Bill > SB1029

This bill establishes a comprehensive hate group database managed by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office to track and monitor hate groups and hate crimes. The database will contain intelligence information about individuals or groups suspected of hate group activity, accessible only to approved law enforcement agencies and subject to strict confidentiality and security protocols. The Attorney General will be responsible for designating hate groups, evaluating and investigating hate crimes and group activities, and creating annual reports on hate group activity. The bill defines a hate group as a collection of individuals with beliefs or practices that attack or malign a class of people and potentially commit hate crimes, and it sets clear guidelines for collecting, maintaining, and disseminating intelligence information. The legislation also establishes a dedicated hate group unit within the Office of Attorney General to track hate crimes, investigate potential perpetrators, and potentially initiate criminal proceedings. Importantly, the database is intended for intelligence gathering and investigative purposes only and cannot be used as evidence in legal proceedings. The bill includes provisions to protect individual privacy, such as only including individuals 16 years or older and automatically expunging data after five years without new reported activity. The hate group database must comply with federal regulations and be used solely for tracking domestic terrorists, hate groups, and related activities.

Justice

https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/sb1029