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SB 96

An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of terroristic threats.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Michele Brooks and 8 co-sponsors

SB 96 modifies Pennsylvania's terroristic threats statute to adjust criminal definitions or penalties related to threatening behavior and assault offenses.

Referred to Judiciary
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 96

Legislative bill overview

SB 96 amends Pennsylvania's assault and terroristic threats statutes under Title 18 of the Consolidated Statutes. The bill appears designed to modify definitions or penalties related to terroristic threats, though the specific language changes are not detailed in the provided action summary. The legislation has advanced through committee consideration and passed third reading as of April 1, 2025.

Why is this important

Terroristic threats statutes directly affect criminal law enforcement, free speech boundaries, and public safety policy. Changes to these definitions or penalties influence how prosecutors pursue cases, what conduct triggers criminal liability, and the severity of consequences for individuals charged with threatening behavior.

Potential points of contention

  • Speech vs. criminality boundaries: Debates over where legitimate protected speech ends and criminal threatening begins, particularly regarding social media posts, hyperbole, and contextual interpretation
  • Penalty severity: Questions about whether proposed amendments increase or decrease penalties and whether the punishment is proportionate to the offense
  • Definitional clarity: Concerns that modifications to "terroristic threats" language might be overly broad (catching protected conduct) or insufficiently clear for consistent enforcement

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

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