SB 686 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in falsification and intimidation, further providing for the offense of tampering with public records or information.
Last action — Re-referred to Commerce
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced April 28, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.
Odds of enactment
Moderate chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate 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
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Passed Senate
Current position in the legislative process.
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6 sponsors
1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (6 R).
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 4 recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
33 added · 18 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendment to Bill SB 686 adds a new section to Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, defining the offense of tampering with public records. Specifically, it makes it a third-degree felony to intentionally alter, destroy, conceal, or otherwise impair a public record that someone has requested. This change is important because it strengthens accountability and protects public access to information, ensuring that records remain available and trustworthy for those seeking them.
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
675 THEPRINTER'S GENERALNO. ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
686755 2025THE INTRODUCEDGENERAL BYASSEMBLY DUSH,OF ROTHMAN,PENNSYLVANIA COLEMAN,SENATE PHILLIPS-HILL,BILL STEFANOSession ANDof J.2025 No.
WARD,INTRODUCED APRILBY 28,DUSH, 2025ROTHMAN, REFERREDCOLEMAN, TOPHILLIPS-HILL, STATESTEFANO GOVERNMENT,AND APRILJ. 28, 2025 AN ACT Ame"An act providing for access to public information, for ad designated open-records officer in each Commonwealth agency, local agency, judicial agency and legislative agency, for procedure, for appeal of agency determination, for judicial review and for the Office of Open Records;
WARD, APRIL 28, 2025 SENATOR DUSH, STATE GOVERNMENT, AS AMENDED, MAY 6, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), entitled <-- "An act providing for access to public information, for a designated open-records officer in each Commonwealth agency, local agency, judicial agency and legislative agency, for procedure, for appeal of agency determination, for judicial review and for the Office of Open Records;
AMENDING TITLE 18 (CRIMES AND OFFENSES) OF THE PENNSYLVANIA <-- FURTHER PROVIDING FOR THE OFFENSE OF TAMPERING WITH PUBLIC RECORDS OR INFORMATION.
The act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known <-- as the Right-to-Know Law, is amended by adding a section to read:
SECTION 1.
SECTION 4911(B) OF TITLE 18 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA <-- CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED TO READ:
§ 4911.
TAMPERING WITH PUBLIC RECORDS OR INFORMATION.
* * * (B) GRADING.--AN OFFENSE UNDER THIS SECTION IS A MISDEMEANOR OF THE SECOND DEGREE UNLESS THE RECORD, DOCUMENT OR THING IS THE SUBJECT OF A CURRENT REQUEST OR APPEAL UNDER THE ACT OF FEBRUARY 14, 2008 (P.L.6, NO.3), KNOWN AS THE RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW, OR THE INTENT OF THE ACTOR IS TO DEFRAUD OR INJURE ANYONE, IN WHICH CASE THE OFFENSE IS A FELONY OF THE THIRD DEGREE.
20250SB0686PN067520250SB0686PN0755 - 2 -
Action History
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Re-referred to Commerce
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Reported with request to re-refer to Commerce
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Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs & Operations
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Third consideration and final passage
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Second consideration
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First consideration
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Reported as amended
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Referred to State Government
Sponsors
- Cris Dush · Primary
- Greg Rothman · Cosponsor
- Jarrett Coleman · Cosponsor
- Kristin Phillips-Hill · Cosponsor
- Patrick J. Stefano · Cosponsor
- Judy Ward · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 247 not signed on · 31 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- Cris Dush Republican
Co-sponsors (5)
- Greg Rothman Republican
- Jarrett Coleman Republican
- Kristin Phillips-Hill Republican
- Patrick J. Stefano Republican
- Judy Ward Republican
Not signed on (247)
247 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 247 →"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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 14 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 54% | 46% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (26)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Abigail Salisbury | Democratic | Yea |
| Andre D. Carroll | Democratic | Yea |
| Dan Goughnour | Democratic | Yea |
| Dave Madsen | Democratic | Yea |
| David M. Delloso | Democratic | Yea |
| Jacklyn Rusnock | Democratic | Yea |
| Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz | Democratic | Yea |
| Justin C. Fleming | Democratic | Yea |
| Kyle Donahue | Democratic | Yea |
| Lisa A. Borowski | Democratic | Yea |
| Nathan Davidson | Democratic | Yea |
| Nikki Rivera | Democratic | Yea |
| Sean Dougherty | Democratic | Yea |
| Tarah Probst | Democratic | Yea |
| Aaron Bernstine | Republican | Nay |
| Abby Major | Republican | Nay |
| Brian C. Rasel | Republican | Nay |
| Craig T. Staats | Republican | Nay |
| Donna Scheuren | Republican | Nay |
| Jamie Barton | Republican | Nay |
| Jeff Olsommer | Republican | Nay |
| Mike Jones | Republican | Nay |
| Stephanie Borowicz | Republican | Nay |
| Steven C. Mentzer | Republican | Nay |
| Thomas H. Kutz | Republican | Nay |
| Wendy Fink | Republican | Nay |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic | 4 | 17 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 31 | 18 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 62% | 36% | 0% | 2% |
How each member voted (50)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Williams | — | Nay |
| Amanda M. Cappelletti | Democratic | Nay |
| Art Haywood | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Carolyn T. Comitta | Democratic | Nay |
| Christine M. Tartaglione | Democratic | Nay |
| James Andrew Malone | Democratic | Nay |
| Jay Costa | Democratic | Nay |
| John I. Kane | Democratic | Nay |
| Judith L. Schwank | Democratic | Nay |
| Katie J. Muth | Democratic | Yea |
| Lindsey M. Williams | Democratic | Nay |
| Lisa M. Boscola | Democratic | Yea |
| Maria Collett | Democratic | Nay |
| Marty Flynn | Democratic | Yea |
| Nick Miller | Democratic | Yea |
| Nick Pisciottano | Democratic | Nay |
| Nikil Saval | Democratic | Nay |
| Patty Kim | Democratic | Nay |
| Sharif Street | Democratic | Nay |
| Steven J. Santarsiero | Democratic | Nay |
| Timothy P. Kearney | Democratic | Nay |
| Vincent J. Hughes | Democratic | Nay |
| Wayne D. Fontana | Democratic | Nay |
| 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 |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 73% | 27% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (11)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony H. Williams | Democratic | Nay |
| Katie J. Muth | Democratic | Yea |
| Nikil Saval | Democratic | Nay |
| Steven J. Santarsiero | Democratic | Nay |
| Cris Dush | Republican | Yea |
| David G. Argall | Republican | Yea |
| Doug Mastriano | Republican | Yea |
| Judy Ward | Republican | Yea |
| Kim L. Ward | Republican | Yea |
| Kristin Phillips-Hill | Republican | Yea |
| Patrick J. Stefano | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (11)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony H. Williams | Democratic | Yea |
| Katie J. Muth | Democratic | Yea |
| Nikil Saval | Democratic | Yea |
| Steven J. Santarsiero | Democratic | Yea |
| Cris Dush | Republican | Yea |
| David G. Argall | Republican | Yea |
| Doug Mastriano | Republican | Yea |
| Judy Ward | Republican | Yea |
| Kim L. Ward | Republican | Yea |
| Kristin Phillips-Hill | Republican | Yea |
| Patrick J. Stefano | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors SB 686?
- SB 686 is sponsored by Cris Dush (Republican), Greg Rothman (Republican), Jarrett Coleman (Republican), Kristin Phillips-Hill (Republican), Patrick J. Stefano (Republican), and Judy Ward (Republican).
- What is the current status of SB 686?
- This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced April 28, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track SB 686?
- Track SB 686 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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