Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 7 R · 1 D cosponsors

HB 1817 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in obstructing governmental operations, providing for the offense of interfering or impeding a first responder's duties.

Last action — Referred to JUDICIARY, Aug. 22, 2025

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 August 22, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 9 sponsors

    1 primary, 8 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (7 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

"Halo" Law

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

1 change Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill creates a new offense for interfering or impeding a first responder's duties in Pennsylvania.

  • 18 Pa.C.S. § 5113

    § 5113. Interfering or impeding a first responder's duties. (a) Offense defined.--A person commits an offense if, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from a person who the person knows or reasonably should know is a first responder engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, the person knowingly and willfully violates the warning and approaches or remains within 15 feet of the first responder with the intent to: (1) interfere, impede or otherwise obstruct the first responder's ability to perform the first responder's duty; (2) threaten the first responder with physical harm, including a terroristic threat as described under section 2706 (relating to terroristic threats); or (3) harass the first responder. (b) Grading.-- (1) A first offense under this section shall constitute a misdemeanor of the third degree. (2) A second or subsequent offense under this section shall constitute a misdemeanor of the second degree. (c) Constitution.--Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit, limit or punish conduct that is otherwise protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of Pennsylvania. (d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "First responder." Includes: (1) A peace officer as defined under section 501 (relating to definitions). (2) A firefighter. (3) Emergency services personnel as defined under section 5112(b) (relating to obstructing emergency services). "Harass." To willfully engage in a course of conduct within 15 feet of a first responder which intentionally causes emotional distress to the first responder and serves no legitimate purpose.

    This adds a new section defining the offense of interfering with first responders and establishes related penalties.

Action History

  1. Referred to JUDICIARY, Aug. 22, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

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.

Show all 244 →

"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 1817 do?
"Halo" Law
Who sponsors HB 1817?
HB 1817 is sponsored by Keith S. Harris (Democratic), Joe Hamm (Republican), Michael Stender (Republican), Kathy L. Rapp (Republican), Mark M. Gillen (Republican), Roman Kozak (Republican), Dane Watro (Republican), Brian Smith (Republican), and Seth Grove.
What is the current status of HB 1817?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced August 22, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 1817?
Track HB 1817 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HB 1817

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 1817

Last checked for changes 4 months ago · updated continuously

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

Track this bill →