HB 1479 — An Act amending Titles 23 (Domestic Relations) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in protection from abuse, further providing for definitions and for relief; and, in protection of victims of sexual violence or intimidation, further providing for definitions and for relief.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

2270 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

25931479 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFMARCELL, PENNSYLVANIALABS, HOUSEMAJOR, BILLMIHALEK, SessionTOMLINSON, ARMANINI, STAATS AND GILLEN, SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of No.the Pennsylvania providing for definitions and for relief.

1479abuse, 2025further INTRODUCEDThe BYGeneral MARCELL,Assembly LABS,of MAJOR,the MIHALEK,Commonwealth TOMLINSON, ARMANINI, STAATS AND GILLEN, SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 17, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title TITLES 23 (Domestic Relations) AND 42 (JUDICIARY <-- AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE) of the Pennsylvania Consolidatedhereby Statutes,enacts inas protectionfollows: from abuse, further providing for definitions and for relief.;

AND, IN PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF <-- SEXUAL VIOLENCE OR INTIMIDATION, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS AND FOR RELIEF.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 6108(a)(1) of Title 23 is amended to <-- read:

SECTION 2.

SECTION 6108(A) OF TITLE 23 IS AMENDED BY ADDING <-- A PARAGRAPH TO READ:

(a) General rule.--Subject to subsection (a.1), the court 20250HB1479PN2593 - 2 - may grant any protection order or approve any consent agreement to bring about a cessation of abuse of the plaintiff or minor children.

(1) Directing the defendant to refrain from abusing the <--20250HB1479PN2270 - 2 - plaintiff or minor children[.], including:

* * * (9.2)Section PROHIBITING3. THE DEFENDANT FROM ACCESSING, <-- UTILIZING OR POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

* * * SECTION 3.

SECTION 62A03 OF TITLE 42 IS AMENDED BY ADDING DEFINITIONS TO READ:

§ 62A03.

DEFINITIONS.

THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS CHAPTER SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:

* * * "POST." AS DEFINED IN 23 PA.C.S.

§ 6102 (RELATING TO DEFINITIONS).

* * * "SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM." AS DEFINED IN 23 PA.C.S.

§ 6102.

"USER." AS DEFINED IN 23 PA.C.S.

§ 6102.

* * * SECTION 4.

SECTION 62A07(B)(1) OF TITLE 42 IS AMENDED TO READ:

§ 62A07.

RELIEF.

* * * 20250HB1479PN2593 - 3 - (B) GENERAL RULE.--AN ORDER OR A CONSENT AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE:

(1) [PROHIBITING THE DEFENDANT FROM HAVING ANY CONTACT WITH THE VICTIM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RESTRAINING THE DEFENDANT FROM ENTERING THE VICTIM'S RESIDENCE, PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, BUSINESS OR SCHOOL.

THIS MAY INCLUDE PROHIBITING INDIRECT CONTACT THROUGH THIRD PARTIES AND ALSO PROHIBITING DIRECT OR INDIRECT CONTACT WITH OTHER DESIGNATED PERSONS.] PROHIBITING THE DEFENDANT FROM HAVING ANY CONTACT WITH THE VICTIM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

(I) RESTRAINING THE DEFENDANT FROM ENTERING THE VICTIM'S RESIDENCE, PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, BUSINESS OR SCHOOL.

(II) PROHIBITING INDIRECT CONTACT THROUGH THIRD PARTIES AND PROHIBITING DIRECT OR INDIRECT CONTACT WITH OTHER DESIGNATED PERSONS.

(III) PROHIBITING THE DEFENDANT FROM ACCESSING, UTILIZING OR POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

* * * Section 3 5.

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