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.
This bill amends Pennsylvania's MCare Act to improve care for veterans by requiring medical professionals to address veteran-specific health conditions. It defines "veteran-related illness" to include conditions like PTSD, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, and suicide linked to military service. Physicians must complete three hours of training on these illnesses for license renewal, and new license applicants must satisfy curricula covering veteran-related illnesses as part of initial licensure requirements. The changes apply directly to physicians seeking or maintaining medical licenses in Pennsylvania.
SB 1112, the "Contraceptive Access for All Act," requires most health insurance plans in Pennsylvania - including Medicaid managed care plans and private health insurance - to cover all FDA-approved contraceptives without cost-sharing (like deductibles or copays). It specifically mandates coverage for prescription contraceptives, emergency contraception (like levonorgestrel), and over-the-counter oral contraceptives, and prohibits insurers from requiring prior authorization or step therapy for these items. The law applies to standard health insurance policies but excludes limited policies like dental, vision, or workers' compensation plans. It directly affects health insurers and managed care plans by requiring them to provide this coverage at no additional cost to enrollees.
HB 2100 prohibits mental health chatbot suppliers from selling or sharing Pennsylvania users' personal health data or chat inputs with third parties. It directly affects companies providing AI therapy tools that simulate confidential conversations with users in Pennsylvania. The law requires suppliers to protect user data, with limited exceptions for user consent or sharing with health providers. This creates new data privacy rules for AI mental health tools used by therapists in the state.
HB 2085 requires public water systems serving over 100 connections to maintain minimum disinfectant levels (0.5 mg/L chlorine or 1.0 mg/L chloramine) to prevent Legionella bacteria growth. It mandates these systems to develop annual maintenance plans based on state-developed "best management practices" covering infrastructure monitoring, flushing schedules, and stagnation prevention. The bill also requires public water systems to report disruptions (like treatment changes or infrastructure failures) to the Department of Environmental Protection within 72 hours. Additionally, it creates a Legionnaires' Disease Awareness Fund for public education and imposes duties on both the DEP and Department of Health to manage risk and investigate outbreaks. This directly affects water providers, building owners, and public health agencies across Pennsylvania.
SB 1085, the "Good Jobs for Quality Care Act," establishes a Direct Care Worker Wage Advisory Board within Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services to address recruitment and retention challenges for direct care workers. The bill sets a minimum wage for these workers - defined as individuals providing hands-on care in home, community, or nursing home settings to elderly or disabled individuals (including personal care aides, home health aides, and nursing assistants) - and creates a statewide registry to track their employment. The Advisory Board, composed of worker representatives, employers, and care recipients, will examine factors like compensation and work schedules to make recommendations. The bill also includes penalties for violations of its minimum wage and registry requirements.
SB 104 creates a two-year pilot program to add at least 50% more staff to Pennsylvania's Office of Inspector General (OIG) by January 31, 2025, specifically to investigate fraud, waste, and misconduct claims involving the Department of Human Services and Department of Health. The OIG must hire all new employees within six months of the bill's effective date and submit a detailed report one year later to legislative committees. The report will include investigation statistics (by new/prior staff and time periods), cost savings per employee, incomplete cases, and program expenses. This report will be made publicly available under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law.
HB 1785 amends Pennsylvania's Workers' Compensation Act to expand coverage for certain cancers diagnosed in workers. It directly affects employees who develop cancer linked to job-related exposures, such as hazardous chemicals or radiation, that were previously not covered under the act. The key provision adds specific cancers to the list of occupational illnesses eligible for compensation, removing the need for workers to prove direct causation beyond standard workplace hazards. The bill is currently pending in the Labor & Industry committee after being referred on August 10, 2025.
HB 578 sets a new maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per trillion for specific PFAS chemicals (including PFOA and PFOS) in public drinking water systems across Pennsylvania. This directly affects municipal water providers and the residents who rely on tap water, requiring them to meet this stricter standard. The bill establishes this limit unless federal or state agencies set a higher standard, in which case those standards would take precedence. Water systems must comply with this level, and the Department of Environmental Protection must publish any federal/state standards in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.
SB 620 requires all Pennsylvania public and charter schools to install at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) in each K-12 school building or facility by the 2025-2026 school year. Schools must place AEDs in accessible, centrally located spots with clear signage, register them with the National AED Registry and local emergency services, and conduct regular inspections to ensure functionality. The bill mandates that at least 10% of school staff be certified in CPR and AED use (renewing every two years) and requires schools to develop cardiac emergency response plans and publicly report AED maintenance records. This applies to all schools hosting students or school activities, with specific accessibility standards to comply with disability laws.
