HB 2551

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 3460, 3556  PRINTER'S NO.   3653
                THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
                    HOUSE BILL
                    No. 2551
                                          Session of
                                            2026
INTRODUCED BY ISAACSON, NEILSON, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, CURRY, DONAHUE,
   FRIEL, GUZMAN, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, KINKEAD, KUZMA,
   MARCELL, MAZZOCCO, McNEILL, MERSKI, PARKER, PROBST, SCHWEYER,
   SHUSTERMAN, SMITH-WADE-EL, STAMBAUGH, D. WILLIAMS AND WARREN,
   MAY 28, 2026
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
   JUNE 22, 2026
                               AN ACT
1 Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
2    "An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
3    executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
4    Executive Department thereof and the administrative
5    departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
6    including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
7    Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
8    authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
9    departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
10    duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
11    officers, and of the several administrative departments,
12    boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
13    Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
14    and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
15    certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
16    other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
17    and commissions; providing for judicial administration; and
18    prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation
19    of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of
20    certain departments, boards and commissions shall be
21    determined," in powers and duties in general, providing for
22    certain text-based communications prohibited.
23    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
24 hereby enacts as follows:
25    Section 1.    The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
26 as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding a
1 section to read:
2Section 531.   Certain Text-Based Communications Prohibited.--
3 (a)    A Commonwealth agency may not use a text-based
4 communication to collect, or notify an individual about, an
5 unpaid fine, fee, toll or other charge payable to the
6 Commonwealth agency unless the agency has the explicit consent
7 of the individual or the agency is providing free information to
8 inform the recipient of the text of Commonwealth services that
9 can benefit the recipient.
10(b)   As used in this section, the following words and phrases
11 shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
12 the context clearly indicates otherwise:
13"Commonwealth agency."   As defined under section 102 of the
14 act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the
15 "Commonwealth Attorneys Act."
16"Interactive mobile device."   As defined in 75 Pa.C.S. § 102     <--
17 (relating to definitions).
18"INTERACTIVE MOBILE DEVICE."   A HANDHELD WIRELESS TELEPHONE,     <--
19 PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANT, SMART PHONE, PORTABLE OR MOBILE
20 COMPUTER OR SIMILAR DEVICE WHICH CAN BE USED FOR VOICE
21 COMMUNICATION, TEXTING, EMAILING, BROWSING THE INTERNET, INSTANT
22 MESSAGING, PLAYING GAMES, TAKING OR TRANSMITTING IMAGES,
23 RECORDING OR BROADCASTING VIDEOS, CREATING OR SHARING SOCIAL
24 MEDIA OR OTHERWISE SENDING OR RECEIVING ELECTRONIC DATA.
25"Text-based communication."    A text message, instant message,
26 social media message or other written communication composed or
27 received on an interactive mobile device. The term does not
28 include electronic mail.
29Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20260HB2551PN3653  - 2 -