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HB 713PENNSYLVANIASession 2025-2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

Pennsylvania HB 713 expands legal protections for non-malicious disclosures of abuse and sexual violence

Original title: 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 · February 4, 2026: Laid on the table, Feb. 4, 2026Sponsors: Kristine Howard and 12 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Pennsylvania HB 713 amends Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to protect non-malicious communications regarding allegations of abuse or sexual violence under the scope of , while modifying civil action exclusions related to insurance and protection laws, taking effect in 90 days.

Why it matters

Expands the scope of protected communications in civil proceedings, altering the legal immunities available to individuals reporting abuse or sexual violence as long as the statements are not made with malice.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Individuals communicating allegations of abuse or sexual violence

Their non-malicious communications regarding abuse or sexual violence are newly included under protected public expression.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What new category is added to protected public expression?

The bill adds non-malicious communications of allegations of abuse or sexual violence to the definition of .

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

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Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Tabled in the House.

Procedural history

4 actions

Feb 4, 2026House
Laid on the table, Feb. 4, 2026
Feb 4, 2026HouseIntroduced
First consideration, Feb. 4, 2026
Feb 4, 2026House
Reported as amended, Feb. 4, 2026
Feb 24, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to JUDICIARY, Feb. 24, 2025

Version history & redline

2 versions on file

Comparing Printer's No. 0732 → Printer's No. 2872

removed addedOfficial text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 732 PRINTER'S NO. 2872 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL No. 713 Session of 2025 INTRODUCED BY HOWARD, GUENST, T. DAVIS, MADDEN, WAXMAN, MAYES, CERRATO, SANCHEZ AND SANCHEZ, MALAGARI, SHUSTERMAN, GREEN AND HANBIDGE, FEBRUARY 24, 2025 REFERRED TO AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 24, 2025 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 […] offenses. This participation should not be chilled through abuse of the judicial process. * * * Section 2. The definition of "protected public expression" in section 8340.13 of Title 42, added July 17, 2024 (P.L.836,<-- <--

Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Related Legislation

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Beginning in fiscal year 2027, judges of the Orphans' Court for Cecil County will receive an annual salary determined by the County Council of no less

Connected Entities

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

OrganizationPennsylvania Consolidated Statutes“Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is being amended.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.palegis.us

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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