Healthcare

signed · Pennsylvania · House Nov 12, 2025

HB 749: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in public assistance, further providing for uniformity in administration of assistance and regulations as to assistance and for copayments for subsidized child care, providing for report on transition to chip-enabled access cards, further providing for reports to General Assembly, for persons eligible for medical assistance and for nonemergency medical transportation services and providing for abrogation of regulatory requirements for payment for outpatient behavioral health services within physical confines of behavioral health clinic facilities and for SNAP benefit reporting; and making a repeal.

HB 749 updates Pennsylvania's public welfare laws to streamline assistance programs and improve service access. It requires copayments for subsidized child care, changes reporting for SNAP benefits, and mandates reports on transitioning to chip-enabled access cards for benefits. The bill removes regulatory barriers for outpatient behavioral health services provided within clinic facilities, allowing services to be billed as part of the clinic visit. It also requires additional reports to the General Assembly regarding medical assistance eligibility and nonemergency medical transportation services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves regulatory barriers for outpatient behavioral health services within clinics, enabling streamlined billing and access to mental health care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Medicaid Primary Care

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Nov 18, 2025

HB 1043: 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 definitions, for possession and use of asthma inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors, for school access to emergency epinephrine and for administration of epinephrine auto-injectors by school bus drivers and school crossing guards.

HB 1043 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to expand access to emergency allergy and asthma treatments in schools. The bill specifically allows school staff, including bus drivers and crossing guards, to possess, use, and administer epinephrine auto-injectors (like EpiPens) and asthma inhalers for students in medical emergencies. It updates definitions and procedures to ensure authorized personnel can act quickly during allergic reactions or asthma attacks without requiring individual physician orders each time. This directly affects students with life-threatening allergies or asthma and school staff who may need to provide immediate care.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands emergency medical access for students in schools, ensuring safety during asthma/allergy reactions, directly supporting student educational access and safety.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands emergency allergy/asthma treatment access in schools for students, allowing staff to administer EpiPens without individual prescriptions, improving immediate healthcare access during emergencies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety School Transportation Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 14, 2025

HB 83: An Act amending the act of February 13, 1970 (P.L.19, No.10), entitled "An act enabling certain minors to consent to medical, dental and health services, declaring consent unnecessary under certain circumstances," further providing for mental health treatment and for liability for rendering services; and providing for applicability.

This bill (HB 83) amends Pennsylvania's 1970 law to allow minors aged 16 to 18 to consent independently to mental health treatment (both inpatient and outpatient) without parental permission. It establishes clear rules for when minors or parents can revoke consent and requires courts to hold a hearing within 72 hours if a minor objects to continued treatment, with strict criteria for overriding their wishes. The law explicitly excludes minors with "special needs" (defined as intellectual disabilities with adaptive limitations) from these provisions. It applies specifically to mental health services, not general medical care, and clarifies liability for providers who rely on a minor's consent.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health access for minors (16-18) by allowing independent consent without parental permission, protecting patient rights and strengthening mental health services per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 21, 2025

SB 475: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in organization and jurisdiction of courts of common pleas, further providing for problem-solving courts; and, in sentencing, further providing for modification or revocation of order of probation.

SB 475 creates a framework for Pennsylvania courts to establish specialized "problem-solving" treatment courts (including veterans, drug, mental health, and DUI courts) and modifies probation rules. It allows courts to create "veterans tracks" within existing treatment programs and requires judges to consider a defendant's employment status when sentencing for technical probation violations. The bill specifically permits up to 30 days of incarceration to allow defendants to enter treatment courts instead of imposing full sentences for technical probation violations. This directly affects Pennsylvania courts, probation officers, and individuals on probation who commit minor violations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates specialized treatment courts (veterans, drug, mental health) to address root causes, reduces punitive probation violations by considering employment, and aligns with rehabilitation-focused reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates mental health courts as specialized treatment programs, redirecting defendants to healthcare-focused interventions instead of incarceration, directly supporting mental health services.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates veterans treatment courts within problem-solving programs, enabling access to services instead of incarceration, directly supporting veteran needs through judicial system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 1179: An Act providing for privacy, transparency and compensation regarding the disclosure of information collected by genetic material testing entities.

