Bizzarro’s county probation officer body cam bill signed into law
Legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support in PA House, Senate
Rep. Ryan Bizzarro October 21, 2026 | 3:03 PM
UPDATE, Oct. 22— Rep. Ryan Bizzarro’s legislation permitting county probation officers to wear body cameras has officially been signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro, officially known as Act 81 of 2026. Rep. Bizzarro released the following statement:
“I want to thank Gov. Shapiro for acting quickly and signing it into law just one day after it passed the Senate. The quicker this bill goes into effect, the better it will be for communities and law enforcement across Pennsylvania. I’d also like to thank the strong advocates and leaders in Erie who helped bring this issue to the forefront so we could fix it quickly.”
HARRISBURG, Oct. 21 – A bill permitting county probation officers to wear body cameras is on its way to the governor’s desk after receiving strong bipartisan support from the House and Senate, announced Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie), who introduced the legislation.
After overwhelmingly passing the state House in July, the state Senate passed Bizzarro’s H.B. 2299 on Wednesday. This legislation changes the language in Pennsylvania’s Wiretap Act to allow county probation officers to be equipped with body cameras. It’s a move that will help increase the safety of the community and law enforcement, while also promoting greater overall transparency.
“Supporting our law enforcement professionals and promoting greater transparency go hand in hand. County probation officers perform important work to protect our communities and deserve the necessary tools to do so. At the same time, the public deserves confidence that accountability and transparency exist in our criminal justice system,” Bizzarro said. “This legislation helps advance both priorities by providing an objective record of interactions, promoting safety for officers and the public, and strengthening the trust between law enforcement and communities.”
Bizzarro began working on this bill with advocates and leaders in Erie after the death of 43-year-old Marchello Woodard, who was fatally shot in July by his state parole officer during a compliance check. Although state parole officers are permitted to wear body cameras, this agent did not wear one at the time of the shooting.
Bizzarro’s legislation was signed into law by Gov. Shapiro on Oct. 22, 2026.