This bill updates Pennsylvania's 1982 highway and bridge funding law to authorize $4.77 billion in repairs and replacements for state and local bridges during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It allocates approximately $3.8 billion for state-owned projects managed by the Department of Transportation and about $962 million for local municipal projects, with the state providing grants covering up to 80% of non-federal costs. The legislation specifically lists individual bridge projects across various counties, detailing their estimated costs and purposes such as replacement, restoration, or preservation.
This bill allows the Pennsylvania State Workers' Insurance Fund to invest up to 20% of its assets in equity investments, expanding its current authority which is limited to securities authorized for savings banks. The legislation directly affects the fund's management by permitting the Board of Directors to approve these higher-risk investments to potentially increase returns. All investments must be held by the State Treasurer, who will manage the collection of interest and principal payments based on the Board's authorization. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill becomes law.
This bill prohibits transportation network companies, such as ride-sharing services, from using specific data from a passenger's phone to calculate fares. It bans charging higher prices based on the device's hardware state, like battery life or age, and forbids using geolocation data to set prices unless the variation reflects legitimate differences in travel costs, taxes, or real-time demand. The law also prevents companies from raising fares simply because a user has certain software installed or because their device is in a specific mode. These rules aim to ensure that ride prices are determined by the trip itself rather than the characteristics of the passenger's equipment.
This bill amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act to officially classify the veterinary sedative medetomidine as a Schedule III controlled substance while explicitly exempting its legitimate use in approved animal drugs and by licensed professionals. It also mandates that veterinarians store both medetomidine and xylazine under the same strict security conditions required for other controlled substances under the state Pharmacy Act. These changes directly affect veterinarians, pharmacies, and manufacturers by updating legal definitions and imposing specific storage protocols to prevent misuse of these substances.
This bill, titled the Broadcast Freemarket Agreement Act, prohibits employers in the radio, television, and digital media industries from enforcing non-compete clauses in employment contracts. It declares such agreements void if they stop workers from moving to other companies or performing services within a specific geographic area after leaving their current job. The law also ensures that employees cannot be forced to sign away these protections, while still allowing employers to maintain confidentiality agreements regarding trade secrets.
This bill grants school administrators in Pennsylvania's first-class cities and school districts the right to engage in collective bargaining with their employers. It allows these administrators to negotiate terms regarding pay, working hours, benefits, and dispute resolution through designated representatives. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board will handle any disagreements about these bargaining items using the same process applied to other public employees. The changes apply immediately upon the bill's enactment.
This bill requires Pennsylvania schools to offer optional hunting and trapping education courses to students in grades six through twelve by July 1, 2027. The program must include firearm safety instruction taught by certified instructors, covering topics like safe handling and maintenance, while strictly prohibiting actual firearms or ammunition from entering school buildings. Parents can request to excuse their children from these classes without penalty, and completing the course satisfies the state's basic hunter-trapper education requirement for obtaining a hunting license.
HB 2146 modifies Pennsylvania's open meetings law to clarify when government agencies can take action on unlisted agenda items. It creates specific exceptions for minor administrative approvals that arise unexpectedly, such as urgent legal filings, small purchases under $10,000 (based on current thresholds), grant applications with deadlines, or minor permit approvals. Agencies must obtain and publicly disclose a legal opinion confirming an item qualifies under these exceptions before acting. This directly affects state and local agencies holding public meetings, ensuring transparency while allowing limited flexibility for time-sensitive matters. The bill does not change core meeting notice requirements but adds defined exceptions for minor, non-financial actions.
HB 1239 updates Pennsylvania's rules for condominiums and planned communities under Title 68. It clarifies definitions for these properties and strengthens the authority of homeowners' associations (HOAs) to manage common areas and enforce rules. The bill directly affects residents in condominiums and planned communities by giving their HOAs clearer powers over maintenance, finances, and governance. These changes aim to streamline management without altering core ownership rights or adding new taxes or fees.
HB 2014 amends the 2012 Child Labor Act to clarify rules for minors participating in volunteer emergency service organizations (like junior fire departments or youth emergency response teams). It directly affects minors aged 14-17 who volunteer in these roles by establishing specific safety and supervision requirements. The bill modifies existing provisions to ensure minors' work hours, tasks, and training align with child labor protections during emergency service activities. (Note: Specific new requirements are not detailed in the provided context.) The bill was recently referred to the Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness committee.
HB 2037 updates Pennsylvania's ethics rules for public officials by revising definitions, expanding restrictions on outside activities, and requiring clearer financial disclosures. It directly affects state legislators, executive branch employees, and other public officers who must file financial interest reports. Key changes include modernizing how "restricted activities" (like lobbying) are defined, tightening reporting requirements for investments and income, and adjusting penalties for violations. The bill aims to strengthen transparency in government finances without altering existing ethical standards' core principles.
This bill requires the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to publish an annual report detailing its inspections, violations, and payments for child care facilities. It also mandates that any child care facility using fossil-fuel heating systems must install approved carbon monoxide alarms within eighteen months. Facilities that fail to meet these safety standards will not receive or renew their operating licenses, though provisional licenses may be issued under specific conditions. The report must be made available online and sent to relevant legislative committees, while the carbon monoxide requirement does not override existing construction codes.
