HB 2551 — An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in powers and duties in general, providing for certain text-based communications prohibited.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.NOS.

34603460, 3556 PRINTER'S NO.

35563653 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

2551 2026 INTFRIEL, GUZMAN, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, KINKEAD, KUZMA,ONAHUE, MARCELL, MAZZOCCO, McNEILL, MERSKI, PARKER, PROBST, SCHWEYER, SHUSTERMAN, SMITH-WADE-EL, STAMBAUGHSTAMBAUGH, AND D.

WILLIAMS,WILLIAMS AND WARREN, MAY 28, 2026 AS ANDJUNE UTILITIES,22, 2026COND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED,NOLOGY JUNE 9, 2026 AN ACT AmendingAme"An the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled "An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of thethed executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the Executive Department thereof and the administrative departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof, including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or Teachers Colleges;

providing for the appointment of certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and other assistants and commissions;employes in certain departments, boards, prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of certain departments, boards and commissions shall be determined," in powers and duties in general, providing for certain text-based communications prohibited.

providing for judicial administration;

ands, prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of certain departments, boards and commissions shall be determined," in powers and duties in general, providing for certain text-based communications prohibited.

Certain Text-Based Communications Prohibited.-- (a) A Commonwealth agency may not use a text-based communication to collect, or notify an individual about, an unpaid fine, fee, toll or other charge payable to the Commonwealth agency.agency unless the agency has the explicit consent of the individual or the agency is providing free information to inform the recipient of the text of Commonwealth services that can benefit the recipient.

UNLESS THE AGENCY HAS THE EXPLICIT CONSENT <-- OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR THE AGENCY IS PROVIDING FREE INFORMATION TO INFORM THE RECIPIENT OF THE TEXT OF COMMONWEALTH SERVICES THAT CAN BENEFIT THE RECIPIENT.

§ 102 <-- (relating to definitions).

"Text-based"INTERACTIVE communication."MOBILE DEVICE." A textHANDHELD message,WIRELESS instantTELEPHONE, message, <-- SOCIALPERSONAL MEDIADIGITAL MESSAGEASSISTANT, orSMART otherPHONE, writtenPORTABLE communicationOR composedMOBILE orCOMPUTER receivedOR onSIMILAR anDEVICE interactiveWHICH mobileCAN device.BE USED FOR VOICE COMMUNICATION, TEXTING, EMAILING, BROWSING THE INTERNET, INSTANT MESSAGING, PLAYING GAMES, TAKING OR TRANSMITTING IMAGES, RECORDING OR BROADCASTING VIDEOS, CREATING OR SHARING SOCIAL MEDIA OR OTHERWISE SENDING OR RECEIVING ELECTRONIC DATA.

"Text-based communication." A text message, instant message, social media message or other written communication composed or received on an interactive mobile device.

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