Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee 13 D cosponsors

HB 713 — An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in particular rights and immunities, further providing for scope of subchapter.

Last action — Laid on the table

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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 February 24, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Prognosis

Advancing 46% · 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.

  • 13 sponsors

    1 primary, 12 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (13 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 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.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

52 added · 48 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Bill HB 713, the definition of "protected public expression" has been revised to include various forms of communication related to legislative, executive, judicial, or administrative proceedings. Previously, the definition referenced protections under both the U.S. and Pennsylvania constitutions, but the latest amendment removes the Pennsylvania references, focusing solely on the federal level. This change is significant because it clarifies the scope of protections regarding public expression, which could affect how individuals engage in civic discourse and legal proceedings.

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PRINTER'S NO.
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
732 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
732 PRINTER'S NO.
2872 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
DAVIS, MADDEN, WAXMAN, MAYES, CERRATO, SANCHEZ AND MALAGARI, FEBRUARY 24, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 24, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in particular rights and immunities, further providing for declaration of policy, for definitions and for scope of subchapter.
DAVIS, MADDEN, WAXMAN, MAYES, CERRATO, SANCHEZ, MALAGARI, SHUSTERMAN, GREEN AND HANBIDGE, FEBRUARY 24, 2025 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 4, 2026 AN ACT Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in particular rights and immunities, further providing for declaration of policy, for <-- definitions and for scope of subchapter.
Section 8340.12(2) of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, added July 17, 2024 (P.L.836, No.72), is amended to read:
Section 8340.12(2) of Title 42 of the <-- Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, added July 17, 2024 (P.L.836, No.72), is amended to read:
SECTION 1.
SECTION 8340.14(B)(5) OF TITLE 42 OF THE <-- 20250HB0713PN2872 - 2 - PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED TO READ:
* * * 20250HB0713PN0732 - 2 - (b) Exclusions.--This subchapter does not apply to any of the following claims asserted in a civil action:
* * * (b) Exclusions.--This subchapter does not apply to any of the following claims asserted in a civil action:
* * * Section 4.
* * * Section 4 2.
20250HB0713PN0732 - 3 -
<-- 20250HB0713PN2872 - 3 -
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How this bill changes current law

3 changes Share ↗

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

The bill amends definitions related to protected public expression and clarifies exclusions within the subchapter on rights and immunities.

  • 42 Pa.C.S. § 8340.12

    It is in the public interest to encourage continued participation in matters of public significance, including disclosure of sexual offenses. This participation should not be chilled through abuse of the judicial process.

    The bill clarifies that encouragement of public participation should not be deterred by misuse of judicial processes.

  • 42 Pa.C.S. § 8340.13

    or → (4) communication of an allegation of abuse, as defined under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6102 (relating to definitions), or allegation of sexual violence, as defined under section 62A03 (relating to definitions), provided the communication is not malicious.

    The bill adds specific protections for communications alleging abuse or sexual violence as part of protected public expression.

  • 42 Pa.C.S. § 8340.14(b)(5)

    Arising under [any of the following: (i) 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to protection from abuse). (ii) Chapter 62A (relating to protection of victims of sexual violence or intimidation). (iii) The] → the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921.

    The bill specifies that claims arising under protections for abuse and sexual violence are excluded from this subchapter.

Action History

  1. Laid on the table

  2. First consideration

  3. Reported as amended

  4. Referred to Judiciary

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 12 co-sponsors · 240 not signed on · 12 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (12)

Not signed on (240)

240 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 240 →

"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

Committee vote (Judiciary): Adopt Amendment

Passed 14 Yea · 12 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 14000
Republican 01100
Unaffiliated 0100
Total 141200
% of votes cast 54%46%0%0%
How each member voted (26)
Member Party Vote
Stephenie Scialabba — Nay
Aerion Abney Democratic Yea
Andre D. Carroll Democratic Yea
Benjamin V. Sanchez Democratic Yea
Chris Pielli Democratic Yea
Christopher M. Rabb Democratic Yea
Emily Kinkead Democratic Yea
Joseph C. Hohenstein Democratic Yea
Kristine C. Howard Democratic Yea
Kyle Donahue Democratic Yea
La'Tasha D. Mayes Democratic Yea
Liz Hanbidge Democratic Yea
Malcolm Kenyatta Democratic Yea
Melissa L. Shusterman Democratic Yea
Tim Briggs Democratic Yea
Andrew Kuzma Republican Nay
Brenda M. Pugh Republican Nay
Jim Rigby Republican Nay
Joe Hamm Republican Nay
Joe Kerwin Republican Nay
Joshua D. Kail Republican Nay
Kate A. Klunk Republican Nay
Rob W. Kauffman Republican Nay
Robert Leadbeter Republican Nay
Stephanie Borowicz Republican Nay
Timothy R. Bonner Republican Nay

Committee vote (Judiciary): Report Bill As Amended

Passed 15 Yea · 11 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 14000
Republican 11000
Unaffiliated 0100
Total 151100
% of votes cast 58%42%0%0%
How each member voted (26)
Member Party Vote
Stephenie Scialabba — Nay
Aerion Abney Democratic Yea
Andre D. Carroll Democratic Yea
Benjamin V. Sanchez Democratic Yea
Chris Pielli Democratic Yea
Christopher M. Rabb Democratic Yea
Emily Kinkead Democratic Yea
Joseph C. Hohenstein Democratic Yea
Kristine C. Howard Democratic Yea
Kyle Donahue Democratic Yea
La'Tasha D. Mayes Democratic Yea
Liz Hanbidge Democratic Yea
Malcolm Kenyatta Democratic Yea
Melissa L. Shusterman Democratic Yea
Tim Briggs Democratic Yea
Andrew Kuzma Republican Yea
Brenda M. Pugh Republican Nay
Jim Rigby Republican Nay
Joe Hamm Republican Nay
Joe Kerwin Republican Nay
Joshua D. Kail Republican Nay
Kate A. Klunk Republican Nay
Rob W. Kauffman Republican Nay
Robert Leadbeter Republican Nay
Stephanie Borowicz Republican Nay
Timothy R. Bonner Republican Nay

Subjects

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

Who sponsors HB 713?
HB 713 is sponsored by Kristine C. Howard (Democratic), Nancy Guenst (Democratic), Tina M. Davis (Democratic), Maureen E. Madden (Democratic), Ben Waxman (Democratic), La'Tasha D. Mayes (Democratic), Melissa Cerrato (Democratic), Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic), Steven R. Malagari (Democratic), Melissa L. Shusterman (Democratic), G. Roni Green (Democratic), Liz Hanbidge (Democratic), and Malcolm Kenyatta (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 713?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 24, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 713?
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