Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee 5 R cosponsors

HB 2517 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of strangulation.

Last action — Referred to JUDICIARY, Oct. 28, 2026

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced October 28, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

In plain language

This bill amends penalties for strangulation offenses in Pennsylvania.

The bill adjusts the legal classifications for strangulation offenses in Pennsylvania, increasing penalties based on circumstances such as prior convictions or protection orders. It establishes that certain violations can be classified as felonies rather than misdemeanors.

Summary

Erika's Law – The Strangulation Accountability Act

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

3 changes Share ↗

Compared against the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends the grading of strangulation offenses to reclassify certain circumstances as felonies.

  • 18 Pa.C.S. § 2718

    a misdemeanor of the second degree. → a felony of the second degree.

    Strangulation committed under certain circumstances is elevated from a misdemeanor to a felony.

  • 18 Pa.C.S. § 2718

    if committed: (i) against a family or household member as defined in 23 Pa.C.S. § 6102 (relating to definitions); (ii) by a caretaker against a care-dependent person; (iii) in conjunction with sexual violence as defined in 42 Pa.C.S. § 62A03 (relating to definitions) or conduct constituting a crime under section 2709.1 (relating to stalking) or Subchapter B of Chapter 30 (relating to prosecution of human trafficking).

    The specific conditions under which strangulation is graded as a felony have been removed.

  • 18 Pa.C.S. § 2718

    (2) → (1)

    The reference to paragraph designations has changed, indicating a shift in the structure of the statute.

Action History

  1. Referred to JUDICIARY, Oct. 28, 2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 248 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (248)

248 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 2517 do?
Erika's Law – The Strangulation Accountability Act
Who sponsors HB 2517?
HB 2517 is sponsored by Donna Scheuren (Republican), Tina Pickett (Republican), Andrew Kuzma (Republican), Shelby Labs (Republican), and Mark M. Gillen (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 2517?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced October 28, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 2517?
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