Pennsylvania HB 1479: An Act amending Titles 23 (Domestic Relations) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in protection from abuse, further providing for definitions and for relief; and, in protection of victims of sexual violence or intimidation, further providing for definitions and for relief.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2270 PRINTER'S NO. 2593
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1479
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MARCELL, LABS, MAJOR, MIHALEK, TOMLINSON,
ARMANINI, STAATS AND GILLEN, SEPTEMBER 5, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 17, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title TITLES 23 (Domestic Relations) AND 42 (JUDICIARY
AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in protection from abuse, further providing for
definitions and for relief.; AND, IN PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF
SEXUAL VIOLENCE OR INTIMIDATION, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR
DEFINITIONS AND FOR RELIEF.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 6102(a) of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
§ 6102. Definitions.
(a) General rule.--The following words and phrases when used
in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this
section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Post." To share, display, provide, upload, transmit,
publish, distribute, communicate or circulate content on a
social media platform.
* * *
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"Social media platform." A public or semipublic Internet-
based service or application that meets all of the following
criteria:
(1) A substantial function of the platform, service or
application is to connect users in order to allow users to
interact socially with each other within the service or
application, provided that a platform, service or application
that provides email or direct messaging services or cloud
computing shall not be considered to meet this criterion
solely on the basis of that function.
(2) The platform, service or application allows users to
do all of the following:
(i) Construct a public or semipublic profile for
purposes of signing into and using the platform, service
or application.
(ii) Populate a list of other users with whom an
individual shares a social connection within the system.
(iii) Create or post content viewable by other
users, including on message boards, in chat rooms or
through a landing page or main feed that presents the
user with content generated by other users.
"User." A person who posts content on a social media
platform.
* * *
Section 2. Section 6108(a)(1) of Title 23 is amended to
read:
SECTION 2. SECTION 6108(A) OF TITLE 23 IS AMENDED BY ADDING
A PARAGRAPH TO READ:
§ 6108. Relief.
(a) General rule.--Subject to subsection (a.1), the court
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may grant any protection order or approve any consent agreement
to bring about a cessation of abuse of the plaintiff or minor
children. The order or agreement may include:
(1) Directing the defendant to refrain from abusing the
plaintiff or minor children[.], including:
(i) prohibiting the defendant from accessing or
utilizing social media platforms; or
(ii) prohibiting the defendant from posting on
social media platforms.
* * *
(9.2) PROHIBITING THE DEFENDANT FROM ACCESSING,
UTILIZING OR POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.
* * *
SECTION 3. SECTION 62A03 OF TITLE 42 IS AMENDED BY ADDING
DEFINITIONS TO READ:
§ 62A03. DEFINITIONS.
THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS CHAPTER
SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE
CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
* * *
"POST." AS DEFINED IN 23 PA.C.S. § 6102 (RELATING TO
DEFINITIONS).
* * *
"SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM." AS DEFINED IN 23 PA.C.S. § 6102.
"USER." AS DEFINED IN 23 PA.C.S. § 6102.
* * *
SECTION 4. SECTION 62A07(B)(1) OF TITLE 42 IS AMENDED TO
READ:
§ 62A07. RELIEF.
* * *
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(B) GENERAL RULE.--AN ORDER OR A CONSENT AGREEMENT MAY
INCLUDE:
(1) [PROHIBITING THE DEFENDANT FROM HAVING ANY CONTACT
WITH THE VICTIM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RESTRAINING
THE DEFENDANT FROM ENTERING THE VICTIM'S RESIDENCE, PLACE OF
EMPLOYMENT, BUSINESS OR SCHOOL. THIS MAY INCLUDE PROHIBITING
INDIRECT CONTACT THROUGH THIRD PARTIES AND ALSO PROHIBITING
DIRECT OR INDIRECT CONTACT WITH OTHER DESIGNATED PERSONS.]
PROHIBITING THE DEFENDANT FROM HAVING ANY CONTACT WITH THE
VICTIM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(I) RESTRAINING THE DEFENDANT FROM ENTERING THE
VICTIM'S RESIDENCE, PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, BUSINESS OR
SCHOOL.
(II) PROHIBITING INDIRECT CONTACT THROUGH THIRD
PARTIES AND PROHIBITING DIRECT OR INDIRECT CONTACT WITH
OTHER DESIGNATED PERSONS.
(III) PROHIBITING THE DEFENDANT FROM ACCESSING,
UTILIZING OR POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.
* * *
Section 3 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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