By Guy Page
A Senate bill introduced Wednesday, Jan. 18 would “prohibit the discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of any occupied dwelling house, residence, or other building or camp occupied by human beings or any barn, stable, or other building used in connection with an occupied building.”
S21 is sponsored by Sen. Andrew Perchlik (D/P – Washington) and has been referred to the Natural Resources and Energy Committee. The bill also allows property owners to expand ‘safety zones’ from the current 200 feet to 500 feet.
Property owners would be allowed to fire guns on their own property, and could give permission to others.
Violators would be subject to a $50 fine. The law would take effect July 1.
Perchlik proposes Purple Paint Per Pennsylvania – Perchlik also introduced S22, which would allow property owners to post their land against hunting and fishing by painting a single purple line on a tree or a fencepost. At present, posting notices are printed on paper, which are subject to removal by humans, animals and weather. S22 also was referred to Natural Resources and Energy.
Perchlik’s bill follows the 2020 Pennsylvania Purple Paint Law.
Below is a list of all Senate bills introduced to date.
| S.22 | 1/18/2023 | Painted posting of land hunting/ fishing | Perchlik | Dem./ Prog. | Natural Resources |
| S.21 | 1/18/2023 | No shooting within 500 ft. of occupied building | Perchlik | Dem./ Prog. | Natural Resources |
| S.20 | 1/18/2023 | Basic Needs Budget and minimum wage calculation | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Economic Development |
| S.19 | 1/18/2023 | Tobacco prohibitions | Ram Hinsdale/ Lyons | Democrat | Economic Development |
| S.18 | 1/18/2023 | Flavored-tobacco ban | Lyons | Democrat | Economic Development |
| S.17 | 1/17/2023 | Sheriff reforms | Sears/ Hardy | Democrat | Judicial |
| S.16 | 1/12/2023 | child abuse reporting for clergy | Sears | Democrat | Judicial |
| S.15 | 1/12/2023 | Presumptive probation for non-violent crime | Sears | Democrat | Judicial |
| S.14 | 1/12/2023 | Justice expendature reporting | Sears | Democrat | Judicial |
| S.13 | 1/11/2023 | Referral of cases to community justice centers | Hashim | Democrat | Judicial |
| S.12 | 1/11/2023 | Union elections | Ram Hinsdale | Democrat | Economic Development |
| S.11 | 1/10/2023 | Persons prohibited from firearms | Baruth | Democrat | Judicial |
| S.10 | 1/10/2023 | Water filling stations in schools | Chittenden | Democrat | Education |
| S.9 | 1/10/2023 | State Auditor examining State contractor records | Bray | Democrat | Government Operations |
| S.8 | 1/6/2023 | Counsel for the legally insane | Hashim | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.7 | 1/6/2023 | Public defender expanded access | Hashim | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.6 | 1/6/2023 | Police interrogation of juveniles | Sears | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.5 | 1/6/2023 | Affordable Heat Act mandate | Bray | Democrat | Natural Resources |
| S.4 | 1/6/2023 | Juvenile through gun control | Sears | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.3 | 1/6/2023 | Prohibiting paramilitary training camps | Baruth | Democrat | Judiciary |
| S.2 | 1/6/2023 | Payment, case management for developmental disability services | Lyons | Democrat | Health & Welfare |
| S.1 | 1/6/2023 | Act 250 and aircraft hangars | Sears | Democrat | Natural Resources |