Pennsylvania 2017-2018 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 6 R · 3 D cosponsors

HB 149 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in obstructing governmental operations, providing for unlawful use of an audio or video device in court.

Last action — Approved by the Governor

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 23, 2017. Enacted.

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.

  • 23 sponsors

    1 primary, 22 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (6 R · 3 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 4 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

18 added · 33 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to Bill HB 149 clarify the definitions and penalties related to unauthorized recording in judicial settings. It specifies that the term "judicial facility" now includes not only courtrooms and hearing rooms but also any area immediately surrounding them, reinforcing the need for permission to capture any form of media. Additionally, the grading of offenses has been updated to impose stricter penalties for repeat offenders, shifting second or subsequent offenses from a misdemeanor of the second degree to a first degree. These changes aim to enhance the protection of courtroom proceedings and uphold the integrity of the judicial process.

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SENATE AMENDED PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
113 PRINTER'S NO.
113 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
4251 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
149 2017 INTRODUCED BY KNOWLES, SIMMONS, SCHLOSSBERG, ROZZI, ZIMMERMAN, V.
149 2017 INTV.
HARRIS, WARD, BOBACK,RMAN, KAUFFMAN, ORTITAY, B.
HARRIS, WARD, BOBACK, KAUFFMAN, ORTITAY, B.
MILLER, GILLEN, PICKETT, GABLER, McGINNIS, SOLOMON, KORTZ, DAVIS, BARBIN AND JOZWIAK, JANUARY 23, 2017 AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, IN SENATE, OCTOBER 15, 2018 AN ACT Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in obstructing governmental operations, providing for unlawful use of an audio or video device in court.
MILLER, GILLEN, PICKETT, GABLER, McGINNIS AND SOLOMON, JANUARY 23, 2017 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JANUARY 23, 2017 AN ACT Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in obstructing governmental operations, providing for unlawful use of an audio or video device in court.
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits a misdemeanor of the <-- second degree AN OFFENSE if the person in any manner and for any <-- purpose uses or operates a device to capture, record, transmit or broadcast a photograph, video, motion picture or audio of a proceeding or person within a hearing room, courtroom JUDICIAL <-- FACILITY or the environs of a hearing room or courtroom IN AN <-- AREA ADJACENT TO OR IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING A JUDICIAL FACILITY without the approval of the court or presiding judicial officer or except as provided by rules of court.
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if the person in any manner and for any purpose uses or operates a device to capture, record, transmit or broadcast a photograph, video, motion picture or audio of a proceeding or person within a hearing room, courtroom or the environs of a hearing room or courtroom without the approval of the court or presiding judicial officer or except as provided by rules of court.
(B) GRADING.-- <-- (1) AN OFFENSE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL CONSTITUTE A MISDEMEANOR OF THE SECOND DEGREE.
(b) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "environs" means the area immediately surrounding any entrance or exit.
(2) A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE SHALL CONSTITUTE A MISDEMEANOR OF THE FIRST DEGREE.
(b) (C) Definition.--As used in this section, the term <-- "environs" means the area immediately surrounding any entrance <-- or exit.
"JUDICIAL FACILITY" MEANS A COURTROOM, HEARING ROOM OR <-- JUDICIAL CHAMBERS USED BY THE COURT TO CONDUCT TRIALS OR HEARINGS OR ANY OTHER COURT-RELATED BUSINESS OR ANY OTHER ROOM MADE AVAILABLE TO INTERVIEW WITNESSES.
THE TERM DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE CAPITOL BUILDING EXCEPT FOR THAT PORTION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE CAPITOL BUILDING DESIGNATED BY THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR OF PENNSYLVANIA, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE SUPREME COURT, AS A JUDICIAL FACILITY.
20170HB0149PN4251 - 2 -
20170HB0149PN0113 - 2 -
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Action History

  1. Approved by the Governor

  2. Presented to the Governor

  3. Signed in Senate

  4. Signed in House

  5. House concurred in Senate amendments

  6. Re-reported on concurrence, as committed

  7. Referred to RULES

  8. Third consideration and final passage

  9. PN 4251 Amended on third consideration

  10. Removed from table

  11. Laid on the table

  12. Removed from table

  13. Laid on the table

  14. Removed from table

  15. Laid on the table

  16. Second consideration

  17. First consideration

  18. Reported as committed

  19. Referred to JUDICIARY

  20. Third consideration and final passage

  21. Re-reported as committed

  22. Re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS

  23. Second consideration

  24. Removed from table

  25. Laid on the table

  26. First consideration

  27. Reported as committed

  28. PN 0113 Referred to JUDICIARY

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 22 co-sponsors · 230 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Knowles

