Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB1397

Introduced
5/5/25  

Caption

In preliminary provisions relating to actions, proceedings and other matters generally, providing for use of media devices.

Impact

The legislation introduces specific exceptions where the use of media devices would not be permitted, particularly in sensitive cases such as those involving sexual abuse, domestic violence, or related protections. By restricting media device usage in these instances, the bill seeks to protect vulnerable parties, like victims and child witnesses, from potential retraumatization or exposure. This duality underscores the bill’s intent to balance increased transparency with critical protections for individuals involved in particularly delicate judicial matters.

Summary

House Bill 1397 aims to amend Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, specifically addressing the use of media devices in judicial proceedings. The bill proposes that individuals may use or operate media devices to capture, record, transmit, or broadcast audio or visual material of court proceedings without requiring prior approval from the court or the presiding judicial officer. This addresses the growing demand for transparency and accessibility in the judicial system, allowing greater public oversight of legal processes and enhancing the accountability of the judiciary.

Sentiment

General sentiment surrounding HB 1397 appears to be supportive among advocates for transparency in the legal system, who view the bill as a progressive step towards open courts. However, concerns have been raised by those emphasizing the necessity of safeguarding sensitive cases, indicating a complexity in public opinion. The ability to document judicial proceedings may be welcomed by some as a means of oversight, while others caution about the potential risks posed to victims and minors when media coverage is involved in high-stakes or sensitive situations.

Contention

The principal contention revolves around the balance between transparency and privacy. While proponents of the bill argue that it empowers citizens by enhancing public access to court proceedings, critics contend that it could compromise the integrity of sensitive testimonies and the safety of vulnerable individuals involved in legal cases. The opposition emphasizes that certain cases require stringent controls over media coverage to ensure that the judicial process does not inadvertently harm participants, particularly victims of sexual or domestic violence.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB204

In actions, proceedings and other matters generally, providing for extreme risk protection orders.

PA SB996

In actions, proceedings and other matters generally, providing for reporting of deaths; and imposing penalties.

PA SB751

In juvenile matters, further providing for definitions, for place of detention and for transfer to criminal proceedings.

PA HB1551

In juvenile matters, further providing for definitions, for scope of chapter, for inspection of court files and records, for transfer from criminal proceedings, for place of detention and for conduct of hearings and repealing provisions relating to transfer to criminal proceedings; and making editorial changes.

PA HB1555

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in pupils and attendance, providing for educational oversight for juveniles in facilities, further providing for possession of weapons prohibited and providing for placement of certain adjudicated students; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for reporting and providing for School-Based Diversion Programs Fund; in school security, further providing for powers and duties and providing for limitations on proceedings and arrest; and, in school districts of the first class, repealing provisions relating to placement of certain adjudicated students.

PA HB1708

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in pupils and attendance, providing for educational oversight for students in facilities, further providing for possession of weapons prohibited and providing for school stability for certain students; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for reporting and establishing the School-Based Diversion Programs Fund; in school security, further providing for powers and duties and providing for limitations on proceedings and arrest; and, in school districts of the first class, repealing provisions relating to placement of certain adjudicated students.

PA HB1187

In authorized disposition of offenders, further providing for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition prohibited; in criminal homicide, further providing for the offense of murder; in assault, further providing for the offense of stalking and for the offense of unauthorized administration of intoxicant; in sexual offenses, further providing for definitions and for the offense of rape, repealing provisions relating to the offense of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and further providing for the offense of sexual assault, for the offense of institutional sexual assault, for the offense of sexual assault by sports official, volunteer or employee of nonprofit association, for the offense of aggravated indecent assault and for general rule relating to loss of property rights; in wiretapping and electronic surveillance, further providing for definitions and for order authorizing interception of wire, electronic or oral communications; in public indecency, further providing for the offense of prostitution and related offenses; in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms; in minors, further providing for transmission of sexually explicit images by minor; in criminal history record information, further providing for expungement and for juvenile records; in child custody, further providing for consideration of criminal conviction; in protection from abuse, further providing for definitions; in child protective services, further providing for definitions, for exclusions from child abuse and for employees having contact with children and adoptive and foster parents; in domestic and sexual violence victim address confidentiality, further providing for penalties; in limitation of time, further providing for infancy, insanity or imprisonment, for no limitation applicable and for other offenses; in depositions and witnesses, further providing for spouses as witnesses against each other and for hearsay; in juvenile matters, further providing for definitions, for inspection of court files and records, for law enforcement records, for conduct of hearings, for transfer to criminal proceedings and for assessment of delinquent children by the State Sexual Offenders Assessment Board; in court-ordered involuntary treatment of certain sexually violent persons, further providing for definitions and for court-ordered involuntary treatment; in sentencing, further providing for sentences for second or subsequent offenses, for sentences for offenses against elderly persons, for sentences for offenses against infant persons, for sentences for offenses committed while impersonating a law enforcement officer, for sentencing for trafficking of persons, for definitions, for sexual offenses and tier system, for termination of period of registration for juvenile offenders, for assessments, for registration and for assessments; in judicial change of name, further providing for change by order of court; in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for parole procedure; and, in interstate compacts, further providing for supervision of persons paroled by other states.

PA HB2303

In preliminary provisions relating to divorce, further providing for legislative findings and intent, for definitions, for bases of jurisdiction, for effect of agreement between parties and for premarital agreements; in dissolution of marital status, further providing for grounds for divorce, repealing provisions relating to counseling, further providing for grounds for annulment of voidable marriages, repealing provisions relating to defenses, to action where defendant suffering from mental disorder and to general appearance and collusion, further providing for hearing by master, providing for general order of divorce proceedings, repealing provisions relating to jury trial, further providing for decree of court and repealing provisions relating to opening or vacating decrees; in property rights, further providing for definitions and for disposition of property to defeat obligations; in alimony and support, further providing for alimony and repealing provisions relating to bar to alimony; and repealing provisions relating to mediation.

PA HB1381

In juvenile matters, further providing for short title and purposes of chapter, for definitions, for scope of chapter, for powers and duties of probation officers, for summary offenses, for inspection of court files and records, for guardian ad litem for child in court proceedings, for transfer from criminal proceedings, for informal adjustment, for taking into custody, for detention of child, for release or delivery to court and for place of detention, providing for confinement in juvenile treatment facilities, further providing for notice and hearing, providing for questioning and interrogating a child, further providing for consent decree, providing for school stability for certain students, further providing for disposition of delinquent child, for limitation on and change in place of commitment and for transfer to criminal proceedings.

PA HB1018

In firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms and for abandonment of firearms, weapons or ammunition; in community and municipal courts, further providing for masters; adding provisions relating to extreme risk protection orders; imposing duties on the Office of Attorney General; and imposing penalties.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.