Pennsylvania Bills

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2115: An Act amending Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for health care antitrust; and imposing civil penalties.

HB 2115 requires advance notice to Pennsylvania's Attorney General for certain major healthcare transactions that could reduce competition. It specifically applies to mergers, acquisitions, or "contracting affiliations" between healthcare facilities, systems, or provider organizations when they generate at least $10 million in Pennsylvania revenue annually. The bill mandates that these entities submit premerger notifications, supplementing federal antitrust rules, to allow the Attorney General to review potential anti-competitive harm before deals close. This aims to protect consumers by ensuring robust competition in healthcare markets across Pennsylvania. The law creates new enforcement mechanisms but does not alter existing federal antitrust standards.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2133: An Act providing for rights of employees and for filing complaints.

HB 2133, the "Right to Disconnect Act," gives employees of Pennsylvania employers with 75+ workers the right to ignore work communications during nonworking hours (outside scheduled shifts). Employers must create written policies establishing this right, with exceptions for emergencies or last-minute schedule changes. Employees can file complaints with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry if an employer repeatedly violates this right (defined as three documented instances), with appeals potentially going to the Attorney General. The law aims to protect employees' personal time from work-related contact during nonwork hours.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 1129: An Act amending the act of December 10, 1974 (P.L.852, No.287), referred to as the Underground Utility Line Protection Law, further providing for definitions.

SB 1129 amends Pennsylvania's Underground Utility Line Protection Law by updating the definition of "line" or "facility" to explicitly include unconventional oil and gas well production lines, gathering lines, and steam pipelines in public rights-of-way. It clarifies that these additions apply regardless of land ownership or easements, while specifying that stripper well lines are excluded unless they meet specific federal pipeline safety standards. The bill directly affects utility companies, construction crews, and excavation workers who must follow damage prevention rules for underground infrastructure. This definition update ensures clearer coverage for modern utility systems during excavation projects.

Topics ✗ Energy

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2134: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to emergency management services, further providing for definitions; in Commonwealth services, further providing for State Fire Commissioner; in grants to fire companies and emergency medical services companies, further providing for scope of chapter, for definitions, for publication and notice, for award of grants, for consolidation incentive, for establishment, for publication and notice, for award of grants and for consolidation incentive, repealing provisions relating to COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program, further providing for Fire Company Grant Program and for Emergency Medical Services Company Grant Program, repealing provisions relating to additional funding and to COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program, providing for hazardous materials and specialty funding, further providing for allocation of appropriated funds, repealing provisions relating to Emergency Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program, providing for Hazardous Materials Team and Specialty Team Grant Program, further providing for expiration of authority, repealing provisions relating to expiration of authority relating to COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program and to expiration of authority relating to Emergency Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program and further providing for special provisions and for annual reports; and making transfers.

HB 2134 amends Pennsylvania's emergency services laws to update grant programs for fire companies and emergency medical services (EMS) providers. It creates a new "Fire Department Identification Number" (FDID) system requiring the State Fire Commissioner to assign unique five-character codes to fire departments, hazardous materials teams, and specialty teams. The bill repeals outdated COVID-19 emergency grant programs and establishes new funding streams for hazardous materials teams, specialty teams, and standard fire/EMS company grants, while clarifying how funds are allocated and requiring annual reports. These changes directly affect fire companies, EMS providers, and the State Fire Commissioner's office by modernizing administrative processes and funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 1130: An Act amending the act of November 29, 2006 (P.L.1435, No.156), known as the Public Utility Confidential Security Information Disclosure Protection Act, further providing for prohibition.

SB 1130 amends Pennsylvania's Public Utility Confidential Security Information Disclosure Protection Act to clarify when public utilities' security information can be shared for construction or renovation projects involving public buildings. It adds an exception allowing agencies to disclose such information (after notifying the utility) for these specific construction purposes, without triggering the act's disclosure prohibition or making the information subject to public disclosure under the Right-to-Know Law. The bill directly affects public utilities, government agencies, and construction entities working on public projects. This change ensures security details remain protected while enabling necessary project work without unintended public release.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 1128: An Act requiring the installation and maintenance of fuel gas detectors in certain buildings; providing for building owner responsibilities; and imposing penalties.

