Pennsylvania Bills

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 442: A Resolution designating May 4, 2026, as "Youth Advocacy Day" in Pennsylvania.

This Pennsylvania House Resolution designates May 4, 2026, as "Youth Advocacy Day" to recognize the role young people play in advocating for issues affecting their lives. The resolution acknowledges youth involvement in various social movements, including environmental, civil rights, and public safety initiatives, and affirms their right to participate in civic engagement. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic designation to highlight youth advocacy efforts within the state.

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2298: An Act amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law, in short title and definitions, further providing for definitions; and, in enforcement and penalties, further providing for enforcement of this act by the secretary and provisions for inspections.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Dog Law to require state dog wardens and department employees to complete specific training and receive certification before carrying or using firearms or stun guns while performing their duties. The legislation establishes that these officials must have approval from the Secretary of Agriculture and hold valid certification under existing law enforcement training programs or a department-approved training course. It also sets conditions for employment, allowing the department to refuse hiring, suspend, or revoke employment for wardens who fail training requirements, have disqualifying criminal records, or misuse weapons. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for grandfathering existing wardens who have completed similar training and outlines specific grounds for disciplinary action related to weapon possession and enforcement conduct.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 1209: An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in State Veterans' Commission and Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, further providing for Veterans' Trust Fund; in veterans' organizations, further providing for grants to veterans' service officer programs and providing for veterans' claims assistance standards; and imposing penalties.

This bill creates a Veterans' Trust Fund in Pennsylvania by adding fees collected from paid veterans' claims assistance providers and directs those funds to support grants for veterans' service officer programs. It establishes new registration and disclosure requirements for individuals and organizations that charge fees to help veterans with benefits claims, requiring them to register annually and provide clear written information about their services and compensation to veterans before working with them. The law exempts government employees, accredited representatives from recognized veterans' organizations, and nonprofit groups from these requirements while maintaining existing protections for free assistance sources.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2293: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in charter schools, further providing for enrollment.

This bill removes enrollment caps for charter schools and cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania, allowing them to accept as many students as they choose without limits set by school boards or other governing authorities. The law also declares any existing enrollment limits currently in place as invalid. Once signed into effect, the changes will take place 60 days later.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2297: An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in medical services, further providing for Medical Services Program.

This bill establishes a fee program for certain nonemergency medical services provided to inmates in Pennsylvania prisons, with fees capped at $1 per service when requested by the inmate. It requires the Department of Corrections to create regulations specifying which medical services incur fees, their amounts, and payment procedures while exempting medical emergencies, chronic care, and preexisting conditions from fees. The legislation also mandates that inmates pay for medical services related to injuries they caused to themselves or other inmates. The Department of Corrections must update existing rules to align with these changes within 180 days of the bill's effective date, which is set to occur 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2296: An Act amending the act of November 26, 1978 (P.L.1375, No.325), known as the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act, further providing for definitions; and providing for siting of wetland replacement.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Dam Safety and Encroachments Act by adding a formal definition for "wetland" and establishing specific rules for where wetland replacement projects must be located. The legislation directly affects developers, environmental regulators, and landowners involved in projects that impact wetlands, requiring them to follow a prioritized siting hierarchy. Under the new provisions, replacement wetlands must be placed immediately adjacent to the affected area whenever possible, with subsequent options including locations along the same watercourse, within the same watershed, or near higher-order streams if closer sites are unavailable. The bill also mandates that regulatory agencies reject replacement proposals in different watersheds unless all suitable local options have been exhausted, and requires documentation explaining why alternative sites were not feasible.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 1238: An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in hunting and furtaking, further providing for unlawful devices and methods and for prohibited devices and methods.

This bill updates Pennsylvania hunting regulations to clarify when semiautomatic rifles are permitted for big game hunting. It allows hunters to use semiautomatic centerfire rifles firing .223 caliber or larger ammunition if the rifle holds no more than three cartridges. The law also permits semiautomatic firearms for hunters with physical disabilities who have lost the use of one or both hands, provided the firearm is modified to hold one shell in the chamber and no more than four in the magazine. These changes amend existing statutes in Title 34 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes regarding unlawful and prohibited hunting devices.

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 1175: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in Innovate in PA Tax Credit, further providing for legislative intent, for definitions, for duties, for use of tax credits by qualified taxpayers, for sale, carryover and carryback, for sale of tax credits to qualified taxpayers, for Innovate in PA Program, for guidelines and for report and providing for second distribution report.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's tax code to establish a new Innovate in PA tax credit program that allows qualified taxpayers to purchase tax credits to offset their insurance premiums tax liability. The program authorizes the sale of up to $350 million in tax credits, with a specific $200 million allocation for credits available starting in 2030, and requires that sales generate at least $200 million in revenue to proceed. Funds collected from these tax credit sales will be distributed to support life science research facilities, recruitment of researchers, and workforce development partnerships between companies and educational institutions. The legislation also defines key terms, sets rules for carrying over unused tax credits to future years, and establishes reporting requirements for the program's administration.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 1217: An Act designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 7591, carrying State Route 2043 over the SEPTA West Trenton Line, Bensalem Township, Bucks County, as the Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth O. Hunter Memorial Bridge.

This bill designates a specific bridge in Bensalem Township as the Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth O. Hunter Memorial Bridge. The legislation formally names Bridge Key 7591, which carries State Route 2043 over the SEPTA West Trenton Line, in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Orville Hunter, a World War II veteran and former Air Force officer. The Department of Transportation is required to install and maintain signs displaying the new name for traffic traveling in both directions. The bill includes background information about Hunter's military service and personal life but focuses primarily on the official naming and signage requirements.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 1237: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; in rules of the road in general, further providing for maximum speed limits, providing for maximum speed limits enforced by local law enforcement officers with RADAR and further providing for speed timing devices; and imposing penalties.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's vehicle laws to clarify definitions of speed-measuring technology, including LIDAR, RADAR, and other electronic devices, while establishing new rules for when local law enforcement can use these tools to enforce speed limits. It requires that convictions based on speed measurements from these devices only apply when the recorded speed is at least 10 miles per hour over the limit, or 6 miles per hour over if the limit exceeds 55 mph, with stricter rules applying in school zones and work zones. The legislation also mandates that local police departments must adopt ordinances authorizing RADAR use, that officers complete approved training before using these devices, and that they operate from clearly marked vehicles visible to the public. Additionally, the bill restricts the use of speed-measuring devices to time vehicles within 500 feet of certain speed limit signs, except in designated zones like school areas and work zones.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 1216: An Act amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, in creation of leases, statute of frauds and mortgaging of leaseholds, providing for residential rental application fees.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act to regulate residential rental application fees and background check policies. It limits application fees to the lesser of the actual cost of a background check or $50, allowing landlords to charge only for criminal history and credit checks. The legislation also requires landlords to make individualized assessments when considering criminal history, evaluating factors like the nature of the offense and time elapsed since conviction. These rules apply only to residential properties and cannot be waived by applicants through contracts.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2294: An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in hunting and furtaking licenses, further providing for elk hunting licenses.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's game laws to establish a formal process for issuing elk hunting licenses. It requires the Game Commission to hold a random drawing for elk license applications at the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette Township. The legislation limits each person to submitting only one application per license year for elk hunting. These changes take effect immediately upon passage.

Bill results