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Pennsylvania Legislation

 


 

Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect  

Legislative Agenda

 2025-2026

The Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect works to eliminate all forms of sexual violence and advocate for the rights and needs of sexual assault victims. We are a Coalition comprised of rape crisis centers that serve all 67 counties of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Together, we seek legislative reforms that expand the rights and options of victims and strengthen sexual assault prevention in every community. We respectfully submit these core legislative priorities, in no particular order, of our Coalition and invite partnership and support.

  • Establish a look-back window for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse to access civil justice:  Survivors of child sexual abuse have spent decades asking our state legislature for the opportunity to pursue justice against those who harmed them. They ask for a retroactive window that would allow them to hold responsible those that hurt them, even if the statute of limitations has expired. A look-back window would open a two-year timeframe during which survivors would have the opportunity to pursue civil remedies in court, including victims who would normally be barred from civil litigation by the statute of limitations. A retroactive window opens a critical pathway toward justice and healing for past victims. It also protects children of today by bringing to justice individuals who have committed child sexual abuse and who may still pose a risk in our communities.
  • Child sexual abuse prevention and response: We seek legislation and partnerships that would further protect children and prevent child sexual abuse and trafficking—online, in person, and throughout the Commonwealth. We support teachers and school districts working to identify abuse in online environments and to implement child sexual abuse and exploitation prevention programs in collaboration with community-based organizations, such as rape crisis centers.
  • Safe housing for victims of sexual assault: We seek to strengthen housing protections in both the private and public sectors to expand victims’ housing protections. This supports a dual goal of helping survivors of sexual assault secure safe housing and preventing future victimization experiences resulting from housing instability. Many Pennsylvanians face economic and housing insecurity.  Inflation, and other factors have exacerbated this vulnerability. Too often, sexual abuse can cause— or be a result of— housing insecurity, homelessness, and poverty. This is true among single adults and families with children.
  • Protections for immigrant and refugee victims fleeing abuse and assault: We seek partnerships and legislation that will strengthen Pennsylvania’s U-Visa process and expand the safety of victims. Undocumented and refugee children and adults face alarming risks of trafficking, abuse, and assault. U-Visa protections are available to victims who cooperate with law enforcement. Federal U-Visas are critically important to law enforcement as they investigate and prosecute dangerous criminal activity in our communities. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania’s inconsistent certification procedures leave many victims and communities at risk of ongoing harm and abuse.
  • Protect the full range of reproductive healthcare for victims and all people: We firmly stand behind the rights of victims and survivors to access safe, legal abortion care. These rights must be available to all persons. We oppose any effort–legislative or otherwise–that restricts or bans reproductive healthcare, including any effort to restrict or ban abortion. Every person deserves the freedom and bodily autonomy to access reproductive healthcare and abortion when they need it. We believe every person has the right to do so safely, legally, and without governmental intrusion. Children, adolescents, and adults who become pregnant through rape or incest must have the right to continue or end a rape-related pregnancy
  • Expand victims’ access to trauma-informed healthcare and advocacy services:  We seek legislative, administrative, and other efforts to further expand victims’ access to trauma-informed medical care. This includes access to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, and the enforcement of victims’ rights to consult with sexual assault counselors and advocates from local rape crisis centers before, during, and after the forensic rape exam.

In addition to these priorities, we are committed to engaging in legislative efforts that enable us to advance our mission and core values of victim rights, social transformation, equity, and racial justice. We will monitor legislation to identify and advocate for bills that enhance or protect the rights of survivors of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.  Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the rapid development of AI generated intimate images, human trafficking education and awareness, and strangulation connected to sexual assault. We strive to be a fundamental resource and subject matter expert in Pennsylvania for sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.

 

Please contact Gabriella Romeo, Public Policy Director for more information: gromeo@pcar-respecttogether.org; 717-728-9740, x114.