Pennsylvania's SB 1128 (the Fuel Gas Detector Act) requires owners of residential buildings (including rentals), multifamily homes, and commercial buildings to install and maintain fuel gas detectors in rooms with gas appliances or leak-prone areas. Owners must install detectors within 30 days of occupancy or property transfer, meeting NFPA 715 and UL standards, while landlords must ensure detectors are working for tenants and tenants must maintain batteries and test them. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $500 per offense, enforceable by municipalities through inspections. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to all new installations or transfers after that date.

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2132: An Act amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in recovery of possession, further providing for hearing, judgment, writ of possession and payment of rent by tenant; and making editorial changes.

HB 2132 updates Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act by replacing the term "justice of the peace" with "magisterial district judge" for courts handling landlord-tenant cases, excluding common pleas courts. It requires eviction orders (writs of possession) to be served within 48 hours and executed on the 11th day after service. The bill prohibits landlords from charging tenants for filing costs and voids any lease clause requiring tenants to pay such fees. These changes clarify court procedures and protect tenants from unexpected costs during eviction processes.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2129: An Act amending Title 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in unconventional gas well fee, repealing provisions relating to expiration; imposing a natural gas tax; and imposing penalties.

HB 2129 repeals an existing provision about the expiration of unconventional gas well fees and establishes a new severance tax on natural gas extracted from unconventional gas wells. The tax applies to producers (companies or individuals extracting natural gas) starting July 1 of the year after the bill's effective date, calculated using base and additional tax rates. It creates a new tax administration framework in Chapter 43 of Pennsylvania's oil and gas statutes, including penalties for non-compliance. The bill explicitly states this new tax does not affect the existing collection and distribution of the unconventional gas well fee.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Chris Pielli (D) · 20 co-sponsors

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2130: An Act designating a bridge, currently identified as the Fort Duquesne Bridge, on that portion of U.S. Route 279 over the Allegheny River, City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, as the Franco Harris Bridge.

HB 2130 renames the Fort Duquesne Bridge on U.S. Route 279 over the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh as the Franco Harris Bridge. This commemorative bill honors Franco Harris, the late Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame running back and community advocate, by renaming a specific bridge in his hometown. The bill does not create new policies or affect any regulations - its sole purpose is to rename the bridge. The legislation is procedural and has no direct impact on residents, businesses, or government operations.

Aerion Abney (D) · 27 co-sponsors

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 9, 2026

HB 2127: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in waterfront development tax credit, further providing for waterfront development organizations, for waterfront development projects, for tax credit and for limitations.

HB 2127 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to adjust tax credit rules for waterfront development projects. It increases the maximum tax credit for businesses from 75% to 90% of their contribution and doubles the annual cap on total credits from $5 million to $10 million. The bill also requires the Department of Revenue to review applications and renewals from waterfront development organizations within 60 days and limits contributions used for future maintenance to no more than 15%. These changes directly affect businesses contributing to waterfront development projects and the organizations managing these projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 9, 2026

HB 2125: An Act amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, providing for tenant's rights.

HB 2125 amends Pennsylvania's 1951 Landlord and Tenant Act to strengthen tenant protections in rental properties. It restricts evictions to four specific reasons: nonpayment of rent, a second or subsequent lease violation within six months, a change in land use, or property termination. The bill requires landlords to provide written notices via certified mail before eviction proceedings, with 20-day notice for rent nonpayment (April-September) or 30 days otherwise, and prohibits self-help evictions like lockouts. It also mandates that community rules be uniformly applied to all tenants and posted clearly, with a required "Important Notice" explaining tenant rights and eviction procedures. This bill directly affects tenants and landlords in rental properties governed by the Landlord and Tenant Act.

Topics ✓ Housing

Emily Kinkead (D) · 19 co-sponsors

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 9, 2026

HB 2126: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 23 (Domestic Relations) and 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for definitions, for the offense of persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms, for the offense of firearms not to be carried without a license and for licenses, providing for firearm eligibility license, for application for firearm eligibility license, for fee and qualification, for training course and investigations and for issuance and terms and further providing for sale or transfer of firearms, for Pennsylvania State Police, for proof of license and exception and for administrative regulations; and making editorial changes.

HB 2126 requires Pennsylvania residents to obtain a new "firearm eligibility license" to purchase a firearm, making it illegal to possess a firearm without this license. The bill adds an exception allowing individuals with an expired carry license (within six months) to carry a firearm without penalty if eligible for renewal. It also ensures that individuals prohibited from possessing a firearm (including those without the eligibility license) cannot obtain a license to carry, affecting both firearm purchasers and carry license applicants.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results