Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB923

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 7/15/25
• Refer: 7/15/25

Caption

In miscellaneous provisions relating to emergency management services, providing for exemption of records from access.

Summary

SB923 amends Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to create a new exemption from public access for records held by volunteer EMS companies, volunteer fire companies, volunteer rescue companies, and volunteer firefighters’ relief associations. The bill places those records outside the scope of the Right-to-Know Law, while preserving the application of section 506(d) of that law for volunteer EMS, fire, or rescue companies that contract with a Commonwealth agency or local agency. The measure is narrow in scope and focused on emergency management services organizations that rely heavily on volunteers. It would take effect 60 days after enactment and would change how records requests are handled for these entities by limiting disclosure obligations under Pennsylvania’s open-records framework.

Impact

If enacted, SB923 would amend Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know regime by carving out a categorical exemption for records of volunteer EMS, volunteer fire, volunteer rescue companies, and volunteer firefighters’ relief associations. This would reduce the ability of the public to obtain those records through open-records requests, except where the bill preserves section 506(d) for volunteer companies contracting with state or local agencies. The practical effect would be to shield more internal records of volunteer emergency service organizations from disclosure and potentially reduce administrative burdens associated with responding to records requests.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill received generally favorable committee support, advancing out of the Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee by a 7-3 vote. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate to indicate broader public arguments, but the committee action suggests a majority viewed the exemption as appropriate for volunteer emergency service providers. The bill’s introduction and referral indicate it is being treated as a targeted administrative/privacy measure rather than a broad policy overhaul.

Contention

The main point of contention is the balance between transparency and privacy/operational protection. Supporters are likely to argue that volunteer EMS, fire, and rescue organizations should be protected from broad public disclosure requirements because they are volunteer-run, may have limited administrative capacity, and handle sensitive internal records. Opponents are likely to worry that exempting these records from the Right-to-Know Law could reduce accountability and public oversight, especially where volunteer organizations receive public support or perform public safety functions. The exception for entities contracting with government agencies suggests an attempt to limit the exemption where public contracts create a stronger transparency interest.