HB 2220 — An Act amending Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for video streaming services.

PRINTER'S NO.   2914

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2220
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY SHAFFER, FREEMAN, RIVERA, COOPER, CIRESI AND
        MIHALEK, FEBRUARY 17, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY,
        FEBRUARY 17, 2026


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, providing for video streaming
 3      services.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.    Title 12 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 7   Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
 8                                CHAPTER 99
 9                         VIDEO STREAMING SERVICES
10   Sec.
11   9901.    Commercial audio equalizing.
12   § 9901.    Commercial audio equalizing.
13      (a)    Prohibition.--A video streaming service may not transmit
14   the audio of an advertisement at a decibel level exceeding the
15   decibel level of the video content that accompanies the
16   advertisement, consistent with the guidelines established under
17   47 U.S.C. § 621 (relating to rulemaking on loud commercials
18   required).
 1      (b)    Complaints.--A consumer may file a complaint with the
 2   Bureau of Consumer Protection in the Office of Attorney General
 3   alleging a violation of subsection (a).
 4      (c)    Enforcement.--The Bureau of Consumer Protection in the
 5   Office of Attorney General shall investigate a complaint filed
 6   under subsection (b). If, after investigating a complaint, the
 7   Attorney General finds that a video streaming service has
 8   violated this section, the Attorney General may:
 9             (1)   bring an action to impose a civil penalty up to
10      $5,000 for each violation; and
11             (2)   seek injunctive relief, restitution, costs and other
12      relief under the act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387),
13      known as the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection
14      Law.
15      (d)    Exclusive remedy.--
16             (1)   The civil penalty under subsection (c) shall be the
17      sole penalty for conduct in violation of this section.
18             (2)   Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to
19      create or imply a private cause of action for a violation of
20      this section.
21      (e)    Implementation.--The Attorney General may promulgate
22   rules and regulations for the implementation, administration and
23   enforcement of this section.
24      (f)    Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
25   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
26   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
27      "Advertisement."     A communication designed to create public
28   interest in a product or service or to induce the public to
29   purchase a product or service.
30      "Consumer."     An individual residing in this Commonwealth.

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 1      "Video programming."     The term has the same meaning as
 2   defined in 47 U.S.C. § 613(h) (relating to video programming
 3   accessibility).
 4      "Video streaming service."      An entity that makes available
 5   directly to a consumer, through a distribution method that uses
 6   Internet protocol, either of the following:
 7          (1)    Video programming.
 8          (2)    Video content the entity makes available for users
 9      to view.
10      Section 2.     This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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