Renters, volunteer fire companies and high school students are among the Pennsylvanians affected by a batch of bills Gov. Josh Shapiro signed into law on Oct. 22, according to the governor’s office. The new laws also take aim at deceptive AI-generated advertising and hoax 911 calls against schools.

Rental application fees. House Bill 558, sponsored by Rep. Mary Isaacson, a Philadelphia Democrat, amends the state’s Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951. Landlords and their agents may charge only application fees that are reasonably related to the actual administrative cost of processing an application, and they may not treat those fees as a general source of revenue, according to Isaacson’s office. “Someone shouldn’t have to stop applying for housing because of simple paperwork,” Isaacson said when the bill cleared the Senate.

Raffles and small games of chance. Senate Bill 416, sponsored by Sen. Devlin Robinson, an Allegheny County Republican, lets eligible nonprofits such as fire companies, VFW posts, churches and youth sports leagues accept credit cards, debit cards and online payment platforms like PayPal or Venmo for raffle tickets. Until now, state law limited those groups to cash or checks. Organizations must still confirm that ticket buyers are at least 18, and the law does not authorize online gaming or live drawings, Robinson’s office said. Robinson said some nonprofits had been forced to refund money they raised through digital payments under the old rules.

Students in long-term care. Senate Bill 116, sponsored by Sen. Dave Argall, a Schuylkill County Republican, allows high school juniors and seniors to earn graduation credit by working or volunteering in licensed settings that provide round-the-clock care for older adults, such as nursing homes, personal care homes and assisted living residences. Argall’s office said the state’s population over 65 is expected to nearly double by 2040, while the number of long-term care workers fell 14% between 2019 and 2022. The bill passed the House unanimously.

AI in advertising. Senate Bill 806, sponsored by Sen. Nick Pisciottano, an Allegheny County Democrat, bars advertisers from using AI-generated or AI-altered content in ways that create a false impression of the goods or services being offered. Ads that use such synthetic content must carry a clear and conspicuous disclosure.

Swatting. House Bill 1935 directs the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to develop a sentencing enhancement courts can consider in “swatting” cases, in which hoax emergency calls draw a police response to schools. Courts may also order restitution covering supplies, equipment and the pay of employees and first responders affected by the false calls.

Online predators. House Bill 1098, known as Alicia’s Law and sponsored by Rep. Jason Ortitay, a Republican, and Rep. Jessica Benham, a Democrat, creates a state grant program to help investigate and prosecute people who target children online. It is named for Alicia Kozak, a Pittsburgh-area woman who was abducted at 13 by a man she met online and who later became an internet safety advocate.

Animal testing. Senate Bill 381, sponsored by Sen. Doug Mastriano, whose district includes Adams County, limits the use of state funds for experiments on dogs and cats, bars the sale of animal-tested cosmetics in Pennsylvania, increases transparency for organizations that test on animals, and requires that dogs and cats from labs be made available for adoption.

The other bills signed the same day cover a wide range of topics. The governor’s office posted the full list, with links to the text and history of each bill on the General Assembly’s website. Effective dates vary by bill and are listed in each law’s final text.

City & State Pennsylvania first reported on several of the new laws.

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