Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 7 R · 5 D cosponsors

SB 649 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in forgery and fraudulent practices, providing for the offense of digital forgery.

Last action — Act No. 35 of 2025, July 7, 2025

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced April 29, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Josh Shapiro (Democratic) on June 30, 2025.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 12 sponsors

    1 primary, 11 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (7 R · 5 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

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

Classifying Deepfakes as Digital Forgery

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

35 added · 44 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to Bill SB 649 have removed provisions that granted certain protections to law enforcement officers as well as technology providers involved in creating digital likenesses. Instead, the focus has shifted to emphasize that defendants can use the argument of taking reasonable actions to inform audiences that a digital likeness is not genuine as a key part of their defense. This change is significant as it narrows the criteria for lawful uses of digital likenesses, reinforcing accountability while still allowing room for legitimate actions like crime prevention and protection against fraud.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
705 PRINTER'S NO.
705 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
920 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
WARD AND MILLER, APRIL 29, 2025 AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, JUNE 9, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in forgery and fraudulent practices, providing for the offense of digital forgery.
WARD AND MILLER, APRIL 29, 2025 REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, APRIL 29, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in forgery and fraudulent practices, providing for the offense of digital forgery.
(1) an instance of satire, parody, commentary, criticism <-- or works that relate to a matter of public interest or have political or newsworthy value;
(1) an instance of satire, parody, commentary, criticism or works that relate to a matter of public interest or have political or newsworthy value;
or A CONSTITUTIONALLY <-- PROTECTED ACTIVITY;
or (2) a law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of the law enforcement officer's official duties.
(2) a law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of the law enforcement officer's official duties.;
<-- (3) A PROVIDER OR DEVELOPER OF ANY TECHNOLOGY USED IN THE CREATION OF A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OR AUDIO RECORDING;
OR (4) ANY INFORMATION SERVICE, SYSTEM OR ACCESS SOFTWARE PROVIDER THAT PROVIDES OR ENABLES COMPUTER ACCESS BY MULTIPLE USERS TO A COMPUTER SERVER, INCLUDING SPECIFICALLY A SERVICE OR SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.
(e) Construction.--This section shall not be construed to restrict the ability of a person to detect, prevent, respond to or protect against security incidents, identity theft, fraud, harassment, malicious or deceptive activities or any illegal activity, preserve the integrity or security of systems or investigate, report or prosecute persons responsible for the 20250SB0649PN0920 - 2 - action.
(e) Construction.--This section shall not be construed to restrict the ability of a person to detect, prevent, respond to or protect against security incidents, identity theft, fraud, harassment, malicious or deceptive activities or any illegal activity, preserve the integrity or security of systems or investigate, report or prosecute persons responsible for the action.
(2) materially misrepresents the appearance, speech or behavior of the individual such that the fundamental character of the individual's appearance, speech or behavior is changed;
20250SB0649PN0705 - 2 - (2) materially misrepresents the appearance, speech or behavior of the individual such that the fundamental character of the individual's appearance, speech or behavior is changed;
20250SB0649PN0920 - 3 -
20250SB0649PN0705 - 3 -
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Action History

  1. Act No. 35 of 2025, July 7, 2025

  2. Approved by the Governor, July 7, 2025

  3. Presented to the Governor, June 30, 2025

  4. Signed in House, June 30, 2025

  5. Signed in Senate, June 26, 2025

  6. Third consideration and final passage, June 26, 2025 (199-3)

  7. Re-reported as committed, June 26, 2025

  8. Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, June 25, 2025

  9. Second consideration, June 25, 2025

  10. Removed from table, June 24, 2025

  11. Laid on the table, June 23, 2025

  12. First consideration, June 23, 2025

  13. Reported as committed, June 23, 2025

  14. Referred to JUDICIARY, June 11, 2025

  15. In the House

  16. (Remarks see Senate Journal Page 538-539), June 10, 2025

  17. Third consideration and final passage, June 10, 2025 (50-0)

  18. (Remarks see Senate Journal Page 522), June 9, 2025

  19. Second consideration, with amendments, June 9, 2025 (47-3)

  20. First consideration, June 3, 2025

  21. Reported as committed, June 3, 2025

  22. Referred to JUDICIARY, April 29, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 241 not signed on · 6 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (11)

Not signed on (241)

