HB 941 — An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in particular rights and immunities, providing for parental firearm liability for minor's negligence or willful misconduct.
Last action — Laid on the table
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✓Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed House
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
51 added · 30 removedPlain-language change summary
The updated version of the bill, HB 941, introduces a new provision regarding parental liability when a minor uses or possesses a firearm. Previously, the liability was limited to situations where the parent or guardian knew about specific behavioral issues of the minor, such as a prior delinquency or criminal conviction. The change makes all parents, guardians, or responsible individuals liable for any negligence or misconduct by the minor, regardless of their prior knowledge of the minor's history. This matters because it could hold parents accountable for firearm misuse by minors more broadly, potentially leading to increased responsibility for firearm safety in households.
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
928 THEPRINTER'S GENERALNO. ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
9412305 2023THE INTRODUCEDGENERAL BYASSEMBLY PARKER,OF SANCHEZ,PENNSYLVANIA GIRAL,HOUSE HOHENSTEIN,BILL MADDEN,Session KINKEAD AND GREEN, APRIL 17, 2023 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, APRIL 17, 2023 AN ACT Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of theNo. Pennsylvania articles, providing for parental firearm liability for minor's negligence or willful misconduct.
941 2023 INTRODUCED BY PARKER, SANCHEZ, GIRAL, HOHENSTEIN, MADDEN, KINKEAD AND GREEN, APRIL 17, 2023 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 14, 2023 AN ACT Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania <-- Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, AMENDING TITLE 42 (JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL <-- PROCEDURE) OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES, IN PARTICULAR RIGHTS AND IMMUNITIES, providing for parental firearm liability for minor's negligence or willful misconduct.
Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated <-- Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
SECTION 1.
TITLE 42 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED <-- STATUTES IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:
§ 8328.
PARENTAL FIREARM LIABILITY FOR MINOR'S NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.
IF A PARENT, GUARDIAN OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A MINOR UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE PERMITS THE MINOR TO USE OR POSSESS A FIREARM, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, THAT PERSON IS JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY LIABLE FOR ANY AND ALL DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE MINOR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR POSSESSION OF THE FIREARM IF THE PARENT, GUARDIAN OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MINOR KNOWS OR HAS REASON TO KNOW THAT THE MINOR:
(1) HAS A PROPENSITY TO COMMIT UNLAWFUL VIOLENT ACTS;
(2) INTENDS TO USE THE FIREARM FOR UNLAWFUL PURPOSES;
OR (3) INTENDS TO DELIVER THE FIREARM TO A PERSON WHO CANNOT LEGALLY POSSESS A FIREARM.
20230HB0941PN092820230HB0941PN2305 - 2 -
Action History
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Laid on the table
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First consideration
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Reported as amended
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Referred to Judiciary
Sponsors
- Darisha K. Parker · Primary
- Jose Giral · Cosponsor
- Maureen E. Madden · Cosponsor
- Emily Kinkead · Cosponsor
- G. Roni Green · Cosponsor
- Tim Briggs · Cosponsor
- Joseph C. Hohenstein · Cosponsor
- Benjamin V. Sanchez · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 245 not signed on · 11 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- Darisha K. Parker Democratic
Co-sponsors (7)
- Jose Giral Democratic
- Maureen E. Madden Democratic
- Emily Kinkead Democratic
- G. Roni Green Democratic
- Tim Briggs Democratic
- Joseph C. Hohenstein Democratic
- Benjamin V. Sanchez Democratic
Not signed on (245)
245 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 245 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 14 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 56% | 44% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (25)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Schemel | — | Nay |
| Torren Ecker | — | Nay |
| Benjamin V. Sanchez | Democratic | Yea |
| Chris Pielli | Democratic | Yea |
| Christopher M. Rabb | Democratic | Yea |
| Dan K. Williams | Democratic | Yea |
| Emily Kinkead | Democratic | Yea |
| Joseph C. Hohenstein | Democratic | Yea |
| Kristine C. Howard | Democratic | Yea |
| Kyle Donahue | Democratic | Yea |
| La'Tasha D. Mayes | Democratic | Yea |
| Liz Hanbidge | Democratic | Yea |
| Malcolm Kenyatta | Democratic | Yea |
| Melissa L. Shusterman | Democratic | Yea |
| Perry S. Warren | Democratic | Yea |
| Tim Briggs | Democratic | Yea |
| Clint Owlett | Republican | Nay |
| David H. Rowe | Republican | Nay |
| Jim Rigby | Republican | Nay |
| Joe Hamm | Republican | Nay |
| Joe Kerwin | Republican | Nay |
| Kate A. Klunk | Republican | Nay |
| Rob W. Kauffman | Republican | Nay |
| Robert Leadbeter | Republican | Nay |
| Timothy R. Bonner | Republican | Nay |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (25)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Schemel | — | Yea |
| Torren Ecker | — | Yea |
| Benjamin V. Sanchez | Democratic | Yea |
| Chris Pielli | Democratic | Yea |
| Christopher M. Rabb | Democratic | Yea |
| Dan K. Williams | Democratic | Yea |
| Emily Kinkead | Democratic | Yea |
| Joseph C. Hohenstein | Democratic | Yea |
| Kristine C. Howard | Democratic | Yea |
| Kyle Donahue | Democratic | Yea |
| La'Tasha D. Mayes | Democratic | Yea |
| Liz Hanbidge | Democratic | Yea |
| Malcolm Kenyatta | Democratic | Yea |
| Melissa L. Shusterman | Democratic | Yea |
| Perry S. Warren | Democratic | Yea |
| Tim Briggs | Democratic | Yea |
| Clint Owlett | Republican | Yea |
| David H. Rowe | Republican | Yea |
| Jim Rigby | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Hamm | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Kerwin | Republican | Yea |
| Kate A. Klunk | Republican | Yea |
| Rob W. Kauffman | Republican | Yea |
| Robert Leadbeter | Republican | Yea |
| Timothy R. Bonner | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors HB 941?
- HB 941 is sponsored by Darisha K. Parker (Democratic), Jose Giral (Democratic), Maureen E. Madden (Democratic), Emily Kinkead (Democratic), G. Roni Green (Democratic), Tim Briggs (Democratic), Joseph C. Hohenstein (Democratic), and Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic).
- What is the current status of HB 941?
- This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track HB 941?
- Track HB 941 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously
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