Pennsylvania Bills

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2167: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, making editorial changes to delete references to "approved private school" for the purpose of adding references to "approved special education school."

HB 2167 is a purely editorial amendment to Pennsylvania's Public School Code of 1949. It updates references from "approved private school" to "approved special education school" in multiple sections (including Section 1376) that govern funding for students with disabilities. The bill makes no changes to funding formulas, payment amounts, or eligibility rules - only correcting outdated terminology to specifically reference special education schools. This adjustment ensures the law accurately reflects the type of institutions providing specialized education services.

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2090: An Act amending Title 72 (Taxation and Fiscal Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for prohibition on certain payment card network fee practices; and imposing penalties.

This bill prohibits payment card networks (like Visa or Mastercard) from charging fees based on the full transaction amount that includes Pennsylvania's sales tax. It specifically bans interchange fees that calculate charges using the total amount (including tax) and prevents networks from raising fees to circumvent this rule. Merchants who accept credit/debit cards and payment networks are directly affected, as they can no longer impose these tax-inclusive fees. Violations of these provisions could result in penalties under the new law.

Pat Gallagher (D) · 25 co-sponsors

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 788: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in mutual thrift institutions tax, further providing for imposition, report and payment of tax and exemptions.

HB 788 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code of 1971 to adjust tax rates for mutual thrift institutions (like credit unions and mutual banks) operating in the state. It gradually reduces their annual tax rate from 8.99% in 2025 down to 4.99% by 2033, with specific rates set for each year through 2033. The bill also extends the period for carrying forward net losses from three to ten years when calculating tax deductions. This directly affects mutual thrift institutions by lowering their tax burden over time and changing how they can offset past losses against current income.

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 713: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in particular rights and immunities, further providing for scope of subchapter.

HB 713 amends Pennsylvania law to protect individuals who disclose sexual offenses or abuse by expanding legal safeguards for such communications. It defines "protected public expression" to include non-malicious disclosures about sexual violence under Pennsylvania law (23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6102, 62A03) and explicitly states that reporting these incidents should not be chilled by lawsuits. The bill excludes claims under protection-from-abuse laws (23 Pa.C.S. Chapter 61) and sexual violence statutes (Chapter 62A) from certain legal challenges. This creates a clearer legal shield for people reporting sexual violence without altering existing protections for victims.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 603: An Act amending the act of December 12, 1986 (P.L.1559, No.169), known as the Whistleblower Law, further providing for remedies and for enforcement.

HB 603 extends the time employees have to file a lawsuit after retaliation under Pennsylvania's Whistleblower Law, changing the deadline from 180 days to two years. It clarifies that successful whistleblowers can recover back pay, reinstatement of benefits and seniority, and full legal costs including attorney fees. The bill also specifies that punitive damages may be awarded only if retaliation was intentional or showed reckless disregard for employee rights. These changes directly affect Pennsylvania employees who report violations of state, local, or federal law and face retaliation. The bill does not create new protections but strengthens enforcement mechanisms for existing whistleblower safeguards.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 939: Establishing the Office of Transformation and Opportunity and the Artificial Intelligence, Data Center and Emerging Technology Regulatory Sandbox Program; and providing for powers and duties of office and for permits for high impact data centers that have their own power.

SB 939 establishes Pennsylvania's Office of Transformation and Opportunity and creates a regulatory sandbox program for artificial intelligence, data centers, and emerging technologies. It defines "high impact data centers" as facilities with 50+ megawatts of critical power, requiring owners to notify the office when they meet this threshold. The bill standardizes local regulations to prevent stricter rules for these facilities than for other industrial uses, ensuring permitting reviews occur within 30 days for complete applications. It also creates a testing program allowing businesses to trial new technologies under temporary regulatory flexibility while requiring consumer protections and annual reports to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1759: An Act providing for disposal of waste tires, trash and debris, for rules and regulations and for penalties.

HB 1759 establishes rules for disposing of waste tires, trash, and debris in Pennsylvania, directly affecting municipalities, businesses handling tires, and individuals who dump waste improperly. It allows local governments to impose fines up to $5,000 for "short dumping" (illegally emptying trash from vehicles) and $500 per tire for improper tire disposal, while requiring businesses to keep electronic records of tire disposals for five years and provide proof of proper recycling. Municipalities must use collected fines to fund recycling programs, clean up environmental damage from improper disposal, and enforce the law. The bill takes effect 120 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1648: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for definitions and providing for mental health days.

HB 1648 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish "mental health days" as an excused absence for students, directly affecting public, nonpublic, and private school students. Schools must adopt policies by the 2026-2027 school year allowing up to two consecutive days off for mental or physical fatigue due to mental health-related stressors, whether certified (like anxiety) or uncertified (like bullying or family trauma). The bill prohibits more than three mental health days in a week or two consecutive weeks, except as permitted by school policies. The state Department of Education will develop model guidelines within 90 days to help schools implement these policies.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 491: An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in alternative form of regulation of telecommunications services, further providing for network modernization plans and for additional powers and duties of commission.

SB 491 modifies Pennsylvania's telecommunications regulations by relieving local telecom companies of certain service obligations. Starting in 2026, companies won't need to provide broadband where other providers already serve a location (Section 3014(b)(9)), and by 2027, they’re exempt from extending service when alternatives exist (Section 3014(b)(10)-(11)). The bill also requires the Public Utility Commission to permanently waive specific regulatory rules for telecom carriers (Section 3019(c)), while explicitly removing the Commission’s jurisdiction over VoIP and broadband services. These changes directly affect telecom companies and customers in areas with competing broadband providers.

Topics ✗ Technology

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 431: An Act amending the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in procedure, providing for acceptable denials.

SB 431 amends Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (2008) to clarify definitions of public records and update procedures for agencies denying requests. It directly affects Pennsylvania residents seeking public records and government agencies handling those requests. Key provisions include defining specific record types more clearly and establishing new, acceptable reasons for agencies to deny requests, such as protecting privacy or ongoing investigations. The bill aims to make the process more transparent and consistent for both citizens and government entities.

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1966: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in bases of jurisdiction and interstate and international procedure, further providing for assistance to tribunals and litigants outside this Commonwealth with respect to service and for issuance of subpoena; in commencement of proceedings, further providing for authority of officers of another state to arrest in this Commonwealth; and, in detainers and extradition, further providing for definitions, for duty of Governor with respect to fugitives from justice and for presigned waiver of extradition.

HB 1966 proposes amendments to Pennsylvania's judicial statutes to improve cooperation with courts and law enforcement in other states. It would allow Pennsylvania courts to assist out-of-state tribunals with serving legal documents and issuing subpoenas within Pennsylvania, and permit officers from other states to make arrests in Pennsylvania without local warrants. The bill also updates definitions related to detainers and extradition, clarifying the Governor's role in handling fugitives from justice. These changes aim to streamline interstate legal processes for courts, law enforcement, and litigants.

Mary Jo Daley (D) · 22 co-sponsors

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2048: An Act establishing the Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium; providing for administrative, fiscal or logistical services and governance and duties of the Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium, for grantmaking priorities, for editorial independence, for public access and transparency and for long-term funding strategy.

HB 2048 establishes the Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium, a new entity tasked with supporting local news and civic information access. The bill outlines the Consortium’s governance structure, sets grant priorities to fund local journalism initiatives, and requires strict editorial independence to prevent government influence over funded content. It mandates public access to the Consortium’s activities and decisions while defining a long-term funding strategy for sustainability. This bill directly affects local news organizations receiving grants and the public seeking reliable civic information.

Bill results