241 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 241 →

"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

Votes

FINAL PASSAGE

Passed 199 Yea · 3 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 100000
Republican 94300
Unaffiliated 5001
Total 199301
% of votes cast 98%1%0%0%
How each member voted (203)
Member Party Vote
Dan Miller — Yea
Joshua Siegel — Yea
Louis Schmitt — Yea
Seth Grove — Not Voting
Stephenie Scialabba — Yea
Torren Ecker — Yea
Abigail Salisbury Democratic Yea
Aerion Abney Democratic Yea
Amen Brown Democratic Yea
Andre D. Carroll Democratic Yea
Anita Astorino Kulik Democratic Yea
Anthony A. Bellmon Democratic Yea
Arvind Venkat Democratic Yea
Ben Waxman Democratic Yea
Benjamin V. Sanchez Democratic Yea
Brandon J. Markosek Democratic Yea
Brian Munroe Democratic Yea
Bridget M. Kosierowski Democratic Yea
Carol Hill-Evans Democratic Yea
Carol Kazeem Democratic Yea
Chris Pielli Democratic Yea
Christina D. Sappey Democratic Yea
Christopher M. Rabb Democratic Yea
Dan Frankel Democratic Yea
Dan Goughnour Democratic Yea
Dan K. Williams Democratic Yea
Daniel J. Deasy Democratic Yea
Danielle Friel Otten Democratic Yea
Danilo Burgos Democratic Yea
Darisha K. Parker Democratic Yea
Dave Madsen Democratic Yea
David M. Delloso Democratic Yea
Ed Neilson Democratic Yea
Eddie Day Pashinski Democratic Yea
Elizabeth Fiedler Democratic Yea
Emily Kinkead Democratic Yea
Frank Burns Democratic Yea
G. Roni Green Democratic Yea
Gina H. Curry Democratic Yea
Greg Scott Democratic Yea
Greg Vitali Democratic Yea
Heather Boyd Democratic Yea
Ismail Smith-Wade-El Democratic Yea
Jacklyn Rusnock Democratic Yea
Jared G. Solomon Democratic Yea
Jason Dawkins Democratic Yea
Jeanne McNeill Democratic Yea
Jennifer O'Mara Democratic Yea
Jessica Benham Democratic Yea
Jim Haddock Democratic Yea
Jim Prokopiak Democratic Yea
Joanna E. McClinton Democratic Yea
Joe Ciresi Democratic Yea
Joe McAndrew Democratic Yea
Joe Webster Democratic Yea
Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz Democratic Yea
John C. Inglis III Democratic Yea
Jordan A. Harris Democratic Yea
Jose Giral Democratic Yea
Joseph C. Hohenstein Democratic Yea
Justin C. Fleming Democratic Yea
Keith S. Harris Democratic Yea
Kristine C. Howard Democratic Yea
Kyle Donahue Democratic Yea
Kyle J. Mullins Democratic Yea
La'Tasha D. Mayes Democratic Yea
Leanne Krueger Democratic Yea
Lindsay Powell Democratic Yea
Lisa A. Borowski Democratic Yea
Liz Hanbidge Democratic Yea
Malcolm Kenyatta Democratic Yea
Mandy Steele Democratic Yea
Manuel Guzman Democratic Yea
Mary Jo Daley Democratic Yea
MaryLouise Isaacson Democratic Yea
Matthew D. Bradford Democratic Yea
Maureen E. Madden Democratic Yea
Melissa Cerrato Democratic Yea
Melissa L. Shusterman Democratic Yea
Michael H. Schlossberg Democratic Yea
Morgan Cephas Democratic Yea
Nancy Guenst Democratic Yea
Napoleon J. Nelson Democratic Yea
Nathan Davidson Democratic Yea
Nikki Rivera Democratic Yea
Pat Gallagher Democratic Yea
Patrick J. Harkins Democratic Yea
Paul Friel Democratic Yea
Paul Takac Democratic Yea
Perry S. Warren Democratic Yea
Peter Schweyer Democratic Yea
Regina G. Young Democratic Yea
Rick Krajewski Democratic Yea
Robert E. Merski Democratic Yea
Robert F. Matzie Democratic Yea
Robert Freeman Democratic Yea
Ryan A. Bizzarro Democratic Yea
Scott Conklin Democratic Yea
Sean Dougherty Democratic Yea
Steve Samuelson Democratic Yea
Steven R. Malagari Democratic Yea
Tarah Probst Democratic Yea
Tarik Khan Democratic Yea
Tim Brennan Democratic Yea
Tim Briggs Democratic Yea
Tina M. Davis Democratic Yea
Aaron Bernstine Republican Yea
Abby Major Republican Yea
Alec J. Ryncavage Republican Yea
Andrew Kuzma Republican Yea
Ann Flood Republican Yea
Barbara Gleim Republican Yea
Brad Roae Republican Yea
Brenda M. Pugh Republican Yea
Brett R. Miller Republican Yea
Brian C. Rasel Republican Yea
Brian Smith Republican Yea
Bryan Cutler Republican Yea
Bud Cook Republican Yea
Carl Walker Metzgar Republican Yea
Chad G. Reichard Republican Yea
Charity Grimm Krupa Republican Yea
Clint Owlett Republican Yea
Craig T. Staats Republican Yea
Craig Williams Republican Yea
Dallas Kephart Republican Yea
Dan Moul Republican Yea
Dane Watro Republican Yea
David H. Rowe Republican Yea
David H. Zimmerman Republican Yea
David M. Maloney Republican Yea
Donna Scheuren Republican Yea
Doyle Heffley Republican Yea
Eric Davanzo Republican Yea
Eric J. Weaknecht Republican Yea
Eric R. Nelson Republican Yea
Gary W. Day Republican Yea
Jack Rader Republican Yea
Jacob D. Banta Republican Yea
James B. Struzzi Republican Yea
Jamie Barton Republican Yea
Jamie L. Flick Republican Yea
Jamie Walsh Republican Yea
Jason Ortitay Republican Yea
Jeff Olsommer Republican Yea
Jeremy Shaffer Republican Yea
Jesse Topper Republican Yea
Jill N. Cooper Republican Yea
Jim Rigby Republican Yea
Joanne Stehr Republican Yea
Joe Emrick Republican Yea
Joe Hamm Republican Yea
Joe Hogan Republican Yea
Joe Kerwin Republican Yea
John A. Lawrence Republican Yea
John A. Schlegel Republican Nay
Jonathan Fritz Republican Yea
Joseph D'Orsie Republican Yea
Josh Bashline Republican Yea
Joshua D. Kail Republican Yea
Kate A. Klunk Republican Yea
Kathleen C. Tomlinson Republican Yea
Kathy L. Rapp Republican Yea
Keith J. Greiner Republican Yea
Kerry A. Benninghoff Republican Yea
Kristin Marcell Republican Yea
Leslie Rossi Republican Yea
Marc S. Anderson Republican Yea
Marci Mustello Republican Yea
Mark M. Gillen Republican Yea
Marla Brown Republican Yea
Martin T. Causer Republican Yea
Martina A. White Republican Yea
Michael Stender Republican Yea
Mike Armanini Republican Yea
Mike Jones Republican Yea
Milou Mackenzie Republican Yea
Mindy Fee Republican Yea
Natalie Mihalek Republican Yea
Parke Wentling Republican Yea
Perry A. Stambaugh Republican Yea
R. Lee James Republican Yea
Rich Irvin Republican Yea
Rob W. Kauffman Republican Yea
Robert Leadbeter Republican Yea
Roman Kozak Republican Yea
Russ Diamond Republican Nay
Ryan Warner Republican Yea
Scott Barger Republican Yea
Shelby Labs Republican Yea
Sheryl M. Delozier Republican Yea
Stephanie Borowicz Republican Nay
Steven C. Mentzer Republican Yea
Thomas H. Kutz Republican Yea
Thomas L. Mehaffie Republican Yea
Tim Twardzik Republican Yea
Timothy J. O'Neal Republican Yea
Timothy R. Bonner Republican Yea
Tina Pickett Republican Yea
Tom Jones Republican Yea
Valerie S. Gaydos Republican Yea
Wendy Fink Republican Yea
Zachary Mako Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Final Passage

