Healthcare

passed · Pennsylvania · House May 5, 2026

HB 668: An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Counseling Compact; and providing for the form of the compact.

HB 668 would allow Pennsylvania to join the Counseling Compact, an existing agreement between states. This would let licensed counselors from other participating states practice in Pennsylvania more easily, and allow Pennsylvania counselors to practice in those states without obtaining separate licenses. The bill's key mechanism is adopting the standard compact form, creating a streamlined process for cross-state counseling licensure without changing existing state licensing requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines cross-state counseling licensure, improving access to mental health services without restricting coverage or funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 1706: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, providing for student mental health awareness.

HB 1706 requires Pennsylvania schools to integrate student mental health awareness into existing health education standards and school operations. It mandates the State Board of Education to update health standards, the Department of Health and Education to develop public guidelines on mental health warning signs for students and families, and schools to notify students and parents twice yearly about local mental health services. The bill also requires school entities to report student absences or injuries in activities to student assistance programs and directs the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to add mental health training to coach certification by the 2025-2026 school year. This bill directly affects all public, private, and parochial schools in Pennsylvania, their students, families, and athletic staff.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health awareness integration into school health curriculum and services, enhancing student well-being support within education framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health awareness integration in schools, updates health standards, and provides resources for students/families, directly supporting mental health services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 200: An Act establishing family and medical leave benefits, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Account and the Paid Family and Medical Leave Grant Program; conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded program requiring dedicated budget appropriations for paid family leave, advancing government spending on essential worker benefits.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates state-funded paid leave for health issues, improving access to healthcare services without income loss for employees.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates state-funded paid family/medical leave program expanding worker benefits, requiring employer provision of leave for health/childbirth/family care, directly strengthening employment protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Mar 25, 2026

HR 450: A Resolution recognizing March 31, 2026, as "Black Midwives Day" in Pennsylvania.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill honors Black midwives' contributions to maternal health and addresses disparities, promoting culturally sensitive care and improving access to healthcare services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 2285: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, further providing for health services; and, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for State reimbursement for health services.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases school nurse staffing ratios and expands health services funding, directly supporting student well-being and educational access.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases school nurse staffing ratios and provides additional funding for health services, directly strengthening healthcare access in schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Mar 16, 2026

HB 554: An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Social Work Licensure Compact; and providing for the form of the compact.

HB 554 would authorize Pennsylvania to join the Social Work Licensure Compact, a multi-state agreement that allows social workers licensed in one member state to practice in others without additional exams. The bill provides Pennsylvania with the legal framework to adopt the compact's standard terms, directly affecting licensed social workers seeking to practice across state lines. Key provisions include aligning Pennsylvania's licensing requirements with the compact's uniform standards, simplifying the process for social workers to obtain reciprocal licenses in participating states. This change would streamline professional mobility for social workers while maintaining consistent regulatory oversight.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables cross-state practice for social workers, improving mental health service access and aligning with healthcare workforce mobility standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Mar 16, 2026

HB 80: An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact; and providing for the form of the compact.

HB 80 would authorize Pennsylvania to join the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact. This compact allows licensed audiologists and speech-language pathologists to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses for each state. The bill directly affects these healthcare professionals and their patients, streamlining cross-state practice for providers. It creates a standardized process for reciprocity among member states, eliminating redundant licensing requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves licensing barriers for healthcare providers, improving cross-state patient access to audiology/speech services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Feb 13, 2026

HB 1923: An Act providing for regulation of the meat packing and food processing industry by creating facility health and safety committees in the workplace; establishing the industry workers' rights coordinator within the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

HB 1923 establishes new workplace safety requirements for meat packing and food processing facilities by mandating facility health and safety committees. It creates a dedicated workers' rights coordinator position within the Department of Labor and Industry to oversee compliance and address concerns. The bill also adds specific public health emergency protections for workers during outbreaks or crises, requiring employers to follow state health guidelines. These changes directly affect workers and employers in the meat and food processing industry across the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates public health emergency protections for workers during outbreaks, requiring employers to follow state health guidelines. This directly advances public health programs and worker safety in healthcare-adjacent settings.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates facility health/safety committees, creates workers' rights coordinator, and adds public health emergency protections for workers in meat/packing industries, directly strengthening workplace safety and rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2168: An Act amending the act of December 19, 1990 (P.L.1372, No.212), known as the Early Intervention Services System Act, in Statewide system for provision of early intervention services, further providing for administration by Department of Education.

HB 2168 amends Pennsylvania's Early Intervention Services System Act to clarify how state funds support early intervention services for children in private special education schools. It specifies that for children not eligible for public kindergarten programs, the state covers the full cost of their services, while for children eligible for public kindergarten, the state covers only the extra cost (above what public schools would pay). This change ensures funding aligns with each child's eligibility for public school services. The bill directly affects children receiving early intervention services and the Department of Education's budgeting for these programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies state funding for early intervention services in private special ed schools, ensuring full/partial coverage based on eligibility to strengthen educational access for children.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill clarifies state funding for early intervention healthcare services, ensuring full coverage for ineligible children and partial coverage for eligible ones, strengthening access to medical support for children.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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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 ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes mental health days as excused absences, directly improving student access to education by addressing mental health barriers without penalizing attendance.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health days as excused absences, enabling student access to mental health care without academic penalty, directly supporting mental health services in schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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