Co-sponsors (22)

Not signed on (230)

230 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 230 →

"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

HB 149 PN 4251, CONCUR

Passed 187 Yea · 0 Nay · 12 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1060010
Republican 44002
Democratic 37000
Total 1870012
% of votes cast 94%0%0%6%
How each member voted (199)
Member Party Vote
BARRAR — Yea
BLOOM — Yea
BOBACK — Yea
CHARLTON — Yea
CHRISTIANA — Yea
CORBIN — Yea
E CORR — Not Voting
COX — Yea
DIGIROLAMO — Yea
DOWLING — Yea
ELLIS — Yea
ENGLISH — Yea
E EVERETT — Not Voting
E GABLER — Not Voting
GILLESPIE — Yea
GODSHALL — Yea
HAHN — Yea
HARPER — Yea
HARRIS, A. — Yea
HELM — Yea
HENNESSEY — Yea
HICKERNELL — Yea
HILL — Yea
KAMPF — Yea
KELLER, F. — Yea
KELLER, M.K. — Yea
KNOWLES — Yea
LEWIS — Yea
MACKENZIE — Yea
MAHER — Yea
MARSICO — Yea
MASSER — Yea
MCGINNIS — Yea
METCALFE — Yea
MICCARELLI — Yea
MILLARD — Yea
E MILNE — Not Voting
MURT — Yea
MUSTIO — Yea
NELSON — Yea
NESBIT — Yea
O'NEILL — Yea
PEIFER — Yea
PYLE — Yea
QUIGLEY — Yea
QUINN, C. — Yea
QUINN, M. — Yea
REED — Yea
REESE — Yea
ROE — Yea
RYAN — Yea
SACCONE — Yea
SANKEY — Yea
SANTORA — Yea
SAYLOR — Yea
SIMMONS — Yea
SONNEY — Yea
STEPHENS — Yea
TALLMAN — Yea
TAYLOR — Yea
TOBASH — Yea
TOEPEL — Yea
TOOHIL — Yea
WARD — Yea
WATSON — Yea
WHEELAND — Yea
BARBIN — Yea
BROWN, V. — Yea
CALTAGIRONE — Yea
E CRUZ — Not Voting
DEAN — Yea
DELISSIO — Yea
DELUCA — Yea
DERMODY — Yea
DONATUCCI — Yea
DRISCOLL — Yea
EVANS — Yea
FITZGERALD — Yea
GAINEY — Yea
GALLOWAY — Yea
GOODMAN — Yea
E HAGGERTY — Not Voting
HANNA — Yea
KELLER, W. — Yea
E KIRKLAND — Not Voting
E KORTZ — Not Voting
LONGIETTI — Yea
MCCARTER — Yea
MULLERY — Yea
PETRARCA — Yea
RAVENSTAHL — Yea
READSHAW — Yea
ROEBUCK — Yea
SAINATO — Yea
SIMS — Yea
SNYDER — Yea
STURLA — Yea
TAI — Yea
E THOMAS — Not Voting
VAZQUEZ — Yea
WHEATLEY — Yea
YOUNGBLOOD — Yea
TURZAI — Yea
Aaron Kaufer — Yea
Barry Jozwiak — Yea
DAVIS, A — Yea
Dan Miller — Yea
Donna Bullock — Not Voting
Donna Oberlander — Yea
George Dunbar — Yea
Jim Marshall — Yea
Kevin Boyle — Yea
Mark Rozzi — Yea
Paul Schemel — Yea
Seth Grove — Yea
Stephen Kinsey — Yea
Andre D. Carroll Democratic Yea
Anita Astorino Kulik Democratic Yea
Brandon J. Markosek Democratic Yea
Carolyn T. Comitta Democratic Yea
Christopher M. Rabb Democratic Yea
Dan Frankel Democratic Yea
Daniel J. Deasy Democratic Yea
Ed Neilson Democratic Yea
Eddie Day Pashinski Democratic Yea
Frank Burns Democratic Yea
Greg Vitali Democratic Yea
Jared G. Solomon Democratic Yea
Jason Dawkins Democratic Yea
Jay Costa Democratic Yea
Jay Costa Democratic Yea
Jeanne McNeill Democratic Yea
Joanna E. McClinton Democratic Yea
Jordan A. Harris Democratic Yea
Leanne Krueger Democratic Yea
Marty Flynn Democratic Yea
Mary Jo Daley Democratic Yea
Matthew D. Bradford Democratic Yea
Maureen E. Madden Democratic Yea
Michael H. Schlossberg Democratic Yea
Morgan Cephas Democratic Yea
Nathan Davidson Democratic Yea
Patrick J. Harkins Democratic Yea
Patty Kim Democratic Yea
Perry S. Warren Democratic Yea
Peter Schweyer Democratic Yea
Robert F. Matzie Democratic Yea
Robert Freeman Democratic Yea
Ryan A. Bizzarro Democratic Yea
Scott Conklin Democratic Yea
Steve Samuelson Democratic Yea
Tim Briggs Democratic Yea
Tina M. Davis Democratic Yea
Aaron Bernstine Republican Yea
Brad Roae Republican Yea
Brett R. Miller Republican Yea
Bryan Cutler Republican Yea
Bud Cook Republican Yea
Carl Walker Metzgar Republican Yea
Clint Owlett Republican Yea
Craig T. Staats Republican Yea
Cris Dush Republican Yea
Dan Moul Republican Yea
David H. Zimmerman Republican Yea
David M. Maloney Republican Yea
Dawn W. Keefer Republican Yea
Doyle Heffley Republican Yea
Frank A. Farry Republican Yea
Gary W. Day Republican Yea
Greg Rothman Republican Yea
Jack Rader Republican Yea
Jamie Walsh Republican Yea
Jason Ortitay Republican Not Voting
Jesse Topper Republican Yea
Joe Emrick Republican Yea
John A. Lawrence Republican Yea
Jonathan Fritz Republican Not Voting
Kate A. Klunk Republican Yea
Kathy L. Rapp Republican Yea
Keith J. Greiner Republican Yea
Kerry A. Benninghoff Republican Yea
Lynda Schlegel Culver Republican Yea
Mark M. Gillen Republican Yea
Martin T. Causer Republican Yea
Martina A. White Republican Yea
Mindy Fee Republican Yea
Parke Wentling Republican Yea
R. Lee James Republican Yea
Rich Irvin Republican Yea
Rob W. Kauffman Republican Yea
Rosemary M. Brown Republican Yea
Russ Diamond Republican Yea
Ryan Warner Republican Yea
Sheryl M. Delozier Republican Yea
Steven C. Mentzer Republican Yea
Thomas L. Mehaffie Republican Yea
Timothy J. O'Neal Republican Yea
Tina Pickett Republican Yea
Zachary Mako Republican Yea

