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HB 2220

An Act amending Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for video streaming services.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Ciresi and 6 co-sponsors

HB 2220 would regulate video streaming services in PA by prohibiting excessively loud TV-style commercials and likely mandating loudness standards.

Referred to Communications & Technology
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2220

Summary of Pennsylvania HB 2220 (2025-2026)

Basic Information

  • Official Title: An Act amending Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for video streaming services.
  • Primary Sponsor: Rep. Jeremy Shaffer
  • Co-Sponsors: Rep. Robert Freeman, Rep. Nikki Rivera, Rep. Jill Cooper, Rep. Joe Ciresi, Rep. Natalie Mihalek, Rep. Ben Waxman
  • Committee Status: Referred to the Communications & Technology Committee on February 17, 2026
  • Current Text/Status: Bill referred; no floor votes recorded yet. Committee meeting noted for May 5, 2026.

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill is framed around regulating video streaming services operating within Pennsylvania, with an explicit memo subject indicating a focus on prohibiting excessively loud commercials on video streaming services.
  • It aims to modify Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) to address practices by video streaming platforms, particularly around advertising volume.

Key Provisions (as indicated by available materials)

  • Main Provision: Amending Title 12 to provide for video streaming services. While the detailed text is not included in the provided materials, the memo subject signals a specific targeted restriction on the volume of television-style advertisements delivered through streaming platforms.
  • Advertising Regulation: The central policy idea is to prohibit excessively loud commercials on video streaming services. This suggests the bill would set a standard or rule governing the maximum allowed audio level of ads relative to content or a fixed decibel limit, enforceable on streaming platforms operating in Pennsylvania.

Affected Entities and Sectors

  • Video Streaming Services: Platforms that stream video content to Pennsylvania residents (e.g., OTT platforms, apps delivering ads with video spots).
  • Advertisers and Ad Providers: Entities that create and place commercials within streaming content, who would need to comply with sound level requirements.
  • Consumers/Residents of Pennsylvania: End users who watch streaming content and would benefit from reduced audio disparities between content and ads.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Referral Date: February 17, 2026, to the Communications & Technology Committee.
  • Committee Activity: Acknowledged committee meeting on May 5, 2026, for voting on HB 2220 along with related bills (HB 95, HB 1925, etc.).
  • Status: No enacted text or votes available yet in the provided materials; progress dependent on committee deliberations and potential amendments.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Consumer Experience: If enacted, the rule could improve the viewing experience by ensuring ad audio levels do not disproportionately disrupt listeners.
  • Platform Compliance: Streaming services would need to implement or adjust loudness normalization/compression practices (potentially aligning with existing standards like CALM Act concepts, though state-specific application is not stated here).
  • Enforcement: The bill would likely establish enforcement mechanisms and penalties for non-compliance, though specifics are not provided in the materials.
  • Economic Impact: Advertisers and platforms might incur costs to audit and adjust audio standards; potential impacts on ad production practices and platform settings.

Notable Context

  • The bill is part of a broader set of Title 12 amendments in the 2025-2026 session, but HB 2220 specifically focuses on video streaming services and loudness of commercials, as indicated by the memo on prohibiting excessively loud commercials.

If you’d like, I can add a section comparing this bill to federal or other state analogs (e.g., trends in loudness standards, CALM Act-related practices) once you provide or specify the comparative references.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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