SB 730 amends Pennsylvania law regarding end-of-life medical decisions, affecting patients, their designated surrogates, and healthcare providers, including emergency medical services. The bill introduces and integrates "Pennsylvania orders for life-sustaining treatment" (POLST) into the existing framework, alongside advance health care directives and out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate (OOH-DNR) orders. It updates definitions for various healthcare roles to align with current state law and modifies criminal penalties for actions like falsifying or interfering with these medical orders. Additionally, the bill clarifies the applicability of emergency medical services in situations without an OOH-DNR order and standardizes the issuance of OOH-DNR orders, bracelets, and necklaces by physicians.
This bill requires Medicaid programs and private health insurance plans to cover bone density screenings, preventive care, and treatments for osteoporosis specifically linked to menopause. It directly affects postmenopausal women, particularly those with low income who rely on Medicaid, by ensuring access to these services without cost barriers. The key provision mandates that both public medical assistance programs and private insurers include these osteoporosis-related services in standard coverage. This expands existing coverage to explicitly address menopause-related bone health needs.
HB 1346 amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law to mandate coverage for menopause treatments in health insurance policies. This bill requires health insurance policies offered or renewed in the Commonwealth to provide coverage for both hormonal and non-hormonal treatments for menopausal symptoms. The required coverage includes FDA-approved drugs, devices, behavioral therapy, and treatments for menopause induced by a hysterectomy. This ensures individuals in Pennsylvania experiencing menopause or related symptoms have access to covered treatments, subject to the standard terms and conditions of their health insurance policy.
SB 469 provides $1 annual fishing and hunting licenses for eligible law enforcement officers in Pennsylvania. It directly affects officers employed by defined law enforcement agencies (including campus police, airport authorities, railroad police, and county park forces) who qualify for resident licenses. The bill creates a $1 fee for both fishing licenses (under Title 30) and hunting licenses (under Title 34), replacing standard fees for these officers. Key provisions define "law enforcement agency" broadly and specify that officers must provide employment documentation to qualify. The policy change takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 681 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update school health services and physical education requirements. It requires school districts to submit annual health reports, establishes an interagency council to coordinate child health, nutrition, and physical education services, and revises physical education curriculum standards. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania public schools and students by mandating new reporting, coordination, and updated physical education guidelines. It passed the legislature on June 11, 2025, and is now referred to the Education committee for further action.
HR 368 is a resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study changes in commercial property values across the Commonwealth. The study will assess the financial impact of these changes on local governments and school districts, and provide recommendations based on its findings. This resolution does not create new laws but initiates an official review process to inform future fiscal decisions. It directly affects local governments and school districts by examining how property value shifts may influence their budgets.
HB 2028 amends Pennsylvania law to establish permitted uses for public spaces (like parks or sidewalks) and clarifies when local governments can be sued for actions affecting the public. It directly affects local governments (cities, counties) and individuals or groups seeking to use public areas for events or activities. The key provision creates specific exceptions to government "sovereign immunity," meaning governments can be held liable in court for certain actions under defined circumstances. This changes how public space access is regulated and sets clearer rules for when government entities face legal accountability.
HB 1460, the Health System Protection Act, requires health care entities (like hospitals and clinics) and certain investors (such as private equity firms) to obtain pre-approval from Pennsylvania's Department of Health and Attorney General before completing major transactions. This applies to sales of assets worth $10 million or more, ownership changes, or large financial distributions that could affect competition, costs, or access to care. The law prohibits transactions deemed "against the public interest," such as those reducing competition, raising prices, or limiting services in rural or low-income areas. Health care entities must either file a notification with a waiting period or get written approval before proceeding.
This bill prohibits licensed health insurers in Pennsylvania from increasing costs such as premiums, copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for specific health care services that were already covered under a policy. The law applies to individual and group health insurance plans but excludes self-funded employer plans and other limited benefit policies. Insurers may still raise costs if a service was obtained through fraud or if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issues a warning about safety or if a drug manufacturer announces a discontinuance. Violations of these rules would be treated as unfair trade practices and could result in a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for the insurer.
This resolution designates the week of June 22 through 28, 2026, as "Amateur Radio Week" in Pennsylvania to honor the contributions of licensed amateur radio operators, known as "hams." The measure highlights the community's role in providing free communications for public events and emergency services, including weather spotting and disaster response. It specifically acknowledges the upcoming "Amateur Radio Field Day" exercise, which demonstrates the group's ability to maintain independent communications during emergencies. The bill is a symbolic gesture with no changes to laws or regulations.
This bill amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to specifically define "dynamic pricing" and regulate its use in physical retail stores. It defines dynamic pricing as prices that change in near real-time based on fluctuating conditions, while explicitly excluding standard promotional discounts or loyalty program benefits. Under the new rules, retailers cannot use electronic displays in their brick-and-mortar locations to show prices that can be remotely altered by automated systems using this method. The legislation aims to clarify what constitutes deceptive pricing practices for the Attorney General and District Attorneys to enforce, and it will take effect 60 days after being signed into law.
HB 2377 requires Pennsylvania retail food facilities to clearly label any beverage containing 80 milligrams or more of caffeine per serving as 'high caffeine' on their menus. This labeling must appear directly next to the drink's name and can use approved text, icons, or symbols. If a business fails to comply after receiving a written warning, it may face penalties under existing food protection laws. The bill applies to both permanent and temporary menu items offered for sale.
