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Pennsylvania Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 25,661 Active 21 In committee 22,588 Passed 5,382 Signed 1,231 Failed 14

signed · Pennsylvania · House Oct 2, 2024

HB 2328: An Act providing for the capital budget for fiscal year 2024-2025.

HB 2328 establishes the capital budget for Pennsylvania for the fiscal year 2024-2025, setting specific spending limits for various state infrastructure projects. The bill authorizes the state to incur up to $1.495 billion in new debt, with designated amounts allocated for public buildings and structures, furniture and equipment, transportation assistance, redevelopment assistance, and flood control. These funds are drawn from the General Fund or applicable Special Funds and are intended to finance capital improvements specifically listed in the state constitution. The legislation becomes effective on July 1, 2024, or immediately if that date has already passed.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 20, 2024

SB 187: An Act amending the act of November 30, 2004 (P.L.1556, No.197), known as the Child Internet Protection Act, further providing for title and for definitions; and making editorial changes.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Child Internet Protection Act to update terminology and clarify definitions regarding harmful online content in public schools and libraries. It requires school boards and public library governing bodies to adopt acceptable-use policies within 180 days that mandate the use of filtering software or specific online servers to block access to obscenity, child sexual abuse material, and other content harmful to minors. The legislation also grants public libraries immunity from civil liability if approved filtering tools fail to block such material, ensuring they can enforce these safety measures without fear of lawsuits.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 17, 2024

SB 24: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in disposition of abandoned and unclaimed property, further providing for claim for property paid or delivered.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Fiscal Code to clarify how individuals can claim abandoned or unclaimed property held by the state. It allows any person with an interest in such property to file a formal claim using a specific form provided by the State Treasurer. Additionally, the law permits the State Treasurer to automatically distribute property or its sale proceeds to a person if that person is identified as the sole owner and the item's value is under $500, even without a filed claim. The changes apply to the state government and affect anyone holding unclaimed assets or seeking to recover them.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 17, 2024

SB 209: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in professional employees, providing for National Guard or Reserve parent student support.

This law updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to clarify how schools must support students who are children of National Guard or Reserve members. It ensures that these students receive the same educational protections as those covered under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, regardless of whether their parent is stationed in another state or within the Commonwealth. The bill defines key terms like "Compact student" and limits the new rules to actions taken by public schools located in Pennsylvania. By aligning state regulations with the national compact, the legislation provides a consistent framework for supporting military-connected children in public education.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 17, 2024

SB 447: An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Department of Military Affairs, establishing the PA VETConnect Program.

This bill creates the PA VETConnect Program within the Pennsylvania Department of Military Affairs to support veterans and their families. It brings together a network of diverse groups, including federal and state agencies, schools, healthcare providers, and nonprofits, to share information and coordinate services. The department is tasked with administering the program, developing a mission statement, and helping recently separated service members access resources and benefits. By centralizing these efforts, the program aims to improve communication and provide proactive solutions to address the needs of the veteran community.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 17, 2024

SB 560: An Act amending the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act, further providing for definitions; and abrogating regulations.

This bill amends the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act to clarify the definition of activities that do not constitute the unauthorized practice of medicine. It specifically lists sports, athletic competitions, performing arts, recreational activities, and military exercises as examples of permissible non-medical engagements. By updating these definitions and removing outdated regulations, the law provides clearer guidance on what osteopathic physicians can do outside of clinical care without facing legal penalties. The changes directly affect osteopathic medical professionals and the regulatory bodies that oversee their practice.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 17, 2024

SB 559: An Act amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985, further providing for definitions; and abrogating regulations.

SB 559 amends the Medical Practice Act of 1985 to update the legal definition of what constitutes "engaging in an activity associated" with medical practice. The bill specifically removes the phrase "engages in an activity associated" and replaces it with a list of five distinct categories, including individual or team sports, athletic competitions, performing arts, recreational activities, and military exercises. By clarifying these terms, the legislation aims to provide clearer boundaries for medical practitioners regarding their participation in non-medical events. This change also directs the state to revoke existing regulations that may conflict with these new definitions. Ultimately, the bill seeks to modernize the statute's language to better reflect current understandings of various extracurricular pursuits.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 17, 2024

SB 656: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; in liquid fuels and fuels tax, further providing for definitions and for imposition of tax, exemptions and deductions and providing for electric vehicle road user charge; and imposing a penalty.

