Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 10 D · 2 R cosponsors

HB 1873 — An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 23 (Domestic Relations) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in offenses against the family, further providing for the offense of endangering welfare of children; in child protective services, further providing for definitions and for exclusions from child abuse; and, in juvenile matters, further providing for definitions.

Last action — Laid on the table, Nov. 18, 2025

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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 September 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.

  • 12 sponsors

    1 primary, 11 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (10 D · 2 R) — 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

Reasonable Independence for Children

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

99 added · 100 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill HB 1873 includes some changes to the language regarding the prevention and reporting of suspected child abuse. Specifically, it clarifies that a person in an official capacity can only be penalized for interfering with a report if the conduct involved is defined as abuse or if the child is deemed dependent. Additionally, the bill revises the definition of "serious physical neglect" to better protect children at risk. These changes aim to ensure more precise understanding and enforcement of child protection laws.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
2321 PRINTER'S NO.
2321 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
2618 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
1873 2025 INTRODUCED BY McNEILL, KRAJEWSKI, ZIMMERMAN, WAXMAN, HILL-EVANS, McANDREW, SANCHEZ, SALISBURY AND CIRESI, SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, SEPTEMBER 22, 2025 AN ACT AmeRelations) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in offenses against the family, further providing for the offense of endangering welfare of children;
1873 2025 INTRODUCED BY McNEILL, KRAJEWSKI, ZIMMERMAN, WAXMAN, HILL-EVANS, SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 SALISBURY, CIRESI, BOYD, GAYDOS AND FRIEL, AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 18, 2025 AN ACT Amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 23 (Domestic Relations) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in offenses against the family, further providing for the offense of endangering welfare of children;
(2) The deliberate failure to provide a child with [adequate] essentials of life, including food, shelter or 20250HB1873PN2618 - 2 - medical care.
(2) The deliberate failure to provide a child with [adequate] essentials of life, including food, shelter or medical care.
* * * Section 3.
20250HB1873PN2321 - 2 - * * * Section 3.
§ 4304 (relating to endangering 20250HB1873PN2618 - 3 - welfare of children), unless the parent willfully or recklessly disregards an obvious A FORESEEABLE danger to the <-- child for which a reasonable and prudent parent would take precautionary measures to prevent subjecting the child to an unreasonable risk of serious harm.
§ 4304 (relating to endangering welfare of children), unless the parent willfully or 20250HB1873PN2321 - 3 - recklessly disregards an obvious danger to the child for which a reasonable and prudent parent would take precautionary measures to prevent subjecting the child to an unreasonable risk of serious harm.
A determination that there is a lack of [proper] parental care or control [may] shall be based upon evidence of conduct by the parent, guardian or other custodian that places the health, safety or welfare of the child at [risk,] serious and likely risk of harm, including <-- evidence of the parent's, guardian's or other custodian's use of alcohol or a controlled substance that places the health, safety or welfare of the child at [risk;] serious and likely <-- risk of harm, but this paragraph shall not be construed to restrict the rights of a parent to determine the level of supervision given to a child in a manner that is appropriate considering the child's development and abilities;
A determination that there is a lack of [proper] parental care or control [may] shall be based upon evidence of conduct by the parent, guardian or other custodian that places the health, safety or welfare of the child at [risk,] serious and likely risk of harm, including evidence of the parent's, guardian's or other custodian's use of alcohol or a controlled substance that places the health, safety or welfare of the child at [risk;] serious and likely risk of harm, but this paragraph shall not be construed to restrict the rights of a parent to determine the level of supervision given to a child in a manner that is appropriate considering the child's development and abilities;
* * * 20250HB1873PN2618 - 4 - Section 5.
* * * Section 5.
All regulations and parts of regulations are abrogated to the extent of any inconsistency with this act.
All regulations and parts of regulations are 20250HB1873PN2321 - 4 - abrogated to the extent of any inconsistency with this act.
20250HB1873PN2618 - 5 -
20250HB1873PN2321 - 5 -
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How this bill changes current law

10 changes Share ↗

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

The bill amends existing laws regarding the endangerment of children, providing clearer definitions and exceptions related to supervision and independent activities of children.

  • 18 Pa.C.S. § 4304

    A → Except as provided in subsection (a.1), a

    This change clarifies that certain conditions are exceptions to committing an offense of endangering the welfare of children.

  • 18 Pa.C.S. § 4304

    A → Except as provided in subsection (a.1), a

    This change clarifies that preventing or interfering with the reporting of suspected child abuse is an offense only under specified conditions.

  • 18 Pa.C.S. § 4304

    (a.1) Exceptions.--It shall not be considered an offense under subsection (a) if: (1) the conduct does not constitute abuse as defined in 23 Pa.C.S. § 6102 (relating to definitions); or (2) the child is not a dependent child as defined in 42 Pa.C.S. § 6302 (relating to definitions).

    This addition specifies that certain conduct may not constitute an offense under the endangering welfare of children statute.

  • 23 Pa.C.S. § 6303

    appropriate → necessary

    This change refines the language to emphasize the necessity of supervision given a child's developmental age and abilities.

  • 23 Pa.C.S. § 6303

    adequate

    The removal of 'adequate' clarifies that the failure to provide essentials of life is serious physical neglect when it threatens a child's well-being.

  • 23 Pa.C.S. § 6304

    (d.1) Supervision and independent activities.-- (1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to restrict the rights of a parent to determine the level of supervision given to a child in a manner that is appropriate considering the child's development and abilities.

    This provision reinforces parental rights regarding child supervision based on the child's maturity.

  • 23 Pa.C.S. § 6304

    (3) A decision by a parent relating to supervision or independent activities of a child under paragraph (2) shall not constitute serious physical neglect, child abuse as defined under section 6303 (relating to definitions) or an offense under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4304 (relating to endangering welfare of children), unless the parent willfully or recklessly disregards an obvious A FORESEEABLE danger to the child.

    This addition stipulates conditions under which parental decisions regarding a child's activities may not be considered child abuse or endangerment.

  • 42 Pa.C.S. § 6302

    proper

    The removal of 'proper' broadens the criteria for determining if a child is dependent on parental care.

  • 42 Pa.C.S. § 6302

    risk, → serious and likely risk of harm,

    This change specifies the criteria for determining a lack of parental care regarding a child's safety.

  • 42 Pa.C.S. § 6302

    risk; → risk of harm,

    This change emphasizes that the risk to the child's health must be serious and likely.

Action History

  1. Laid on the table, Nov. 18, 2025

  2. First consideration, Nov. 18, 2025

  3. Reported as amended, Nov. 18, 2025

  4. Referred to CHILDREN AND YOUTH, Sept. 22, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 241 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (11)

Not signed on (241)

241 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 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 1873 do?
Reasonable Independence for Children
Who sponsors HB 1873?
HB 1873 is sponsored by Jeanne McNeill (Democratic), Rick Krajewski (Democratic), David H. Zimmerman (Republican), Ben Waxman (Democratic), Carol Hill-Evans (Democratic), Joe McAndrew (Democratic), Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic), Abigail Salisbury (Democratic), Joe Ciresi (Democratic), Heather Boyd (Democratic), Valerie S. Gaydos (Republican), and Paul Friel (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 1873?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced September 22, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 1873?
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