SB 1139, the Police and Community Safety Act, prohibits Pennsylvania state and local law enforcement agencies from using their resources (including funds, facilities, or personnel) to assist federal immigration enforcement. It bans officers from inquiring about an individual's immigration status except when required by federal law (such as for gun purchases under 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(5)) and prevents agencies from detaining individuals for immigration purposes. The bill aims to build trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement to improve public safety, directly affecting all local police departments, sheriff's offices, and school security in Pennsylvania.
HB 2160 renames Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development to the Department of Housing and Community Development. The bill updates the department's name throughout the 1996 Community and Economic Development Enhancement Act to reflect this change, including revisions to the act's title and definitions. These are editorial adjustments that do not alter the department's existing functions, responsibilities, or programs. The change aims to align the department's name with its focus on housing alongside community development.
HB 2164 would create a program allowing family members of Pennsylvania medical assistance recipients to become certified complex care assistants. These family members would provide specific medical services at home - such as feeding, catheter care, and medication administration - under a registered nurse's supervision after completing 75 hours of training and passing a competency evaluation. The program targets recipients under 21, those eligible for private duty nursing, or those needing both services for medical reasons, with home health agencies reimbursed at a minimum of $45 per hour. It explicitly requires the services to supplement, not replace, existing private duty nursing under the medical assistance program.
HB 1671 amends Pennsylvania's sentencing laws to require courts to consider restorative justice programs when sentencing individuals convicted of crimes. This directly affects people in Pennsylvania's criminal justice system who are facing sentencing decisions. The bill adds specific provisions requiring judges to evaluate whether restorative justice - where offenders repair harm to victims and communities - can be applied alongside traditional sentencing. It aims to expand judicial options beyond incarceration by formally integrating these community-focused approaches into sentencing considerations.
HR 278 is a Pennsylvania state resolution designating September 12, 2025, as "The Day of the Bible" within the state. It is a commemorative resolution with no legal effect or policy changes, solely intended to recognize the Bible through a symbolic designation. The bill does not impose obligations on individuals, institutions, or the government, nor does it alter existing laws. It was referred to committee and reported as amended in 2025.
HB 2018 requires Pennsylvania law enforcement and courts to disclose specific criminal history records and abuse-related information to the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board and local review teams. It directly affects domestic violence fatality review boards, teams, and the individuals whose records are shared. The bill establishes a formal Domestic Violence Fatality Review Program to collect and analyze this information for improving responses to domestic violence cases. Key provisions mandate the disclosure of certain records to these review bodies, aiming to better understand factors in domestic violence fatalities.
This Pennsylvania House resolution (HR 402) urges the U.S. Congress to require meaningful accountability and civil rights reforms before approving new funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It directly addresses federal agencies by demanding reforms like enforceable use-of-force standards, independent reviews of serious incidents, and public release of body-camera footage after deaths or injuries during enforcement. The resolution cites the January 2026 deaths of two U.S. citizens during an ICE operation in Minneapolis as a catalyst for requiring transparency and oversight before additional federal appropriations are granted. It does not create new law but calls on Congress to condition future funding on specific, concrete reforms to protect civil rights and public safety.
HB 2156 allows Pennsylvania municipalities to create voluntary programs where they combine the electricity purchases of residential customers within their area to negotiate lower rates with power suppliers. The bill requires municipalities to secure rates below the default utility rate for participants, disclose program terms clearly (including potential lack of savings), and allow customers to opt out anytime without penalty. If savings are achieved, municipalities may collect a capped administrative fee (up to 1% of the savings), but participants pay no enrollment fees and remain under their electric distribution company's billing system. This directly affects residential customers in participating municipalities who choose to join the program, with all programs limited to customers within the same utility service territory.
HB 2159 requires property owners of new warehouses to submit decommissioning plans and financial assurances before construction. It mandates decommissioning within 18 months after a warehouse ceases operation, with financial assurances increasing over time (10% at construction start, 30% at 5 years, 50% at 10 years). Property owners may instead pursue a department-approved repurposing plan to extend timelines, which must detail the new use, schedule, and future obligations. The Department of Community and Economic Development oversees compliance with these requirements for warehouses defined as large storage facilities under Pennsylvania law.
HB 2157 requires career and technical education schools in Pennsylvania to transfer governance to a new board within three years of the law's effective date. These boards, composed of at least five members approved by the Department of Education, must include representation from local workforce sectors, school staff, and parents, while excluding school board members, teachers' unions, district employees, and public officials. The Department must establish a public approval process with 60-day timelines, public hearings, and clear qualifications for board members. The governance boards will hold full operational authority over these schools and must comply with Pennsylvania's open meetings and right-to-know laws.
HB 2155 would prohibit Pennsylvania municipalities from requiring a minimum number of parking spaces for new developments. This affects all local governments in the state (including cities, boroughs, townships, and counties) that currently enforce parking minimums in zoning codes. The bill amends state law to remove this requirement, except where mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The change would take effect one year after the bill is signed.
HB 2158 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act by adding specific kratom-related compounds to Schedule I, the most restrictive category for controlled substances. The bill prohibits possession, sale, or distribution of any product containing 7-hydroxymitragynine at 2% or more of total alkaloids, or synthetic versions of kratom alkaloids like mitragynine. This change directly affects businesses selling kratom products and individuals who use such substances, making them illegal without medical authorization. The policy change aligns with existing Schedule I criteria of high abuse potential and no accepted medical use.