Official roll call →

FINAL PASSAGE

Passed 49 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 28000
Republican 13000
Democratic 8000
Total 49000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
ALLOWAY — Yea
AUMENT — Yea
BLAKE — Yea
BREWSTER — Yea
BROWNE — Yea
CORMAN — Yea
DINNIMAN — Yea
DISANTO — Yea
EICHELBERGER — Yea
FARNESE — Yea
FOLMER — Yea
GORDNER — Yea
GREENLEAF — Yea
KILLION — Yea
LEACH — Yea
MCGARRIGLE — Yea
MCILHINNEY — Yea
MENSCH — Yea
RAFFERTY — Yea
REGAN — Yea
RESCHENTHALER — Yea
SABATINA — Yea
SCARNATI — Yea
SCAVELLO — Yea
VULAKOVICH — Yea
WARD — Yea
WILLIAMS — Yea
YUDICHAK — Yea
Art Haywood Democratic Yea
Christine M. Tartaglione Democratic Yea
Jay Costa Democratic Yea
Judith L. Schwank Democratic Yea
Lisa M. Boscola Democratic Yea
Sharif Street Democratic Yea
Vincent J. Hughes Democratic Yea
Wayne D. Fontana Democratic Yea
Camera Bartolotta Republican Yea
Daniel Laughlin Republican Yea
David G. Argall Republican Yea
Elder A. Vogel Republican Yea
Gene Yaw Republican Yea
Kathleen C. Tomlinson Republican Yea
Lisa Baker Republican Yea
Martina A. White Republican Yea
Michele Brooks Republican Yea
Patrick J. Stefano Republican Yea
Scott E. Hutchinson Republican Yea
Scott Martin Republican Yea
Wayne Langerholc Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Committee vote (JUDICIARY): Reported as Committed

