Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB881

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/24/25
• Refer: 6/24/25

Caption

In bases of jurisdiction and interstate and international procedure, further providing for assistance to tribunals and litigants outside this Commonwealth with respect to service and for issuance of subpoena; in commencement of proceedings, further providing for authority of officers of another state to arrest in this Commonwealth; and, in detainers and extradition, further providing for definitions, for duty of Governor with respect to fugitives from justice and for presigned waiver of extradition.

Summary

SB 881 amends Pennsylvania’s judicial and extradition statutes to limit the Commonwealth’s cooperation with out-of-state legal actions involving reproductive health care services. The bill would bar Pennsylvania courts from ordering service of process or issuing subpoenas for foreign proceedings that concern the provision or delivery of reproductive health care services. It also adds a definition of that term, covering medical, surgical, counseling, and referral services related to pregnancy, contraception, and lawful termination of pregnancy. The bill further restricts interstate law-enforcement cooperation in reproductive health cases. It would prohibit out-of-state officers from arresting and holding a person in Pennsylvania through “close pursuit” if the underlying offense involves reproductive health care services that are lawful in Pennsylvania. It also limits the Governor’s authority to extradite a person to another state for such offenses, and prevents use of a presigned waiver of extradition to transfer a person for a reproductive-health-related offense without a Governor’s warrant. The measure takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Impact

SB 881 would amend Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by creating explicit reproductive-health exceptions in provisions governing service of process, subpoenas, arrest authority for out-of-state officers, gubernatorial extradition duties, and presigned waivers of extradition. In practical terms, it would reduce Pennsylvania’s assistance to other states seeking to investigate, prosecute, or compel testimony or appearance in cases tied to reproductive health care that is lawful in Pennsylvania. The affected parties include courts, prothonotaries, law enforcement agencies, the Governor’s office, and individuals and providers involved in reproductive health services.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or roll-call sentiment in the available materials. Based on the bill’s sponsorship and subject matter, the measure appears to be framed as a protective response for reproductive health care access and for people and providers who may face out-of-state enforcement actions. The absence of recorded opposition or support in the provided history means the overall sentiment cannot be measured from votes, but the bill’s structure suggests it is intended to be strongly supportive of reproductive rights and state-level noncooperation.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the bill’s refusal to assist other states in reproductive-health-related investigations, subpoenas, arrests, and extradition requests. Supporters would view these exceptions as necessary to protect lawful medical care in Pennsylvania and to prevent outside states from reaching into the Commonwealth’s courts and law-enforcement system. Opponents may argue that the bill interferes with interstate law enforcement, extradition obligations, and comity among states, especially where another state has criminalized conduct that Pennsylvania permits. The tension centers on reproductive rights, state sovereignty, and the limits of cooperation with other jurisdictions.