Pennsylvania Senate Bill SR303

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/4/26
• Refer: 5/4/26

Caption

Recognizing the week of May 10 through 16, 2026, as "National Police Week" and designating May 4, 2026, as "Police Officers' Memorial Day" in Pennsylvania.

Summary

Senate Resolution 303 is a commemorative resolution that recognizes the week of May 10 through 16, 2026, as "National Police Week" and designates May 4, 2026, as "Police Officers' Memorial Day" in Pennsylvania. The resolution is framed as a tribute to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty and to the families they left behind. The resolution specifically names five Pennsylvania officers who died in 2025: Patrolman Andrew Duarte of the West York Borough Police Department, Detective Mark Baker, Detective Sergeant Cody Becker, and Detective Isaiah Emenheiser of the Northern York County Regional Police Department, and Officer Andy Chan of the Philadelphia Police Department. It also references the long-standing national observance of Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day, including the 1962 presidential proclamation and the annual memorial service held since 1982.

Impact

SR303 does not amend the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes or create new regulatory requirements. Its legal effect is limited to an official Senate recognition and designation of observance dates, serving as a symbolic expression of support for law enforcement and memorialization of officers killed in the line of duty. The resolution primarily affects state ceremonial observances and public recognition rather than the rights or duties of any person or agency.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment around the resolution is strongly supportive and commemorative. The bill text uses solemn and laudatory language emphasizing sacrifice, public service, and remembrance, and the sponsorship list suggests broad bipartisan support. No votes or committee transcripts are provided, but the resolution’s tone and purpose indicate little to no controversy in its introduction.

Contention

No substantive points of contention are evident in the bill text or available context. Because the measure is a nonbinding memorial resolution, any disagreement would likely be limited to the symbolic nature of the observance rather than policy changes. The only notable focus is the explicit honoring of police officers and the emphasis on line-of-duty deaths, which may be viewed as a tribute to law enforcement and their families.