Rowe, Bashline Announce Legislation to Protect Fourth Amendment Rights

July 24, 2026

HARRISBURG—Reps. David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata) and Josh Bashline (R-Clarion/Armstrong) today announced plans to introduce a two-bill legislative package establishing reasonable safeguards for the use of automated surveillance technologies, including automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and facial-recognition systems.

Rowe’s bill would create clear statewide standards governing how these technologies are used, including limitations on the collection and retention of personally identifiable information and requirements for judicial oversight in certain circumstances. Bashline’s bill would authorize municipalities to determine whether automated license plate readers may be installed within their communities.
Without clear safeguards, these technologies can compile detailed records of the movements of law-abiding citizens who are not suspected of any wrongdoing.

"These tools can serve legitimate law enforcement purposes, but Pennsylvanians should not have to choose between public safety and their constitutional right to be free from unreasonable government surveillance," Rowe said. "We can—and should—protect both. I believe these bills strike that balance by protecting Pennsylvanians’ privacy while ensuring that police have access to critical information in dire situations.”

Rowe said advances in surveillance technology have made it possible to collect, store, and analyze information about individuals on a scale that was unimaginable just a generation ago. While those capabilities can aid criminal investigations, he said they also underscore the need to ensure technological innovation does not outpace the constitutional protections guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment.
"Communities across Pennsylvania have different needs and different perspectives when it comes to the use of surveillance technology," Bashline said. "Local elected officials should have the authority to determine whether automated license plate readers are the right fit for their communities. This legislation gives municipalities a voice while preserving the ability of law enforcement to utilize these tools where they have local support."

A co-sponsorship memo for both bills has been circulated to members of the House, with formal legislation expected to be introduced soon.