Pennsylvania Bills

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2295: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in cigarette sales and licensing, further providing for definitions, for licensing of retailers and for transfer of licenses.

This Pennsylvania bill updates state regulations on cigarette sales and retailer licensing by adding new definitions for youth centers and recreational places. It establishes stricter requirements for new cigarette retailers starting January 1, 2027, prohibiting stores from opening within 500 feet of schools, day-care centers, youth centers, recreational facilities, or other licensed cigarette retailers. The law also clarifies rules for transferring cigarette vending machine licenses and maintains existing requirements for accurate tax reporting and compliance with state pricing rules.

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2270: An Act amending the act of November 21, 2016 (P.L.1318, No.169), known as the Pharmacy Audit Integrity and Transparency Act, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in pharmacy benefits manager contracts, providing for State pharmacy benefits manager.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Pharmacy Audit Integrity and Transparency Act to update definitions for "specialty drug" and "spread pricing" while establishing a new role for a State pharmacy benefits manager. The updated definitions clarify which prescription medications qualify as specialty drugs based on cost, handling requirements, and patient needs, while defining spread pricing as when a pharmacy benefits manager charges more than it pays pharmacists. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to select a single third-party administrator to manage all pharmacy benefits for Medicaid recipients by July 2026, ensuring all managed care organizations contract with this designated manager. The procurement process mandates competitive selection with strict conflict-of-interest disclosures to prevent conflicts between the manager and other healthcare entities like pharmacies, drug distributors, or managed care organizations.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Rob Matzie (D) · 32 co-sponsors

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 16, 2026

HB 2290: An Act designating a portion of Pennsylvania Route 405 from segment 0270/offset 2380 to segment 220/offset 2306 on Pennsylvania Route 44 in Delaware Township and Watsontown Borough in Northumberland County as the PFC Richard F. "Ricky" Ritter Memorial Highway.

This bill designates a specific stretch of Pennsylvania Route 405 in Northumberland County as the PFC Richard F. "Ricky" Ritter Memorial Highway in honor of a local Marine who died in Vietnam. The legislation requires the Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs displaying the memorial name along the designated roadway. The act also includes background information about Ritter, noting his birth in Williamsport, his service in the Marine Corps, and the Purple Heart he received posthumously. This is a commemorative measure that does not alter traffic laws or funding but serves to recognize a fallen service member.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 16, 2026

HB 2291: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in tobacco products tax, further providing for licensing of retailers.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's tax code to establish a new licensing requirement for tobacco retailers, mandating that applicants meet specific criteria to obtain or renew their retail licenses. The law introduces a distance restriction effective January 1, 2027, prohibiting tobacco retailers from operating within 1,000 feet of any school property line, while also requiring applicants to demonstrate adequate premises for revenue protection, maintain accurate tax reporting, and have no history of tax violations. The measure directly affects tobacco retailers and applicants seeking to sell tobacco products in Pennsylvania, adding compliance steps to the existing licensing process.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Chris Pielli (D) · 19 co-sponsors

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 16, 2026

HB 2292: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in obstructing governmental operations, further providing for obstructing administration of law or other governmental function.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's obstruction of governmental operations laws to create a specific exception for healthcare facilities. It allows nonviolent obstruction of law enforcement entry at hospitals and emergency departments unless officers have probable cause and a judicial warrant for a specific individual. The law defines key terms like "health care facility," "emergency department," and "judicial warrant" to clarify when this protection applies. The changes would take effect 60 days after enactment and apply to all law enforcement officers within the state.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 571: An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Interstate Compact; providing for the form of the compact; imposing additional powers and duties on the Governor, the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the Compact.

SB 571 authorizes Pennsylvania to join the Interstate Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, enabling occupational therapists licensed in one participating state to practice in Pennsylvania without obtaining a separate Pennsylvania license. It establishes that therapists practice where their patient is located, requires states to share licensure and disciplinary information, and includes provisions for military spouses relocating across state lines. The bill directly affects licensed occupational therapists, patients seeking services across state lines, and state licensing boards managing professional standards. Key mechanisms include mutual license recognition, a shared data system for tracking disciplinary actions, and telehealth service access rules. (3 sentences)

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 13, 2026

HB 2287: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in fees, further providing for exemption of persons, entities and vehicles from fees.

This bill would waive initial identification card fees for first-time voters in Pennsylvania who are 18 or older and do not already have a valid driver's license. The exemption applies to both the card cost and the required photograph fee, provided the individual submits a written statement confirming their eligibility. The Department of Transportation may request additional information to verify identity and voting eligibility before granting the waiver. The changes would become effective 60 days after the bill is enacted.

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 13, 2026

HB 2288: An Act amending the act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387), known as the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, providing for artificial intelligence training disclosure.

This bill requires online platforms in Pennsylvania to inform users when their content may be used to train artificial intelligence systems. It applies to websites and apps that collect user-created content like posts, videos, or images for AI training purposes. The law mandates that platforms must provide a clear, separate disclosure at sign-up and require users to acknowledge receiving this notice before they can post content. The bill defines key terms like "artificial intelligence" and "platform" to ensure consistent application of the disclosure requirement.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 13, 2026

HB 2289: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in preliminary provisions, providing for health care sharing ministries.

This bill would amend Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law to explicitly exempt health care sharing ministries from state insurance regulations and oversight by the Insurance Commissioner. It defines these ministries as faith-based nonprofit organizations where members share medical expenses based on common ethical or religious beliefs, with voluntary contributions and no promise of payment. To qualify, these organizations must provide monthly expense statements, undergo annual independent audits, and include clear disclaimers on membership materials stating they are not insurance and members remain personally responsible for medical bills. The changes apply to any organization meeting the specified criteria and would take effect 60 days after enactment.

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 13, 2026

SR 246: A Resolution designating the week of March 15 through 21, 2026, as "Sunshine Week" in Pennsylvania.

This Senate Resolution designates the week of March 15 through 21, 2026, as "Sunshine Week" in Pennsylvania to promote awareness of open government principles. The resolution highlights the state's Sunshine Act and Right-to-Know Law, which ensure public access to government meetings and records. It encourages residents to learn about and support these laws that allow citizens to review government actions and request public documents. The measure is symbolic and does not create new legal requirements or change existing statutes.

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2284: An Act amending Title 44 (Law and Justice) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, imposing a fee for service on municipalities for municipal patrol services provided by the Pennsylvania State Police and providing for State Police patrol services agreements, for allocation of money, for fees for intermunicipal police response and for penalties.

This bill establishes a fee system for Pennsylvania municipalities that receive patrol services from the State Police, requiring towns without their own full-time police forces to pay for those services. The legislation creates new definitions for different types of patrol services and sets fee amounts based on the difference between 2021-2022 and current Motor License Fund appropriations to the State Police. Small municipalities with limited local police hours and those that have existing patrol agreements with the State Police are exempt from paying fees. The bill also requires the State Police to submit annual reports on these services and includes provisions for penalties and intermunicipal police response coordination.

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 1213: An Act amending Title 30 (Fish) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to fish and fishing, further providing for rules and regulations.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's fish and fishing laws to give the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources authority to create rules against specific fishing methods like snatching, foul hooking, and snagging. It directly affects anglers and fishing guides who use these techniques by establishing that violations of any new regulations would be classified as first-degree summary offenses. The legislation does not ban these methods outright but instead empowers state officials to regulate them through future rulemaking. The bill takes effect 60 days after being signed into law.

Topics ✓ Environment

Bill results