Passed 15 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 11000
Democratic 2000
Republican 2000
Total 15000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
ALLOWAY — Yea
EICHELBERGER — Yea
FARNESE — Yea
GORDNER — Yea
LEACH — Yea
RAFFERTY — Yea
RESCHENTHALER — Yea
SABATINA — Yea
VULAKOVICH — Yea
GREENLEAF — Yea
SCARNATI — Yea
Art Haywood Democratic Yea
Lisa M. Boscola Democratic Yea
Gene Yaw Republican Yea
Wayne Langerholc Republican Yea

Official roll call →

FINAL PASSAGE

Passed 194 Yea · 0 Nay · 9 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 112008
Republican 46000
Democratic 36001
Total 194009
% of votes cast 96%0%0%4%
How each member voted (203)
Member Party Vote
HILL — Yea
BARRAR — Yea
BLOOM — Yea
BOBACK — Yea
CHARLTON — Yea
E CHRISTIANA — Not Voting
CORBIN — Yea
CORR — Yea
COX — Yea
DIGIROLAMO — Yea
DOWLING — Yea
DUNBAR — Yea
ELLIS — Yea
ENGLISH — Yea
EVANKOVICH — Yea
EVERETT — Yea
GABLER — Yea
GILLESPIE — Yea
GODSHALL — Yea
HAHN — Yea
HARPER — Yea
HARRIS, A. — Yea
HELM — Yea
HENNESSEY — Yea
HICKERNELL — Yea
JOZWIAK — Yea
KAMPF — Yea
KAUFER — Yea
KELLER, F. — Yea
KELLER, M.K. — Yea
KNOWLES — Yea
LEWIS — Yea
MAHER — Yea
MARSHALL — Yea
MARSICO — Yea
MASSER — Yea
MCGINNIS — Yea
METCALFE — Yea
MICCARELLI — Yea
MILLARD — Yea
MILNE — Yea
MURT — Yea
MUSTIO — Yea
NELSON — Yea
NESBIT — Yea
O'NEILL — Yea
OBERLANDER — Yea
PEIFER — Yea
PETRI — Yea
PYLE — Yea
E QUIGLEY — Not Voting
QUINN, C. — Yea
QUINN, M. — Yea
REED — Yea
REESE — Yea
ROE — Yea
RYAN — Yea
SACCONE — Yea
SANKEY — Yea
SANTORA — Yea
E SAYLOR — Not Voting
SCHEMEL — Yea
SIMMONS — Yea
SONNEY — Yea
STEPHENS — Yea
TALLMAN — Yea
TAYLOR — Yea
TOBASH — Yea
TOEPEL — Yea
TOOHIL — Yea
WARD — Yea
WATSON — Yea
E WHEELAND — Not Voting
BARBIN — Yea
BOYLE — Yea
E BROWN, V. — Not Voting
BULLOCK — Yea
CALTAGIRONE — Yea
E CRUZ — Not Voting
DEAN — Yea
DELISSIO — Yea
DELUCA — Yea
DERMODY — Yea
DONATUCCI — Yea
DRISCOLL — Yea
EVANS — Yea
E FABRIZIO — Not Voting
FITZGERALD — Yea
GAINEY — Yea
GALLOWAY — Yea
GOODMAN — Yea
HAGGERTY — Yea
HANNA — Yea
KAVULICH — Yea
KELLER, W. — Yea
KINSEY — Yea
KIRKLAND — Yea
KORTZ — Yea
LONGIETTI — Yea
MCCARTER — Yea
MULLERY — Yea
NEUMAN — Yea
O'BRIEN — Yea
PETRARCA — Yea
RAVENSTAHL — Yea
READSHAW — Yea
ROEBUCK — Yea
ROZZI — Yea
SAINATO — Yea
SIMS — Yea
SNYDER — Yea
STURLA — Yea
E THOMAS — Not Voting
VAZQUEZ — Yea
WHEATLEY — Yea
YOUNGBLOOD — Yea
TURZAI — Yea
Dan Miller — Yea
Matthew Gergely — Yea
Seth Grove — Yea
Andre D. Carroll Democratic Yea
Anita Astorino Kulik Democratic Yea
Brandon J. Markosek Democratic Yea
Carolyn T. Comitta Democratic Yea
Christopher M. Rabb Democratic Yea
Dan Frankel Democratic Yea
Daniel J. Deasy Democratic Yea
Ed Neilson Democratic Yea
Eddie Day Pashinski Democratic Yea
Frank Burns Democratic Yea
Greg Vitali Democratic Yea
Jared G. Solomon Democratic Yea
Jason Dawkins Democratic Yea