Passed 50 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 27000
Democratic 22000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 50000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (50)
Member Party Vote
Anthony Williams — Yea
Amanda M. Cappelletti Democratic Yea
Art Haywood Democratic Yea
Carolyn T. Comitta Democratic Yea
Christine M. Tartaglione Democratic Yea
James Andrew Malone Democratic Yea
Jay Costa Democratic Yea
John I. Kane Democratic Yea
Judith L. Schwank Democratic Yea
Katie J. Muth Democratic Yea
Lindsey M. Williams Democratic Yea
Lisa M. Boscola Democratic Yea
Maria Collett Democratic Yea
Marty Flynn Democratic Yea
Nick Miller Democratic Yea
Nick Pisciottano Democratic Yea
Nikil Saval Democratic Yea
Patty Kim Democratic Yea
Sharif Street Democratic Yea
Steven J. Santarsiero Democratic Yea
Timothy P. Kearney Democratic Yea
Vincent J. Hughes Democratic Yea
Wayne D. Fontana Democratic Yea
Camera Bartolotta Republican Yea
Chris Gebhard Republican Yea
Cris Dush Republican Yea
Daniel Laughlin Republican Yea
David G. Argall Republican Yea
Dawn W. Keefer Republican Yea
Devlin J. Robinson Republican Yea
Doug Mastriano Republican Yea
Elder A. Vogel Republican Yea
Frank A. Farry Republican Yea
Gene Yaw Republican Yea
Greg Rothman Republican Yea
Jarrett Coleman Republican Yea
Joe Picozzi Republican Yea
Joe Pittman Republican Yea
Judy Ward Republican Yea
Kim L. Ward Republican Yea
Kristin Phillips-Hill Republican Yea
Lisa Baker Republican Yea
Lynda Schlegel Culver Republican Yea
Michele Brooks Republican Yea
Patrick J. Stefano Republican Yea
Rosemary M. Brown Republican Yea
Scott E. Hutchinson Republican Yea
Scott Martin Republican Yea
Tracy Pennycuick Republican Yea
Wayne Langerholc Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PENNYCUICK Amendment No. A-0963

