Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility House Communications & Technology Committee unanimously approves bills to increase public engagement with state government and law enforcement and awareness of AI in campaign ads

House Communications & Technology Committee unanimously approves bills to increase public engagement with state government and law enforcement and awareness of AI in campaign ads

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    June 3, 2025 | 2:32 PM

HARRISBURG, June 3 – The newly formed House Communications & Technology Committee unanimously approved three bills and sent them to the full House for further consideration, Majority Chair state Rep. Joe Ciresi announced today.

The bills share a common aim to keep the public informed and empower their voices by enabling them to easily speak to live Commonwealth customer service representatives, by improving communications with law enforcement, and by increasing public awareness of the use of deepfakes in campaigns and providing a mechanism that would prevent the dishonest use of AI technology in elections.

“These bills reflect the committee’s commitment to ensuring that all communications in the commonwealth serve our residents by increasing engagement and transparency, whether it’s enabling one of our seniors to easily connect by phone with a live Commonwealth customer service representative, or a crime victim to find out about the criminal’s arrest or protect voters from being misled by deepfakes in campaign ads,” said Ciresi, D-Montgomery.

The following bills were approved:

  • House Bill 197 (Rep. Joe Ciresi) would amend the Right-to-Know Law to require Commonwealth agencies to provide telephone service, enabling people to get the support they need faster and with less hassle. This legislation would benefit people who do not have access to the internet or prefer to speak to a live representative to request help or information.
  • House Bill 627 (Rep. Jared Solomon) would establish the Public Safety Resident Communications Pilot Program in the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which would provide grants to law enforcement agencies to support the purchase and implementation of community engagement software to help them meet their notification responsibilities under the Crime Victims Act. The bill would increase transparency and efficiency in law enforcement communications with the public, particularly for victims of crime by providing timely and reliable updates. The bill would increase public engagement with law enforcement and help the police collect local feedback, improve their operations, and build public trust in the justice system.
  • House Bill 811 (Rep. Tarik Khan) provides for civil liability for fraudulent misrepresentation when using an artificially generated impersonation of a candidate for public office in a campaign advertisement. The legislation would address the growing issue of AI deepfakes in elections by empowering victims and holding to account those who use the technology to try to deceive and manipulate voters.

“All these bills would help foster and protect democracy in Pennsylvania by making both our Commonwealth and law enforcement more responsive to the public they serve and prevent voters from deceived by dishonest AI campaign ads,” Ciresi said. “Knowledge is power, and a well-informed and engaged public is the foundation of a thriving democracy.”