This bill would create a state-funded paid family and medical leave program for eligible workers needing time off for health issues, childbirth, or family care. It establishes a dedicated state fund to cover leave costs, creates an advisory board to guide implementation, and assigns oversight to the Department of Labor. The program would directly affect employees in the state who qualify for these leave types, requiring employers to provide the benefits. The bill also specifies penalties for businesses failing to comply with the new requirements.
This Pennsylvania House Resolution designates March 31, 2026, as "Black Midwives Day" to honor the contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health in the state. The resolution highlights the importance of midwifery in addressing maternal health disparities, particularly in Black communities where pregnancy-related mortality rates are significantly higher than national averages. It acknowledges the role of midwives in providing culturally sensitive care and reducing barriers to access in areas with limited maternity health resources. The measure serves as a symbolic recognition rather than establishing new laws or funding requirements.
This bill updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require that every school building attended by students be assigned at least one school nurse, reducing the maximum number of students per nurse from 1,500 to 750. It also adjusts state reimbursement rates for school health services, increasing the per-student funding amount for the 2026-2027 school year and beyond. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Health use up to $3 million in grants to provide feminine hygiene products to students at no cost to school entities, with grant amounts proportional to student enrollment. These changes directly affect school districts, the Department of Health, and students across Pennsylvania's public school system.
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.
HB 1881 updates Pennsylvania's Pharmacy Act to modernize requirements for pharmacy technicians and trainees, including new registration qualifications and supervision rules by licensed pharmacists. It adds specific protocols for pharmacies administering injectable medications, biologicals (like vaccines), and immunizations, while requiring detailed reports on vaccine administration. The bill also establishes new standards for clinical laboratory certificates and repeals outdated sections of the original 1961 law. These changes directly affect pharmacies, pharmacy technicians, trainees, and pharmacists who oversee vaccine and medication administration.
This Pennsylvania House resolution (HR 382) urges Congress to extend expanded health insurance subsidies that currently help Pennsylvanians purchase coverage through Pennie, the state's health insurance marketplace. Without extension, these subsidies expire December 31, 2025, causing average premium increases of 102% for Pennie customers - projected to push 150,000 people to lose coverage. The resolution highlights that without the expanded credits, a couple earning $85,000 annually would pay $25,776 yearly for insurance (31% of their income), compared to lower costs under current subsidies. It cites Pennie's 2025 enrollment of nearly 500,000 customers and a 16% drop in new sign-ups since Open Enrollment 2026 as evidence of the need for continued support. The resolution has no legal force but requests congressional action to maintain affordability.
HB 1828 requires health insurance plans in Pennsylvania to cover all recommended vaccines without requiring patients to pay out-of-pocket costs like copays or deductibles. It directly affects insurance companies by mandating this coverage and patients who rely on insurance for routine immunizations (e.g., childhood vaccines, flu shots). The bill adds penalties for insurers that fail to comply with the coverage requirement. This policy change ensures broader access to vaccines by removing financial barriers under insurance plans.
HB 1234 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to require public assistance programs to cover the cost of blood pressure monitors for eligible recipients. This change directly affects individuals enrolled in state public assistance programs who need blood pressure monitoring for health management. The bill adds blood pressure monitors to the list of covered medical equipment under the public assistance program, ensuring these devices are provided without cost to recipients. It does not change eligibility requirements but expands existing coverage to include this specific monitoring tool. The bill passed final passage on July 1, 2025, and was referred to the Health & Human Services committee.
SB 95 amends Pennsylvania's Pharmacy Act to create a 180-day provisional license for pharmacists moving from other states, allowing them to practice without demonstrating competency under Pennsylvania's requirements. It also permits emergency medical services providers to distribute naloxone dose packages for opioid overdose reversal under specific conditions, including a Department of Health standing order and voluntary distribution without liability. Additionally, the bill requires pharmacies to disclose prescription drug prices (brand vs. generic), cost-sharing amounts, and health insurance options upon customer request. These changes aim to improve pharmacist mobility, expand naloxone access, and increase price transparency for consumers.
HB 1100 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to allow public assistance recipients to use their benefits to purchase diapers and menstrual hygiene products through a new waiver program. This directly affects low-income individuals and families enrolled in public assistance programs who currently cannot use their benefits for these essential items. The key provision adds diapers and menstrual hygiene products to the list of eligible purchases under an administrative waiver, changing the existing code to expand access to basic necessities. The bill does not change benefit amounts or eligibility criteria but creates a new pathway for purchasing specific hygiene products. It passed the legislature in June 2025 and was referred to the Health & Human Services committee for implementation.
