I will reintroduce legislation (House Resolution 284 from last session) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) to conduct or contract a study evaluating Pennsylvania’s trespassing laws and their enforcement, with the goal of more effectively deterring trespassing on private properties.

This study would include both trespass on private property while hunting under Title 34 (Game) and non-hunting trespass under Title 18 (Crimes Code), evaluate enforcement and effectiveness of our current trespass laws, as well as offer suggestions for possible improvements.

As you may know, trespass on private property while hunting was made a primary offense with penalties increased under Act 107 of 2019 (which expanded Sunday hunting). Even though Act 107 strengthened penalties to be more in line with those contained in Title 18, we still consistently hear complaints about both hunting and non-hunting trespass from our constituents.

Thank you for your consideration of this proposal.