Judiciary 2025-2026

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The Senate Judiciary Committee met on Tuesday, June 26, 2025 to consider the following legislation:

SB 875: Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in criminal history record information, further providing for clean slate limited access; in motivational boot camp, further providing for definitions, for selection of inmate participants, for motivational boot camp program, for procedure for selection of participant in motivational boot camp program, for completion of motivational boot camp program and for evaluation; in State drug treatment program, further providing for definitions; and, in miscellaneous provisions, providing for report on incarcerated individuals with certain health conditions.

Reported as committed by a vote of 10-4

SB 381: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for nonapplicability of subchapter; in public safety, prohibiting certain animal experimentation, sale and testing and providing for whistleblower protection; and imposing penalties.

Reported as committed by a unanimous vote

The Senate Judiciary Committee met on Monday, June 23, 2025 to consider the following legislation:

Senate Bill 779: Creates the offense of unlawful towing and towing storage facility practices; and imposing penalties.

  • Reported unanimously

House Bill 491: Establishes concurrent jurisdiction of the Commonwealth and the United States on military bases for .

  • Reported unanimously

House Bill 378: Consolidates the factors to consider when awarding custody from 16 factors to 12.

  • Reported unanimously

House Bill 355: Sentencing enhancement for the offense of corruption of minors and for the offense of unlawful contact with minor.

  • Passed by a vote of 11-3 with Senators Mastriano, Dush, and Pennycuick voting in opposition

The Senate Judiciary Committee met on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 to vote on the following legislation:

Senate Bill 635, P.N. 863 (Langerholc) — Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) to establish a sentencing enhancement for certain felony drug offenses committed within 1,000 feet of a drug and alcohol recovery house. Reported from committee by a 9-4 vote with Senators Cappelletti, Collett, Santarsiero, and Saval voting in the negative.                  

  • Amendment A 00798 (Baker) – Relocates sentencing enhancement to Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and makes technical changes. Passed unanimously.

Senate Bill 649, P.N. 705 (Pennycuick) — Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) by establishing the offense of digital forgery and providing related definitions and penalties. Reported from committeeunanimously.

Senate Bill 739, P.N. 797 (Pennycuick) — Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) to prohibit the manufacture, distribution, sale, transfer, use or possession of illicit devices for motor vehicles and provides for related penalties and definitions. Reported from committee by a 10-3 vote with Senators Cappelletti, Collett, and Saval voting in the negative. 

The Senate Judiciary Committee met on Monday, May 12, 2025 to consider the following legislation:

Senate Bill 302, P.N. 762 (Baker)- Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in protection from abuse, further providing for commencement of proceedings. Ensures a portion of PFA fees be distributed to whichever law enforcement agency provides service. Requires that a sheriff or law enforcement agency serve PFA petitions and orders in all cases.

  • A 00502: Clarifies the procedure for the distribution of the $25 service fee. Under the amendment, the $25 fee shall be distributed to the sheriff. In the event another local law enforcement agency served the petition and order, the sheriff shall forward the $25 to such entity. In the event the sheriff served the petition and order, the sheriff shall retain the $25. Adopted by a unanimous vote.

SB 302 was reported, as amended by a unanimous vote.

The Senate Judiciary Committee met on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 to consider the following legislation:

Senate Bill 255, P.N. 207 (Baker/Martin) — Amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to classify the crime of Sexual Assault by a Sports Official, Volunteer or Employee of a Nonprofit Association as a Tier II sexual offense under the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

  • Reported unanimously

 Senate Bill 520, P.N. 489 (Baker) — Authorizes the use of body worn cameras by officers of Game Commission, Fish & Boat Commission, DCNR, and Office of Attorney General.

  • Reported by a vote of 13-1

The Senate Judiciary Committee met on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 to consider the following legislation:

SB 92 (Mastriano) – An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in criminal homicide, further providing for the offense of drug delivery resulting in death; and imposing a penalty. Passed by a vote of 10-4 with Senators Cappelletti, Collett, Saval, and Haywood voting in opposition.

  • A00177: Adopted by a vote of 10-4 with Senators Bartolotta, Collett, Saval, and Haywood voting in opposition.

SB 326 (Baker) – An Act amending the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, further providing for authority to control. This bill went over.

SB 347 (Tartaglione) – An Act amending the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, further providing for prohibited acts and penalties. Passed by a vote of 10-4 with Senators Cappelletti, Haywood, Santarsiero, and Saval voting in opposition.

SB 475 (Cappelletti) – An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in organization and jurisdiction of courts of common pleas, further providing for problem-solving courts; and, in sentencing, further providing for modification or revocation of order of probation. Passed by a unanimous vote.

SB 490 (Robinson) – An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in bonds and recognizances, providing for bail of persons posing threat to public safety. Passed by a party line vote of 9-5.

SB 471 (Laughlin) – An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to criminal proceedings, providing for citizenship status of criminal defendants. Passed by a party line vote of 9-5.

SB 96 (Brooks) – An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of terroristic threats. Passed by a vote of 11-3 with Senators Cappelletti, Collett, and Saval voting in opposition.

SB 175 (Hughes) – An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in falsification and intimidation, further providing for the offense of false alarms to agencies of public safety. Passed by a unanimous vote.

    The Senate Judiciary Committee met on Monday, February 3, 2025 to consider the following Court of Common Pleas Judicial Nominations:

    • Anthony McDonald, Esquire, nominee for Judge of Court of Common Pleas, Columbia and Montour Counties
    • Simquita Bridges, Esquire, nominee for Judge of Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County
    • Ray Ghaner, Esquire, nominee for Judge of Court of Common Pleas, Huntingdon County
    • Mark Powell, Esquire, nominee for Judge of Court of Common Pleas, Lackawanna County
    • Mackenzie Smith, Esquire, nominee for Judge of Court of Common Pleas, Chester County
    • Matthew Schimizzi, Esquire, nominee for Judge of Court of Common Pleas, Westmoreland County
    • Michele Alfieri-Causer, Esquire, nominee for Judge of Court of Common Pleas, McKean County
    • Louis Mincarelli, Esquire, nominee for Judge of Court of Common Pleas, Chester County
    • Alyssa Cowan, Esquire, nominee for Judge of Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County
      • Reported out with a favorable recommendation by a vote of 11-3 with Senators Dush, Mastriano, and Bartolotta voting in the opposition.

     

    All of the nominees were reported out with a unanimous favorable recommendation unless otherwise noted.

    Senator Amanda Cappelletti

    Senator Amanda Cappelletti

    Committee Chair