial intelligence by mental health therapists; imposing duties on the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs; and imposing a penalty.

HB 2100 prohibits mental health chatbot suppliers from selling or sharing Pennsylvania users' personal health data or chat inputs with third parties. It directly affects companies providing AI therapy tools that simulate confidential conversations with users in Pennsylvania. The law requires suppliers to protect user data, with limited exceptions for user consent or sharing with health providers. This creates new data privacy rules for AI mental health tools used by therapists in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects patient data privacy for AI mental health tools, strengthening confidentiality in therapy services per bill's data protection requirements.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill imposes strict data privacy requirements on AI mental health chatbots, prohibiting third-party data sharing without consent, thus protecting user data privacy in technology use.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Dec 18, 2025

HB 2089: An Act amending the act of November 10, 1999 (P.L.491, No.45), known as the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, in Uniform Construction Code, further providing for adoption by regulations.

HB 2089 requires new nonresidential buildings in Pennsylvania to include electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure based on building type and size. For example, retail facilities with 25-500 parking spaces must provide 2% Level 1 and 1% Level 2 charging spaces, while offices with the same size need 4% Level 1 and 1% Level 2. At least 50% of required spaces must have functional charging equipment upon occupancy, with the remainder prewired for future installation. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry must issue implementing regulations within 180 days of the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires EV charging infrastructure in new buildings, promoting electric vehicle adoption and supporting clean energy infrastructure development.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates EV charging infrastructure in new buildings, promoting electric vehicle adoption and reducing transportation emissions, directly advancing environmental protection goals.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates EV charging infrastructure in buildings, promoting electric vehicle technology adoption and clean energy infrastructure expansion.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates EV charging infrastructure in new nonresidential buildings, directly promoting sustainable transportation adoption and infrastructure development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Dec 17, 2025

HB 2104: An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in boards and offices, providing for information technology; establishing the Office of Information Technology and the Information Technology Fund; providing for administrative and procurement procedures and for the Joint Cybersecurity Oversight Committee; imposing duties on the Office of Information Technology; providing for administration of Pennsylvania Statewide Radio Network; and imposing penalties.

HB 2104 establishes Pennsylvania's Office of Information Technology and an Information Technology Fund to centralize and streamline state IT management. It requires all state agencies to submit detailed business cases for major IT projects and sets five-year budget limits to control costs, reduce redundancy, and improve cybersecurity. The bill also creates a Joint Cybersecurity Oversight Committee, mandates improved data protection for personal information, and assigns oversight for the Pennsylvania Statewide Radio Network. These changes directly affect all state agencies by requiring standardized IT procurement, budgeting, and security protocols.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes five-year budget limits for IT projects to control costs, reduce redundancy, and improve fiscal management within state IT spending.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates Joint Cybersecurity Oversight Committee, mandates data protection, and centralizes IT management to improve cybersecurity and reduce redundancy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Cybersecurity Data Privacy

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Oct 3, 2025

HB 997: An Act amending the act of December 22, 2005 (P.L.474, No.94), known as the Breach of Personal Information Notification Act, further providing for definitions, for notification of the breach of the security of the system, for exceptions and for notice exemption; repealing provisions relating to civil relief; providing for protection of personal information, for civil relief, for information security and for applicability; and repealing provisions relating to applicability.

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.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyUpdates data breach notification requirements and strengthens security protections for personal information, directly advancing data privacy and cybersecurity standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Cybersecurity Data Privacy

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passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 21, 2025

SB 73: An Act amending the act of August 26, 1971 (P.L.351, No.91), known as the State Lottery Law, in State lottery, further providing for definitions and providing for disclosure of certain prizewinner identities.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's State Lottery Law to protect the privacy of large lottery winners. It requires that personal information (name, address, and other details) for winners of $100,000 or more in prizes remain confidential and not part of public records. However, the winner's city/township/borough, county of residence, and prize amount must still be publicly disclosed. Winners may voluntarily waive this confidentiality by following procedures set by the Department of Revenue, and the department can create implementing regulations.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects personal data privacy for lottery winners by restricting public disclosure of sensitive information, aligning with data privacy protections under technology policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Dec 3, 2025

HB 2068: An Act amending the act of November 26, 1982 (P.L.744, No.203), referred to as the Prothonotary Fee Law, further providing for automation fee for prothonotary's office.

HB 2068 allows Pennsylvania county courts (second class A and third through eighth class, including home rule counties) to charge a $10 automation fee when legal cases are filed. The fee funds technology upgrades for court offices through a dedicated "prothonotary automation fund." Fees may increase every three years, but only by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), not exceeding inflation. This directly affects anyone filing new court cases in participating counties.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyDirectly funds court technology upgrades via $10 automation fee; establishes dedicated tech infrastructure funding mechanism for legal processes.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 5, 2025

HB 1397: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in preliminary provisions relating to actions, proceedings and other matters generally, providing for use of media devices.

House Bill 1397 amends Pennsylvania law to allow individuals to use media devices to record, transmit, or broadcast images, video, or audio of judicial proceedings without needing court approval. This change directly affects attendees of court proceedings and the judiciary by altering rules for public access and recording. However, the bill specifies several exceptions where this permission does not apply, including proceedings related to sexual abuse, domestic violence, protection from abuse, sexual violence or intimidation, and testimony from child witnesses or confidential informants.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows public recording of court proceedings without court approval, enhancing transparency and public access to judicial processes, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly allows media device use for recording court proceedings without court approval, facilitating technology adoption and supporting digital rights in public access to judicial proceedings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

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