Pennsylvania HB 1478: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of stalking.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2269
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1478
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MAJOR, LABS, MARCELL, MIHALEK, TOMLINSON,
ARMANINI, STAATS, KUZMA AND GILLEN, SEPTEMBER 4, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the
offense of stalking.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2709.1(c) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended and subsection (f) is amended
by adding definitions to read:
§ 2709.1. Stalking.
* * *
(c) Grading.--
(1) Except as otherwise provided for in [paragraph (2)]
paragraphs (2) and (3), a first offense under this section
shall constitute a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) A second or subsequent offense under this section or
a first offense under subsection (a) if the person has been
previously convicted of a crime of violence involving the
same victim, family or household member, including, but not
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

limited to, a violation of section 2701 (relating to simple
assault), 2702 (relating to aggravated assault), 2705
(relating to recklessly endangering another person), 2718
(relating to strangulation), 2901 (relating to kidnapping),
3121 (relating to rape) or 3123 (relating to involuntary
deviate sexual intercourse), an order issued under section
4954 (relating to protective orders) or an order issued under
23 Pa.C.S. § 6108 (relating to relief) shall constitute a
felony of the third degree.
(3) If the victim of an offense under this section is a
minor and the perpetrator is an adult who is at least four
years older than the victim, the offense shall constitute:
(i) For a first offense, a felony of the second
degree.
(ii) For a second or subsequent offense, a felony of
the first degree.
* * *
(f) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection:
"Adult." An individual 18 years of age or older.
* * *
"Minor." An individual under 18 years of age.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB1478PN2269 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24