SB 556 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for registration of firearms; and imposing penalties.

PRINTER'S NO.    598

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          SENATE BILL
                          No. 556
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY DUSH, BARTOLOTTA, PHILLIPS-HILL, LAUGHLIN,
        STEFANO, J. WARD AND KEEFER, APRIL 9, 2025

     REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, APRIL 9, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous
 3      articles, further providing for registration of firearms; and
 4      imposing penalties.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.      Section 6111.4 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
 8   Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
 9   § 6111.4.      Registration of firearms.
10      (a)   Prohibitions.--
11            (1)    Notwithstanding any section of this chapter to the
12      contrary, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to allow
13      any government, local government, other political subdivision
14      or law enforcement agency or any official, agent or employee
15      thereof to create, maintain or operate any registry of
16      firearm ownership within this Commonwealth. For the purposes
17      of this section only, the term "firearm" shall include any
18      weapon that is designed to or may readily be converted to
19      expel any projectile by the action of an explosive or the
 1    frame or receiver of any such weapon.
 2          (2)   A payment settlement entity, merchant acquiring
 3    entity or third party settlement organization as those terms
 4    are defined in 26 U.S.C. § 6050W (relating to returns
 5    relating to payments made in settlement of payment card and
 6    third party network transactions) may not assign a merchant
 7    category code to or otherwise classify a merchant that is a
 8    seller of firearms or ammunition separately from general
 9    merchandise retailers or sporting goods retailers.
10          (3)   An entity involved in facilitating or processing a
11    payment card transaction, including a financial institution,
12    an acquirer, a payment card network or a payment card issuer,
13    may not assign to or require a merchant to use a merchant
14    category code that classifies the merchant as a firearms or
15    ammunition retailer or places the merchant in a similar
16    classification. A merchant of firearms or ammunition may be
17    assigned or may use a merchant category code for general
18    merchandise retailers or sporting goods retailers. Any
19    agreement or contractual provision to the contrary is void in
20    violation of the public policy of this State.
21    (b)   Penalties.--
22          (1)   A person or entity that violates subsection (a)(1)
23    commits a felony of the third degree. The Attorney General or
24    district attorney of the county where the alleged violation
25    occurred shall investigate complaints of a violation of
26    subsection (a)(1) and shall prosecute violators if evidence
27    indicates that a violation may have occurred.
28          (2)   The Department of Banking and Securities shall
29    investigate alleged violations of subsection (a)(2) and (3)
30    and, upon finding a violation, bring an administrative action

20250SB0556PN0598                  - 2 -
1      seeking to impose an administrative fine of no more than
2      $2,500 for each violation.
3      (c)   Definition.--As used in this section, the term "firearm"
4   means any weapon that is designed to or may readily be converted
5   to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or the frame
6   or receiver of the weapon.
7      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20250SB0556PN0598                   - 3 -