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House passes campus Good Samaritan bill aimed at encouraging students to call for help
Summary
House Bill 1944, designed to protect students and other bystanders who call for emergency help during alcohol- or drug-related crises, passed the Pennsylvania House after sponsors said it would align civil and criminal immunity and carve out individuals who recklessly caused emergencies.
House Bill 1944, brought before the floor June 17, 2026, seeks to strengthen campus safety by protecting individuals who call for help during medical emergencies related to alcohol or drugs. Rep. Friel, the maker of the bill, described an incident at Bloomsburg University in which a student who assisted a peer and called for help was later charged, arguing the bill would remove disincentives to render aid.
Supporters said the bill does not provide blanket immunity to those who recklessly endanger others. Representative Kinkade described negotiated language developed with the administration to carve out immunity for people who caused the underlying emergency, and said the bill aligns criminal and civil protections so those who assist cannot be both civilly immune and criminally prosecuted for the same conduct. Representative Ledbetter and other floor supporters emphasized the bill’s focus on saving lives.
The House adopted amendments on the floor and passed the bill on final passage; the clerk recorded the final result and the bill will be presented to the Senate for concurrence. The text as amended will determine the exact scope of immunity and the exceptions for reckless conduct.
