House Judiciary Committee advances package of public-safety bills
Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus September 25, 2026 | 9:19 AM
HARRISBURG, Sept. 24 – State Rep. Tim Briggs, chair of the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee, announced that the committee approved a package of legislation addressing child protection, probation, election administration, human trafficking and animal testing.
"Whether it means better protecting children, putting trafficking victims first or helping ensure voters can cast a ballot without intimidation, these bills address real concerns facing Pennsylvanians," Briggs said. "They are practical proposals to make our laws work better for the people they serve."
The bills approved by the committee include:
House Bill 1097, sponsored by state Rep. Perry Warren, would ban live pigeon shoots in Pennsylvania. The bill would remove the current exception that allows these events under Pennsylvania's animal cruelty laws.
House Bill 2699, sponsored by state Reps. Liz Hanbidge and Jonathan Fritz, would add more required members to teams that review child deaths and near-fatalities involving suspected abuse, including county child-welfare staff, health care professionals, law enforcement representatives and a Department of Human Services representative. It also would let teams bring in people who knew the child or family, as well as other experts who can help explain what happened and how future tragedies might be prevented.
"Protecting children requires more than responding to tragedy. It requires us to examine what went wrong, learn from it, and take action to prevent it from happening again," Hanbidge said. "Expanding Pennsylvania's child fatality and near-fatality review teams will bring critical expertise to these cases and strengthen our ability to identify gaps, improve coordination, and hold systems accountable. Every review should help us better understand how a child was failed and what can be done to protect other children. This legislation is an important step toward building a stronger, more effective child protection system and keeping vulnerable children safe."
House Bill 2744, sponsored by Briggs, would make sure probation penalties are based on the number of times a person appears before a judge for technical violations, not the number of alleged violations discussed at one hearing. For example, if someone misses a check-in and breaks another probation rule before the same hearing, both allegations would count as one violation hearing—not two separate violations.
"Accountability matters, but a strike must be followed by an opportunity to reform," Briggs said. "Our probation system should distinguish between someone who repeatedly comes before a judge for violations and someone who has multiple technical violations addressed at the same hearing. House Bill 2744 ensures that the consequences are fair, consistent and focused on giving people a meaningful opportunity to learn from their mistakes and change their behavior."
House Bill 2752, sponsored by state Rep. Danilo Burgos, would require people convicted of human trafficking to give up property and money connected to the crime. The proceeds would go first toward court-ordered restitution for victims before any remaining funds are distributed elsewhere.
House Bill 2758, sponsored by state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, would make clear that the state's 100-foot buffer around polling places applies to federal, state and local law enforcement officers. It also would allow someone to sue an officer who is convicted of violating that rule.
"The statements and actions from the current federal administration have unfortunately necessitated us clarifying a nearly centuries-old commonsense prohibition on law enforcement presence on Election Day," Kenyatta said. "Our legislation is intended to do two things. First, to ensure that every Pennsylvanian understands that our elections will be free and fair and that they can vote without fear. Second, to make abundantly clear to any federal agent that may be confused that you cannot operate with impunity in Pennsylvania. Our law provides no wiggle room and will be enforced in the commonwealth."
Senate Bill 381, sponsored by state Sens. Doug Mastriano and Carolyn Comitta, would establish guardrails for research involving dogs and cats, including requiring research facilities to give eligible animals an opportunity for adoption after experiments and ensuring Commonwealth funds are used only for research that complies with federal oversight requirements. The bill also would prohibit the sale of cosmetics newly tested on animals, require research facilities to provide public access to USDA inspection and enforcement information, and allow the attorney general to pursue civil action for violations.
House Resolution 5094, sponsored by state Rep. Joe Webster, would direct the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of Pennsylvania's parole system, including current procedures, outcomes, data and trends. The study also would identify potential reforms to ensure parole is being used effectively and appropriately as a tool for rehabilitation and successful reintegration.
House Resolution 618, sponsored by state Rep. Sean Dougherty, would direct the Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study mental health treatment in Pennsylvania's county jails, including the number of incarcerated individuals with various mental health, behavioral health and developmental needs. The study also would examine which mental health and supportive services are available in each county jail, identify gaps in care, and provide data to help policymakers determine where improvements are needed.
The bills now move to the full House for further consideration.
"The Judiciary Committee will continue reviewing legislation that affects the courts, public safety, child protection and the administration of justice," Briggs said. "Our focus remains on practical changes that help make Pennsylvania's laws clear, fair and effective."
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CONTACT: Ryan Bevitz
House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-787-7895
Email: rbevitz@pahouse.net
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