7 bills signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro in October

After a flurry of October votes in the General Assembly, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed nearly 60 bills into law on Thursday. The new laws touch on high-profile topics like AI-generated content and digital crimes, as well as more under-the-radar issues like raffle regulations and scientific testing on dogs and cats. 

With 58 bills now law after receiving Shapiro’s signature, City & State examines a few of the more significant bills signed by the governor and what they could mean for Pennsylvanians. 

Disclosure of AI-generated content

Pennsylvania has new laws on the books governing the use of AI-generated content after Shapiro signed Senate Bill 806, a measure sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Nick Pisciottano. The law, known as the Artificial Intelligence Deceptive Advertising Act, prohibits advertisers in the state from creating or disseminating synthetic, AI-generated content in a way that could create a false perception about goods or services being offered. Any synthetic content used must have a “clear and conspicuous disclosure” that states whether an ad was generated or modified using AI. Pisciottano said in a statement that the law is a “major step for consumer protection in Pennsylvania” and that it “sets a commonsense transparency standard so Pennsylvanians can make informed decisions about what they are buying, while still allowing businesses to take advantage of this technology.”

Alicia’s Law

A new law spearheaded by Republican state Rep. Jason Ortitay and Democratic state Rep. Jessica Benham, known as Alicia’s Law, establishes a state grant program devoted to investigating and prosecuting predators who target children through the internet. The law is named after Alicia Kozak, Pittsburgh-area survivor who was abducted at age 13 in 2002 by a man she met online. Kozak was chained in his basement and sexually assaulted, with her abuse streamed online. She was ultimately rescued and has since led efforts to promote internet safety. “Alicia’s experience isn’t some relic from the early days of the internet. It’s a warning about what happens when kids can freely interact with strangers online while law enforcement lacks the tools to keep pace,” Ortitay said following the bill’s passage in the General Assembly. “With elementary-aged children on social media, these crimes aren’t diminishing. They’re growing. This legislation puts Pennsylvania on the offensive.”

Criminal penalties for swatting incidents

Pennsylvania officials are hoping to crack down on “swatting” incidents targeting schools with a new law that directs the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to develop a sentencing enhancement for courts to consider in swatting cases. Swatting is a term used to describe hoax calls made to 911 aimed at drawing a response from law enforcement – something that not only can strike fear into students and school personnel, but can also be incredibly costly to law enforcement. Shapiro signed House Bill 1935 into law this week; the statute also allows courts to order restitution that covers the cost of supplies, equipment, materials and the salary and pay of employees and first responders who are impacted by swatting incidents. 

A cap on rental application fees

Shapiro also signed House Bill 558 into law this week. The legislation, sponsored by Democratic state Rep. MaryLouise Isaacson, seeks to dissuade landlords and rental companies from charging exorbitant rental application fees. The law states that landlords and their agents may only charge fees that are “reasonably related to the actual administrative expenses incurred” and may not use application fees as a general revenue source. ““For too long, landlords have been preying on renters across the commonwealth with excessive fees that limit opportunities to find adequate housing,” Isaacson said in a statement. “With this bill, both chambers have recognized that someone shouldn’t have to stop applying for housing because of simple paperwork.”

Addressing long-term care workforce challenges

In the state Senate, GOP state Sen. Dave Argall championed legislation seeking to address workforce shortages in the long-term care sector, and that bill, Senate Bill 116, became law this week with Shapiro’s signature. The law allows high school students to earn graduation credits by working or volunteering in licensed congregate care facilities, a term that includes long-term care nursing facilities, personal care homes and assisted living residences, as well as managed care programs that provide all-inclusive care for elderly individuals. Argall said in a statement that his bill will help increase access to care while also giving students vital experience. “The professionals who provide their care are facing increasing challenges because of workforce shortages. This legislation will give students an opportunity to explore careers in long-term care while helping address this growing need,” he said.

The Beagle Bill

After beefing with celebrity physician Dr. Mehmet Oz in 2022, who was then a candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, GOP state Sen. Doug Mastriano introduced what is now known as the “The Beagle Bill” – legislation looking to crack down on the use of dogs and cats in scientific experiments. At the time, the proposal seemed to be a shot at Oz, who had garnered controversy for his time as a principal investigator at a Columbia University program where experiments on live animals reportedly led to the death of at least 300 dogs. Regardless of whether Mastriano’s bill was originally motivated by a gripe with Oz, the law will have major implications in the commonwealth. The law limits the use of state funds to support experiments on dogs and cats, bars the sale of animal-tested cosmetic products in the state, boosts transparency around organizations that conduct testing on animals, and requires dogs and cats from labs to be made available for adoption. 

Payments for small games of chance

Republican state Sen. Devlin Robinson introduced legislation this session seeking to give nonprofit organizations like fire companies, churches and youth sports leagues additional flexibility when it comes to raising money through raffles and other small games of chance. Up until now, state law only allowed for these types of organizations to accept money through cash or check. But under Robinson’s bill, Senate Bill 416, nonprofit community organizations can now accept payment for raffles and other games by credit card, debit card and other mobile or electronic payment methods, which Robinson said in a statement “provides nonprofits with more convenient, modern fundraising options while maintaining important safeguards to ensure raffle ticket purchasers meet the legal age requirement.”