Briggs announces Judiciary Committee advances warrant requirement, transit protections and court security review
Southeast Delegation October 21, 2026 | 1:41 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 21 – State Rep. Tim Briggs, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, announced that the committee has approved three measures aimed at protecting private property rights and improving safety for public transit workers, passengers and people who work in or visit local courts.
“These measures address important protections for Pennsylvanians — on their property, on public transit and in their local courts,” Briggs said. “Each takes a practical step toward making sure people’s rights and safety are respected.”
Briggs said the following bills will now head to the full House for consideration:
Senate Bill 1431, sponsored by Sen. Daniel Laughlin, would require Pennsylvania Game Commission personnel to get a valid warrant before entering private property outside of buildings, whether or not the land is posted against trespassing. The bill would add a warrant requirement to the sections of Pennsylvania’s Game Code governing commission personnel and enforcement officers. Current law gives Game Commission personnel broad authority to enter private land outside of buildings, including property marked with no-trespassing signs.
Senate Bill 210, sponsored by Sen. Joe Picozzi, would make it a felony to attack transit workers, physically threaten them with immediate serious injury or death or interfere with their work in a way that injures or kills someone else. The bill would protect drivers, conductors, engineers and other onboard operations staff working on buses, trains, subways, trolleys and other public transit vehicles.
The committee also advanced H.R. 660, sponsored by Briggs, which would direct the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of security at Pennsylvania’s magisterial district courts and recommend improvements. A 2020 review by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts documented more than 300 security incidents at magisterial district courts, a 30% increase from the previous year. Violent incidents at court facilities have underscored the risks facing court employees, law enforcement officers and members of the public.
“Whether someone is at home, riding a bus or walking into a courtroom, they deserve to know that their rights and safety matter,” Briggs said. “These measures would set clear rules for entering private land, hold people accountable for endangering transit workers and passengers, and help identify ways to make our local courts safer.”
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CONTACT: Ryan Bevitz
House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-787-7895
Email: rbevitz@pahouse.net
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