Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee 15 D cosponsors

SB 148 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for licenses.

Last action — Referred to Judiciary

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

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced January 22, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · 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.

  • 15 sponsors

    1 primary, 14 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (15 D).

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.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

11 changes Share ↗

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

This bill amends the criteria for obtaining a firearms license in Pennsylvania by instituting competency requirements and clarifying the application process.

  • Section 6109(e)(1)

    (xv) An individual who has not demonstrated competence with a firearm in accordance with subsection (e.1).

    It adds a new criterion that individuals must demonstrate firearm competence to qualify for a license.

  • Section 6109(e.1)(1)

    (i) Completion of a hunter education or hunter safety course approved by the Pennsylvania Game Commission or a similar agency of another state.

    It specifies completion of approved hunter education courses as a means to demonstrate firearm competence.

  • Section 6109(e.1)(1)

    (ii) Completion of a National Rifle Association firearms safety or training course.

    It allows individuals to demonstrate firearm competence through NRA training courses.

  • Section 6109(e.1)(1)

    (iii) Completion of a firearms safety or training course or class available to the general public offered by a law enforcement agency, educational institution, private or public institution or organization or firearms training school, utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle Association or the Pennsylvania State Police.

    It expands options for demonstrating firearm competence to include courses offered by various authorized entities.

  • Section 6109(e.1)(1)

    (iv) Completion of a law enforcement firearms safety or training course or class offered for law enforcement or security enforcement personnel.

    It includes law enforcement training courses as valid for demonstrating firearm competence.

  • Section 6109(e.1)(1)

    (v) Presentation of evidence of equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competition or military service.

    It allows military service or competitive shooting as acceptable proof of competence with firearms.

  • Section 6109(e.1)(1)

    (vi) Completion of a firearms training or safety course or class conducted by a State-certified or National Rifle Association certified firearms instructor.

    It specifies courses taught by certified instructors as qualifications for firearm competence.

  • Section 6109(e.1)(2)

    (i) a photocopy of a certificate of completion of any of the courses or classes under paragraph (1);

    It establishes accepted documentation for proving completion of firearm training courses.

  • Section 6109(e.1)(2)

    (ii) an affidavit from the instructor, school, club, organization or group that conducted or taught the course or class attesting to the completion of the course or class by the applicant;

    It allows affidavits from instructors or organizations as valid evidence of course completion.

  • Section 6109(e.1)(2)

    (iii) a copy of a document which shows completion of the course or class or evidences participation in firearms competition.

    It permits additional documentation, such as competition participation, to serve as proof of competence.

  • Section 6109(e.1)(3)

    A person who conducts a course or class under paragraph (1)(ii), (iii) or (vi) or who, as an instructor, attests to the completion of the course or class, shall maintain records certifying that the person or instructor observed the student safely handle and discharge the firearm.

    It requires instructors to maintain records of student performance in firearm handling as part of course documentation.

Action History

  1. Referred to Judiciary

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 14 co-sponsors · 238 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (14)

Not signed on (238)

238 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 238 →

"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

Who sponsors SB 148?
SB 148 is sponsored by Vincent J. Hughes (Democratic), Carolyn T. Comitta (Democratic), Wayne D. Fontana (Democratic), Sharif Street (Democratic), Timothy P. Kearney (Democratic), Art Haywood (Democratic), Jay Costa (Democratic), John I. Kane (Democratic), Christine M. Tartaglione (Democratic), Judith L. Schwank (Democratic), Patty Kim (Democratic), Steven J. Santarsiero (Democratic), Katie J. Muth (Democratic), Maria Collett (Democratic), and Amanda M. Cappelletti (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 148?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced January 22, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 148?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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