Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee 9 D cosponsors

HB 1671 — An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in commencement of proceedings, providing for restorative justice.

Last action — Laid on the table, Jan. 28, 2026

  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 June 26, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 9 sponsors

    1 primary, 8 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (9 D).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Establishing a restorative justice option in the Pennsylvania court system

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

42 added · 140 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Bill HB 1671, no significant changes were made to the content regarding restorative justice; the bill now primarily reflects updated legislative formatting rather than alterations in the legal provisions itself. This means that the original proposals allowing courts to use restorative justice either exclusively or in addition to traditional sentencing remain intact. The clarity around definitions for terms like "Circle" and "Conference" has also been preserved, ensuring that the meaning and application of restorative justice practices are well-defined. Maintaining these provisions is important as they focus on alternative methods of addressing crime and conflict resolution, which could lead to more rehabilitative outcomes for offenders.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
2040 PRINTER'S NO.
2040 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
2820 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
WILLIAMS, KRAJEWSKI, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, RIVERA, MAYES, WAXMAN AND HANBIDGE, JUNE 25, 2025 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JANUARY 28, 2026 AN ACT Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the <-- Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, further providing for sentencing generally and providing for restorative justice.
WILLIAMS, KRAJEWSKI, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, RIVERA AND MAYES, JUNE 25, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 26, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, further providing for sentencing generally and providing for restorative justice.
"Restorative justice." A gathering, such as a conference or circle, in which individuals who have caused harm, individuals who have been harmed, community stakeholders and a facilitator 20250HB1671PN2820 - 2 - collectively gather to identify and repair the harm to the extent possible, address trauma, reduce the likelihood of further harm and strengthen community ties by focusing on the needs and obligations of all parties involved through a participatory process.
"Restorative justice." A gathering, such as a conference or circle, in which individuals who have caused harm, individuals who have been harmed, community stakeholders and a facilitator collectively gather to identify and repair the harm to the 20250HB1671PN2040 - 2 - extent possible, address trauma, reduce the likelihood of further harm and strengthen community ties by focusing on the needs and obligations of all parties involved through a participatory process.
AMENDING TITLE 42 (JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE) OF THE <-- PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES, IN COMMENCEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS, PROVIDING FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.
20250HB1671PN2040 - 3 -
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA HEREBY ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
CHAPTER 89 OF TITLE 42 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SUBCHAPTER TO READ:
SUBCHAPTER E RESTORATIVE JUSTICE SEC.
8961.
DEFINITIONS.
8962.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.
§ 8961.
DEFINITIONS.
THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS SUBCHAPTER SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
"ACCOUNTABILITY." THE ACTIVE PROCESS THAT IS UNDERTAKEN BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO CAUSED HARM TO DEMONSTRATE REMORSE IN PRACTICE.
"COMMUNITY CONFERENCE." A CONSENSUAL HEALING DIALOGUE ORGANIZED TO ADDRESS THE EXPERIENCE AND NEEDS OF ALL PARTIES INVOLVED, AS IT RELATES TO THE IMPACT OF CRIMINAL ACTS COMMITTED BY AN OFFENDER, TO PROVIDE A RESTORATIVE PLAN TO HEAL AND REPAIR HARM.
"CONSENSUAL HEALING DIALOGUE." A VOLUNTARY PROCESS THROUGH 20250HB1671PN2820 - 3 - WHICH PARTIES REPAIR THE HARM CAUSED BY THE OFFENDER AND WITHIN THE OFFENDER BY USING RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES AND A RESTORATIVE PLAN, AVOIDING THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
"FACILITATOR." A PRACTITIONER OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WHO ENTERS INTO THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROCESS UNDER SECTION 8962(C) (RELATING TO RESTORATIVE JUSTICE).
"RESTORATIVE JUSTICE." A PROGRAM WHICH EMPHASIZES REPAIRING THE HARM DONE TO INDIVIDUALS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE BY THE CRIMINAL ACT COMMITTED BY AN OFFENDER.