This Pennsylvania law establishes a new annual fee of $290 for owners of noncommercial electric vehicles, replacing the traditional liquid fuels tax that previously exempted these cars. The bill defines specific types of electric and hybrid vehicles to determine eligibility and requires owners to pay this charge concurrently with their vehicle registration fees. Owners can pay the fee as a single annual amount or through a monthly payment plan, and failure to pay within 30 days will result in penalties and a ban on renewing the vehicle's registration. Additionally, the legislation clarifies legal definitions for electric vehicles and hybrids while providing a specific exemption from alternative fuels tax for electricity generated at the owner's home.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 17, 2024

SB 688: An Act amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in Pennsylvania Liquor Stores, further providing for sales by Pennsylvania Liquor Stores; in licenses and regulations relating to liquor, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages, further providing for liquor importers' licenses, fees, privileges and restrictions, providing for ready-to-drink cocktail permit and for authority to acquire ready-to-drink cocktail permits and further providing for distributors' and importing distributors' restrictions on sales, storage, etc, for unlawful acts relative to malt or brewed beverages and licensees, for unlawful acts relative to liquor, malt and brewed beverages and licensees; and, in distilleries, wineries, bonded warehouses, bailees for hire and transporters for hire, further providing for limited distilleries and distilleries.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to regulate the sale and distribution of ready-to-drink cocktails, which are defined as premixed alcoholic beverages containing between 0.5% and 12.5% alcohol by volume. It establishes a new permit system allowing restaurants, hotels, and distributors to sell these drinks while restricting sales for off-premises consumption after 11 p.m. The legislation also clarifies rules for Pennsylvania Liquor Stores regarding wholesale sales to licensees and special order restrictions, while expanding import licenses to include ready-to-drink cocktails. Additionally, the bill introduces specific provisions for limited distilleries and updates definitions to ensure clarity across the state's alcohol regulatory framework.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 17, 2024

SB 831: An Act providing for the injection of carbon dioxide into an underground reservoir for the purpose of carbon sequestration, for the ownership of pore space in strata below surface lands and waters of the Commonwealth, for conveyance of the surface ownership of real property; imposing duties on the Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Hearing Board; and establishing the Carbon Dioxide Storage Facility Fund.

This bill, now enacted as Act No. 87 of 2024, authorizes the injection of carbon dioxide into underground reservoirs in Pennsylvania for storage purposes. It clarifies that companies owning the land above these underground spaces retain ownership of the pore space beneath their property and allows for the transfer of surface land rights to facilitate these projects. A key provision ensures that public utilities are not required to pass the costs of developing or maintaining these carbon storage facilities onto their customers through higher rates. Additionally, the law establishes a specific fund to support carbon dioxide storage activities and assigns duties to state environmental agencies to oversee the process.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 17, 2024

SB 1154: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for institutions of higher education and for Performance-based Funding Council.

This bill updates the funding rules for Pennsylvania's state universities by requiring a council to select no more than six performance metrics to distribute specific portions of state appropriations. If the council fails to meet its reporting deadline, a pre-defined set of default metrics will automatically take effect to allocate funds based on graduation rates, tuition costs, retention, and degrees in high-priority fields. The law also establishes a five-year review cycle to reassess these performance measures and outlines a process for funding the administrative costs of implementing the new system.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 17, 2024

SB 1150: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in the State System of Higher Education, further providing for definitions and providing for Grow Pennsylvania Merit Scholarship Program; providing for institutions of higher education, for Grow Pennsylvania Scholarship Grant Program and for intercollegiate athletics; in ready-to-succeed scholarship, further providing for agency; and making a repeal.

This bill expands the definition of eligible institutions for Pennsylvania's Grow Pennsylvania scholarship programs to include schools approved under the Higher Education Scholarship Law and those established under Article XIX-G. It updates the list of covered academic areas to include special education, STEM, and allied health fields while clarifying that students may take occasional online courses. The legislation also modifies repayment rules by allowing agencies to charge interest on unearned scholarships and permitting students to switch between different approved courses of study without losing eligibility. Additionally, the bill requires the state to actively market these programs online at least every three years and ensures that scholarship funds do not disqualify schools from receiving other state grants.