HB 1179, the Genetic Materials Privacy and Compensation Act, requires genetic testing entities (including medical facilities, genealogy services, and law enforcement) to clearly disclose to individuals what genetic data they collect, how it may be used, and with which third parties it will be shared. The bill mandates "prominent disclosure" in plain language before data collection, prohibiting misleading claims about data privacy or usage. It specifically requires testing entities to obtain explicit consent before sharing genetic material with third parties. The law directly affects individuals using genetic tests and the companies providing those services, focusing on transparency rather than compensation mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires law enforcement to disclose genetic data practices, promoting transparency and protecting privacy rights in criminal investigations.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates transparency and protection for genetic data collected during healthcare services (medical facilities), directly advancing patient privacy rights in healthcare data handling.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates clear disclosure and consent for genetic data collection, strengthening consumer data privacy protections under technology policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 670: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in abortion, providing for access to reproductive health services facilities; in particular rights and immunities, providing for action for blocking access to reproductive health services facility; and imposing penalties.

HB 670 would protect access to abortion clinics in Pennsylvania by creating a legal right for people to enter reproductive health services facilities and allowing lawsuits against individuals or entities that block access. It amends criminal and judicial statutes to define "blocking access" as a violation and imposes penalties for such actions. The bill directly affects patients seeking abortion care, clinic staff, and anyone attempting to obstruct facility access. Key provisions include enabling civil lawsuits for damages and establishing specific criminal penalties for interference with facility access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects access to abortion clinics (a healthcare service) by creating legal rights and penalties for blocking access, directly improving patient access to reproductive health care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care Women's Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 5, 2025

HB 1393: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in tax credit and tax benefit administration, further providing for definitions; providing for paid family and medical leave tax credit; and establishing the Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Program.

House Bill 1393 establishes the Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Program, offering a state tax credit to businesses that provide paid family and medical leave to their employees. This credit is available to business firms in the Commonwealth that have already received the federal family and medical leave tax credit. To qualify, businesses must apply to the Department of Community and Economic Development, providing proof of their federal credit, with the state credit matching the federal amount received. The total amount of these state tax credits is capped at $100,000,000 annually, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and cannot exceed a business's tax liability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes state tax credit for businesses providing paid leave, reducing their tax burden as part of tax credit program under Tax Reform Code.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides tax credit for businesses offering paid medical leave, enabling employees to access healthcare without income loss, improving patient access.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates tax credit for businesses offering paid family/medical leave, expanding worker benefits through state incentive matching federal program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Paid Leave

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signed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 30, 2025

HB 261: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in casualty insurance, further providing for conditions subject to which policies are to be issued and for group accident and sickness insurance; and, in community health reinvestment, further providing for definitions.

HB 261 amends Pennsylvania's 1921 Insurance Company Law to update coverage rules for dependents and clarify community health definitions. It requires insurers to continue health coverage for unmarried children with intellectual or physical disabilities (who became disabled before age 19 and remain dependent) past age 19, provided policyholders submit proof within 31 days of the child's 19th birthday. The bill also revises "community health reinvestment activity" to explicitly include programs for preventing/treating intellectual disabilities and mental health services. These changes apply to policies issued after January 1, 1968, affecting insurers, employers offering group plans, and policyholders with disabled dependents. The law took effect immediately upon signing in June 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to extend health coverage for disabled dependents past age 19, expanding access to healthcare services for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 787: An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact; and providing for the form of the compact.

HB 787 would authorize Pennsylvania to join the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact, a multi-state agreement. The bill creates a system where dentists and dental hygienists can more easily obtain licenses in participating states by sharing a single set of documents and passing the nationally recognized ADEX exam, eliminating duplicate paperwork and fees. This directly affects dental professionals seeking to practice across state lines, including military personnel and their spouses who receive expedited processing. The compact maintains each state's authority to regulate dental practice and take disciplinary action while standardizing licensing requirements and reducing costs for licensees.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines dental licensure across states, improving access to dental services for patients and professionals without restricting care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 3, 2025

HB 451: An Act amending Title 63 (Professions and Occupations (State Licensed)) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in powers and duties, providing for amnesty for disciplinary actions regarding COVID-19 protocols.

HB 451 reinstates licenses suspended or revoked for failing to comply with Pennsylvania's pandemic-related health orders during the state's emergency period (March 6, 2020, to when the Governor's proclamation ended). It directly affects healthcare professionals and other licensed workers whose licenses were disciplined for non-compliance with specific COVID-19 protocols, including Governor proclamations, health department orders, or pandemic guidance. The bill automatically removes these disciplinary actions from records without requiring new applications or hearings. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReinstates licenses for healthcare professionals disciplined under pandemic protocols, restoring access to care by removing barriers to licensed practitioners.90% confidence

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