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

HB 2518 — 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

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  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

The bill updates penalties for strangulation offenses in Pennsylvania.

This legislation amends the penalties for strangulation offenses, increasing the severity of the punishment based on specific circumstances. It introduces considerations for bail related to the risk of future violence.

What this means for you
  • Workers: For workers, this law may impact workplace safety policies regarding domestic violence and assault prevention.

Summary

Erika's Law – The Strangulation Accountability Act

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

4 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 in Pennsylvania and adds considerations for setting bail.

  • 18 Pa.C.S. § 2718(d)(1)

    violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor of the second degree. → violation of this section shall constitute a felony of the second degree.

    The severity of a strangulation offense is increased from a misdemeanor to a felony of the second degree.

  • 18 Pa.C.S. § 2718(d)(2)

    A violation of this section shall constitute a felony of the second degree if committed:

    The structure of the statute is changed to clarify that a violation can be graded as a felony of the second degree under certain conditions.

  • 18 Pa.C.S. § 2718(d)(3)(iii)

    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; or (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 defendant has previously been convicted of an offense under paragraph (1) or a substantially similar offense in another jurisdiction.

    The bill alters the grading criteria for strangulation offenses, specifically emphasizing previous convictions.

  • 18 Pa.C.S. § 2718(d.1)

    Before setting bail for an individual arrested for a violation of this section, the issuing authority shall give due consideration to the fact that strangulation is a significant predictor of future violent behavior and is associated with a heightened risk of lethality. The court shall weigh this factor when determining the conditions of release, including the potential danger to the victim and the public.

    A new subsection requires courts to consider the risk of future violence when setting bail for strangulation offenses.

Action History

  1. Referred to JUDICIARY, Oct. 28, 2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

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.

Show all 248 →

"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
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 2518 do?
Erika's Law – The Strangulation Accountability Act
Who sponsors HB 2518?
HB 2518 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 2518?
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 2518?
Track HB 2518 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HB 2518

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HB 2518

Last checked for changes 3 days ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →