Legislation to Prohibit Deceptive Interrogation Practices for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Advances in the House Judiciary Committee
Rep. Liz Hanbidge April 9, 2026 | 3:12 PM
Pennsylvania state Rep. Liz Hanbidge (D-Montgomery) today announced H.B. 1247 was voted out of committee.
The legislation is designed to prevent wrongful convictions by limiting the use of deceptive interrogation tactics on individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism.
“False confessions are one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions, and the risk of false confession are even greater for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism,” Hanbidge said. “This bill takes a critical step toward ensuring that our justice system is fair, accurate and grounded in reliable evidence.”
House Bill 1247 prohibits law enforcement from knowingly using deception during custodial interrogations of individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism. The bill also establishes a presumption that confessions obtained through such deceptive interrogation tactics are inadmissible in court, while still granting judges the discretion to consider the totality of the circumstances.
Hanbidge said national data underscores the urgency of this reform. More than 360 wrongful convictions overturned through DNA evidence involved false confessions, often tied to deceptive interrogation techniques.
“Using deceptive interrogation tactics on individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism not only risks harming those individuals but also imperils public safety by undermining entire investigations, allowing real perpetrators to remain free,” Hanbidge said. “This bill creates a clear, bright-line rule, that strengthens both justice and public safety.”
The legislation reflects a growing consensus among law enforcement professionals and interrogation experts that non-deceptive techniques are more effective at eliciting truthful and reliable information.
House Bill 1247 also acknowledges the unique vulnerabilities of certain populations. Individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism are, in some cases, more susceptible to suggestion and coercion, increasing the likelihood of false or involuntary confessions under deceptive questioning.
The bill now advances to the full House for consideration.