Passed 47 Yea · 3 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 27000
Democratic 19300
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 47300
% of votes cast 94%6%0%0%
How each member voted (50)
Member Party Vote
Anthony Williams — Yea
Amanda M. Cappelletti Democratic Yea
Art Haywood Democratic Yea
Carolyn T. Comitta Democratic Yea
Christine M. Tartaglione Democratic Yea
James Andrew Malone Democratic Yea
Jay Costa Democratic Yea
John I. Kane Democratic Yea
Judith L. Schwank Democratic Yea
Katie J. Muth Democratic Yea
Lindsey M. Williams Democratic Yea
Lisa M. Boscola Democratic Yea
Maria Collett Democratic Nay
Marty Flynn Democratic Yea
Nick Miller Democratic Yea
Nick Pisciottano Democratic Yea
Nikil Saval Democratic Yea
Patty Kim Democratic Yea
Sharif Street Democratic Yea
Steven J. Santarsiero Democratic Nay
Timothy P. Kearney Democratic Nay
Vincent J. Hughes Democratic Yea
Wayne D. Fontana Democratic Yea
Camera Bartolotta Republican Yea
Chris Gebhard Republican Yea
Cris Dush Republican Yea
Daniel Laughlin Republican Yea
David G. Argall Republican Yea
Dawn W. Keefer Republican Yea
Devlin J. Robinson Republican Yea
Doug Mastriano Republican Yea
Elder A. Vogel Republican Yea
Frank A. Farry Republican Yea
Gene Yaw Republican Yea
Greg Rothman Republican Yea
Jarrett Coleman Republican Yea
Joe Picozzi Republican Yea
Joe Pittman Republican Yea
Judy Ward Republican Yea
Kim L. Ward Republican Yea
Kristin Phillips-Hill Republican Yea
Lisa Baker Republican Yea
Lynda Schlegel Culver Republican Yea
Michele Brooks Republican Yea
Patrick J. Stefano Republican Yea
Rosemary M. Brown Republican Yea
Scott E. Hutchinson Republican Yea
Scott Martin Republican Yea
Tracy Pennycuick Republican Yea
Wayne Langerholc Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety technology
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 649 do?
Classifying Deepfakes as Digital Forgery
Who sponsors SB 649?
SB 649 is sponsored by Nick Miller (Democratic), Judy Ward (Republican), Rosemary M. Brown (Republican), John I. Kane (Democratic), Christine M. Tartaglione (Democratic), Daniel Laughlin (Republican), Wayne D. Fontana (Democratic), Elder A. Vogel (Republican), Devlin J. Robinson (Republican), Patrick J. Stefano (Republican), Tracy Pennycuick (Republican), and Nick Pisciottano (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 649?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced April 29, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 649?
Track SB 649 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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