HB 1144 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in veterans' pensions and benefits, further providing for blind veteran's pension and for amputee and paralyzed veteran's pension.

This bill increases monthly pension payments for two groups of Pennsylvania veterans: 1) Blind veterans (defined as those with 3/60 or 10/200 vision or worse from service-connected injuries) now receive $200/month (up from $150). 2) Amputee/paralyzed veterans (with two limbs at ≥40% disability rating per VA standards) now receive $200/month (up from $150). Eligibility requires Pennsylvania residency at enlistment or current residence, honorable military service, and VA-certified disability. The change takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Apr 4, 2025 Last action May 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1301 → Printer's No. PN1659 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill update expands the definition of a 'veteran' to explicitly include members of the Reserve Components and the National Guard, ensuring they are covered under the same benefits as active-duty personnel. It also clarifies the certification standards for disability ratings related to limb loss or paralysis, requiring alignment with federal Department of Veterans Affairs regulations.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened to include Reserve Component and National Guard members in the definition of a veteran, whereas the previous version did not explicitly list these groups.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'veteran' was updated to explicitly include individuals who served in the Reserve Component or the National Guard, provided their discharge was under conditions other than dishonorable.

REQUIREMENT

The criteria for determining disability ratings for limb loss or paralysis were clarified to require certification by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in accordance with specific federal regulations (38 CFR Ch. 1 Pt. 4).

TECHNICAL

The bill text was updated to reflect a new printer's number (PN 1659) and to include additional sponsors (Gallagher, Dougherty, and Webster) who joined the legislative team after the previous version.

Floor votes · House May 12, 2025

How they voted

203–0

Passed

Total votes 203

May 12, 2025

D Democratic102

102 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican101

101 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 22, 2025

Committee

Referred to Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness

upper

May 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

lower

May 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

May 7, 2025

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported as amended

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness

lower

1 primary · 34 co-sponsors