PennsylvaniaMandated reporters would report suspected child sexual abuse material
People legally required to report child abuse would report suspected sexual abuse material involving children, including artificially generated material, starting one year after enactment.
What it does
People required to report child abuse would also report reasonable suspicions that sexual abuse material involving children exists, including artificially generated material. This would apply even when a minor creates or shares it.
Child-on-child conduct that meets the definition of listed sexual crimes would fall under child abuse reporting rules. The list includes unlawfully sharing intimate images and sexual abuse of children.
Argument forRequired reports could help police investigate suspected child sexual abuse material, including artificially generated material, when no adult created or shared it.
Argument againstMandatory police referrals could bring minors who create or share suspected sexual abuse material into law enforcement investigations.
More detail
People legally required to report child abuse would report reasonable suspicions that child sexual abuse material exists. The requirement would cover actual and artificially generated child sexual abuse material, including material created, displayed, or shared by a minor. Reports would go through the statewide hotline or electronic reporting system. The department would send each report to the appropriate law enforcement agency and could also send it to the appropriate county agency. The reporting provisions would take effect one year after enactment.
Specified sexual crimes against a child would be subject to child abuse reporting requirements even in child-on-child cases. The list covers specified sexual offenses, including rape, unlawful sharing of intimate images, and sexual abuse of children. The conduct must meet the legal definition of one of the listed crimes. These provisions would take effect one year after enactment.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Oct 22Act No. 87 of 2026Latest
- Oct 22Approved by the Governor Josh ShapiroBecame Law
- Oct 22Presented to the GovernorTo Governor
- Oct 22Signed in Senate
- Oct 21Signed in House
- Vote recorded CONCURRENCE. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Rules): Re-report Bill As Committed. Result: pass.Lower
- Oct 21House concurred in Senate amendments
- Oct 21Re-reported on concurrence, as committedMinor
- Oct 21Referred to RulesMinor
- Oct 21Third consideration and final passagePassed Senate
- Oct 20Re-reported as committedMinor
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Appropriations): Re-Reported as Committed. Result: pass.Upper
- Oct 20Re-referred to AppropriationsMinor
- Oct 20Second considerationMinor
- Oct 19First considerationMinor
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Judiciary): Reported as Amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Judiciary): Adopt Amendment A04633. Result: pass.Upper
- Oct 19Reported as amendedMajor
- May 7Referred to JudiciaryMinor
- May 6Third consideration and final passagePassed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Appropriations): Re-report Bill As Committed. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Re-reported as committedMinor
- May 5Re-committed to AppropriationsMinor
- May 5Second considerationMinor
- May 4Removed from table
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Judiciary): Report Bill As Committed. Result: pass.Lower
- May 4Laid on the table
- May 4First considerationMinor
- May 4Reported as committedMinor
- Apr 29Referred to JudiciaryIntroduced
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