HB 2184 amends Pennsylvania's public utilities law to define "public interest" and require the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to consider eight specific factors when making utility decisions. These factors include residential rate affordability, energy strategy (renewables, distributed generation, energy efficiency), grid modernization, environmental protection, economic growth (jobs, tax revenue), reliability, and environmental justice. The bill updates existing provisions about "just and reasonable" rates (Section 1301), mandatory 60-day notice for rate changes (Section 1308), and complaint-based rate investigations (Section 1309). It directly affects all utility companies operating in Pennsylvania and the PUC, which must now document how decisions align with these public interest factors. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 550, the BPA-free Container Products for Infants Act, prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of infant food and beverage containers containing bisphenol A (BPA) above 0.1 parts per billion. It requires manufacturers to use the least toxic alternative when replacing BPA and bans substitutions with EPA-identified carcinogens or reproductive toxicants. The law applies to all containers intended for infants under one year old and will take effect 60 days after enactment. Violations would be enforced under Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, subjecting offenders to civil penalties and private lawsuits.
HB 1213 requires municipal water authorities and public utilities to notify residential customers when their water usage increases by 200% above the property's average for a single month. The notice must be sent via phone or email, and the utility must help customers identify potential leaks or inefficiencies. This applies to both municipal systems (under Title 53) and public utilities (under Title 66). The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 507, the Baby Food Protection Act, requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to test all baby food batches for toxic heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. It sets strict limits: baby food cannot exceed 10 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic, 5 ppb for lead or cadmium, or 2 ppb for mercury. All tested baby food must display labels showing the exact metal levels found in the batch. The bill also directs the Department to adopt lower federal limits if set by the FDA and expires if federal law matches its requirements.
HB 538 requires colleges and private licensed schools to implement education, prevention, and response programs addressing sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking for students and staff. It updates the 1949 Public School Code by adding specific definitions, mandating annual training, and requiring follow-up procedures after incidents. The bill expands existing requirements to cover all institutions of higher education, ensuring consistent policies across affected schools. This is a substantive policy change focused on improving safety protocols, not a procedural or commemorative measure.
SB 127 changes Pennsylvania's Public School Code to make Holocaust, genocide, and human rights violations education mandatory for all schools starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It requires schools to integrate this instruction into required social studies and language arts courses, replacing the previous voluntary approach. The bill mandates that curriculum guidelines and teacher training programs be developed by the Department of Education to support this requirement. This affects all public school districts, charter schools, and private schools within Pennsylvania.
This resolution directs Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to study how private equity ownership affects child care services. The study will examine impacts on costs, quality, and access for families, then propose recommendations to limit negative effects. It directly affects child care providers operating under private equity ownership and families using these services. The Commission must complete this work and report findings to the legislature.
HB 634 requires Pennsylvania public school safety coordinators to evaluate implementing silent panic alarm systems as part of school safety reviews. The bill defines these systems as manual devices (wired buttons, wireless buttons, or apps) that signal life-threatening emergencies to local law enforcement or designated Pennsylvania State Police locations if no municipal police exist. This applies to all public schools and affects private/parochial schools under the Public School Code. The change mandates coordinators to specifically consider these systems when reviewing safety policies, without creating new funding or broad mandates. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 462 amends Pennsylvania law to extend time limits for filing lawsuits involving minors, individuals with mental incapacity, or those imprisoned. It also clarifies when government units (like cities or counties) can be sued by specifying exceptions to sovereign immunity. The bill directly affects citizens seeking legal action against government entities and the government units themselves, by changing deadlines and liability rules. Key provisions include updating filing deadlines for specific vulnerable groups and defining clearer scenarios where governments lose immunity from lawsuits. This is a substantive policy change to court procedures, not a procedural or commemorative measure.
HB 1135 prohibits the use of paraquat, a specific chemical pesticide, within Pennsylvania. It defines paraquat by its chemical identifier (CAS number 4685-14-7) and includes related salts, making it unlawful for farmers, agricultural businesses, or any pesticide users to apply it in the state. The bill amends Pennsylvania's 1973 Pesticide Control Act to add this prohibition, effective one year after enactment, and overrides any conflicting existing regulations. This directly affects pesticide users and applicators operating in Pennsylvania.
HB 464 is a constitutional amendment proposal that would ensure Pennsylvania courts remain open for lawsuits against the state government (the "Commonwealth"). It directly affects residents, businesses, and local governments who may need to sue the state for issues like contract disputes or government actions. The key provision would amend the state constitution to guarantee access to courts for such cases, removing potential barriers to filing suit. This is a procedural change to constitutional access, not a new law with specific funding or regulations.
This bill requires school districts in Pennsylvania that use state funding for mapping services to ensure their campus maps are compatible with emergency response software. The legislation mandates that these maps include detailed floor plans, accurate room labels, and verified data from onsite inspections while being stored securely within the United States. Before purchasing such services, districts must obtain written approval from their primary law enforcement agency to confirm the data meets specific safety standards.
