HB 1609 amends Pennsylvania's 1929 Administrative Code to ensure essential state services continue operating during a budget impasse, directly affecting state employees and residents reliant on those services. The bill requires the state to make payments for essential services (like public safety, utilities, and healthcare) even if the legislature fails to pass a full budget. This creates a specific mechanism to prevent service disruptions by mandating continued funding for critical operations during budget gaps.
HB 1122 amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Insurance Practices Act to explicitly prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against applicants or policyholders based on protected characteristics. The bill adds specific language banning unfair discrimination in underwriting and eligibility decisions due to race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, age, sex, family size, occupation, residence, marital status, or criminal history. This directly affects insurers (who must comply with these rules) and applicants/policyholders (who gain protections against such discrimination). The key change clarifies that insurers cannot deny coverage, adjust rates, or impose terms based on these factors, except where rates are set through proper regulatory processes. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 1530, the Genetic Information Privacy Act, requires direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies operating in Pennsylvania to protect residents' genetic data. Companies must obtain clear, separate consent for data collection, use, sharing, and retention; implement security measures; and provide consumers with access to or deletion of their data. The bill specifically prohibits sharing genetic data with insurers, employers, or third parties without explicit written consent. Violations could result in $2,500 civil penalties per incident, enforced by the Attorney General’s office. The law applies to Pennsylvania residents and covers genetic data like DNA test results, but excludes research data collected under federal health privacy rules.
HB 1453 establishes a program to create "food desert opportunity zones" in low-income areas with limited access to supermarkets or large grocery stores. Political subdivisions can apply to the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to designate up to 12 such zones statewide. Qualified healthy food retail outlets operating within these designated zones may receive food desert opportunity tax credits for up to five years, starting January 1, 2026. The bill outlines the criteria for zone designation and for businesses to qualify for these tax credits.
HB 1121 allows private providers of applied behavior analysis (ABA) services to work with students who have autism or developmental delays during school hours, as specified in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Schools must permit this access without charging fees or creating barriers, provided parents give written consent and the services align with the student’s IEP. Private providers must coordinate with school staff, hold required certifications, and be supervised by a nationally certified behavior analyst. The bill requires schools to accommodate these services without disrupting classrooms and prohibits discrimination or retaliation against families using private pay services.
SB 672 adds new provisions to Pennsylvania's Health and Safety statutes to address lead exposure and poisoning. It requires the Department of Health to develop and distribute educational materials on lead exposure risks and screening, which healthcare practitioners and schools must provide to parents of children and expectant parents. Additionally, retailers selling paint, paint removal supplies, or plumbing components must display posters and offer brochures warning about lead hazards, both in their stores and on their websites.
SB 492 requires Pennsylvania colleges and universities to include suicide prevention resources on student identification cards. Specifically, physical student IDs must display "988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline" prominently, while digital IDs must include this information alongside other crisis resources like the National Sexual Assault Hotline or campus health contacts. Institutions must annually update all contact information on IDs to ensure accuracy and replace outdated numbers within 30 days. Schools without physical or digital IDs must distribute this information through other means. The bill directly affects all Pennsylvania higher education institutions and their students by embedding critical crisis resources into routine student identification.
SB 885 establishes Pennsylvania's Reproductive Health Services Address Confidentiality Program, protecting the privacy of reproductive health service providers (like clinics and hospitals) and their patients who fear violence. Eligible individuals can apply to receive a confidential substitute address (using a Department of Health post office box) instead of their actual home address for mail and service of process. The program handles mail forwarding, keeps all participant records confidential (except for limited law enforcement disclosures), and requires applicants to affirm safety concerns and provide contact details. This policy directly affects those seeking reproductive health services in Pennsylvania who need address confidentiality for safety reasons.
HB 289 requires all Pennsylvania public, charter, and private schools to test for radon gas in existing buildings starting with the 2026-2027 school year. If radon levels reach 4 picocuries per liter or higher, schools must install mitigation systems and retest until levels fall below that threshold, with new schools required to use radon-resistant construction. Testing must be done by certified professionals using specific protocols, and results must be shared with school boards, parents, teachers, and health officials. Schools with low radon levels must retest every five years, while those needing mitigation must retest every two years. This law directly affects all Pennsylvania school entities and aims to reduce exposure to radon, a radioactive gas linked to lung cancer.
HB 1270 amends Pennsylvania's Childhood Blood Lead Test Act to require health care practitioners to offer blood lead testing for children before they turn nine months old, replacing the previous 24-month deadline. If a child hasn't been tested by nine months, practitioners must offer testing by age two, and by age six if still untested. The bill also mandates that practitioners assess lead exposure risks and obtain written parental consent before testing. This change directly affects children under 18, their parents, and health care providers in Pennsylvania who treat young children.