Jay Costa Democratic Yea
Jay Costa Democratic Yea
Jeanne McNeill Democratic Yea
Joanna E. McClinton Democratic Yea
Jordan A. Harris Democratic Yea
Leanne Krueger Democratic Yea
Marty Flynn Democratic Yea
Mary Jo Daley Democratic Yea
Matthew D. Bradford Democratic Yea
Maureen E. Madden Democratic Yea
Michael H. Schlossberg Democratic Yea
Morgan Cephas Democratic Yea
Nathan Davidson Democratic Yea
Patrick J. Harkins Democratic Yea
Patty Kim Democratic Yea
Perry S. Warren Democratic Yea
Peter Schweyer Democratic Yea
Robert F. Matzie Democratic Yea
Robert Freeman Democratic Yea
Ryan A. Bizzarro Democratic Yea
Scott Conklin Democratic Yea
Steve Samuelson Democratic Not Voting
Tim Briggs Democratic Yea
Tina M. Davis Democratic Yea
Aaron Bernstine Republican Yea
Brad Roae Republican Yea
Brett R. Miller Republican Yea
Bryan Cutler Republican Yea
Bud Cook Republican Yea
Carl Walker Metzgar Republican Yea
Craig T. Staats Republican Yea
Cris Dush Republican Yea
Dan Moul Republican Yea
David H. Zimmerman Republican Yea
David M. Maloney Republican Yea
Dawn W. Keefer Republican Yea
Doyle Heffley Republican Yea
Frank A. Farry Republican Yea
Gary W. Day Republican Yea
Greg Rothman Republican Yea
Jack Rader Republican Yea
Jamie Walsh Republican Yea
Jason Ortitay Republican Yea
Jesse Topper Republican Yea
Joe Emrick Republican Yea
John A. Lawrence Republican Yea
Jonathan Fritz Republican Yea
Kate A. Klunk Republican Yea
Kathy L. Rapp Republican Yea
Keith J. Greiner Republican Yea
Kerry A. Benninghoff Republican Yea
Lisa Baker Republican Yea
Lynda Schlegel Culver Republican Yea
Mark M. Gillen Republican Yea
Martin T. Causer Republican Yea
Martina A. White Republican Yea
Milou Mackenzie Republican Yea
Mindy Fee Republican Yea
Parke Wentling Republican Yea
R. Lee James Republican Yea
Rich Irvin Republican Yea
Rob W. Kauffman Republican Yea
Rosemary M. Brown Republican Yea
Russ Diamond Republican Yea
Ryan Warner Republican Yea
Sheryl M. Delozier Republican Yea
Steven C. Mentzer Republican Yea
Thomas L. Mehaffie Republican Yea
Tina Pickett Republican Yea
Zachary Mako Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 149?
HB 149 is sponsored by Mark M. Gillen (Republican), Rob W. Kauffman (Republican), Kortz, Tina Pickett (Republican), V. Brown, A. Harris, Ward, Mcginnis, Barbin, Boback, Driscoll, Gabler, Knowles, Jason Ortitay (Republican), Readshaw, Michael H. Schlossberg (Democratic), Simmons, Jared G. Solomon (Democratic), David H. Zimmerman (Republican), Tina M. Davis (Democratic), Brett R. Miller (Republican), Mark Rozzi, and Barry Jozwiak.
What is the current status of HB 149?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 23, 2017. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 149?
Track HB 149 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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