THE TERM INCLUDES:
(1) COMMUNITY CONFERENCES.
(2) CONFLICT RESOLUTION.
(3) COUNSELING.
(4) COMMUNITY SERVICE.
(5) VICTIM-OFFENDER CONFERENCES.
(6) VICTIM-OFFENDER MEDIATION.
(7) FAMILY OR GROUP DECISION-MAKING CONFERENCES.
(8) VICTIM IMPACT PANELS.
§ 8962.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.
(A) FINDINGS.--THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS AND DECLARES AS FOLLOWS:
(1) RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IS AN EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO SENTENCING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME BY PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE OFFENDER TO ACCEPT ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HARM CAUSED AND TO ENGAGE WITH VICTIMS AND THE COMMUNITY TO REPAIR THE HARM.
(2) RESTORATIVE JUSTICE HAS BEEN SHOWN TO PREVENT FURTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY BY OFFENDERS.
(3) IT IS THE POLICY OF THIS COMMONWEALTH THAT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE BE USED WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO:
20250HB1671PN2820 - 4 - (I) RESOLVE CONFLICTS AND DISPUTES BY MEANS OF A NONADVERSARIAL COMMUNITY PROCESS.
(II) ENSURE THAT OFFENDERS ARE DIVERTED FROM AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE OUTSIDE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
(III) ENCOURAGE THE HEALING OF ALL PARTIES AFFECTED BY CRIME.
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(B) RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AS PRETRIAL DIVERSION.--SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (C), A DISTRICT ATTORNEY, JUDGE OR HEARING OFFICER SHALL USE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AS A PRETRIAL DIVERSION FOR ANY OFFENDER, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH LOW-LEVEL NONVIOLENT OFFENSES, FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS, MINORS, STUDENTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DOCUMENTED EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OR A DIAGNOSIS UNDER THE DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS, 5TH EDITION:
DSM-5, 2013, PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION.
(C) CONSENT BY ALL PARTIES.--EXCEPT FOR OFFENSES UNDER 18 PA.C.S.
§ 4952 (RELATING TO INTIMIDATION OF WITNESSES OR VICTIMS), RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MAY BE USED AS A PRETRIAL DIVERSION IF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, OFFENDER AND VICTIM OF THE OFFENDER EACH AGREE TO ENTER INTO THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROCESS UNDER SUBSECTION (A) WITH A FACILITATOR.
(D) RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROCESS.--THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROCESS CONSENTED TO UNDER SUBSECTION (C) SHALL INCLUDE A RESTORATIVE PLAN TO REPAIR THE HARM WHICH IS AGREED TO BY ALL PARTIES AND A TIME LIMIT FOR COMPLETION OF THE PLAN.
(E) CONFIDENTIALITY.-- (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UNDER PARAGRAPH (2), ALL MEMORANDA, WORK NOTES OR PRODUCTS, CASE FILES OR PROGRAMS, DATA AND COMMUNICATIONS RELATED TO THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROCESS ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO 20250HB1671PN2820 - 5 - DISCLOSURE IN ANY JUDICIAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING UNLESS ALL PARTIES TO THE COMMUNICATION WAIVE THE PRIVILEGE.
(2) CONFIDENTIALITY UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) SHALL NOT APPLY:
(I) IF AN OFFENDER COMMITS A CHARGEABLE OFFENSE DURING THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROCESS THAT GOES BEYOND THE SCOPE OF SUBSECTION (B).
(II) TO ANY COMMUNICATION RELATED TO THE MANDATORY REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT.
SECTION 2.
THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.
20250HB1671PN2820 - 6 -
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Action History

  1. Laid on the table, Jan. 28, 2026

  2. First consideration, Jan. 28, 2026

  3. Reported as amended, Jan. 28, 2026

  4. Referred to JUDICIARY, June 26, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 8 co-sponsors · 244 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (8)

Not signed on (244)

244 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

civil-rights
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 1671 do?
Establishing a restorative justice option in the Pennsylvania court system
Who sponsors HB 1671?
HB 1671 is sponsored by Dan K. Williams (Democratic), Christopher M. Rabb (Democratic), Rick Krajewski (Democratic), Carol Hill-Evans (Democratic), Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic), Nikki Rivera (Democratic), La'Tasha D. Mayes (Democratic), Ben Waxman (Democratic), and Liz Hanbidge (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 1671?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced June 26, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 1671?
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