An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to offenses involving danger to the person, further providing for definitions.

PRINTER'S NO. 461
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 212
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY COLLETT, STREET, HUGHES, COMITTA, KEARNEY,
HAYWOOD, SCHWANK, KANE, COSTA, SAVAL, SANTARSIERO AND
L. WILLIAMS, MARCH 21, 2025
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, MARCH 21, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to
offenses involving danger to the person, further providing
for definitions.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definition of "serious provocation" in
section 2301 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended to read:
§ 2301. Definitions.
Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
provisions of this article which are applicable to specific
chapters or other provisions of this article, the following
words and phrases, when used in this article shall have, unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise, the meanings given to
them in this section:
* * *
"Serious provocation." Conduct sufficient to excite an
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
intense passion in a reasonable person. The term does not
include the discovery, knowledge or potential disclosure of a
victim's actual or perceived gender identity or expression or
sexual orientation, including circumstances in which the victim
made an unwanted nonforcible romantic or sexual advance toward
the defendant or if the defendant and victim had a romantic or
sexual relationship.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250SB0212PN0461 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8