Weekly Wrap
The first year of the 2025-2026 legislative session unofficially wrapped up this week, as the House of Representatives had their last two session days of the year.
On Monday, a non-voting session day, the House Communications and Technology Committee held a public hearing on HB 1925 (Venkat, D-Allegheny), which would provide for the regulation of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
Tuesday, the House Tourism, Recreation, and Economic Development Committee held an informational meeting on outdoor recreation and how it intersects with transportation and economic development. Also, the House Gaming Oversight Committee held an informational meeting on prediction markets and sports gambling.
The House Consumer Protection, Technology, and Utilities Committee reported out: HB 1191 (Matzie, D-Beaver), which would provide for comprehensive changes to laws pertaining to rail safety; and HB 1522 (Cepeda-Freytiz, D-Berks), which would require the installation of natural gas alarms in businesses, residences, and other buildings with natural gas.
HB 1881 (Venkat, D-Allegheny) passed finally and will go to the Senate for consideration. The bill would expand the exemption period for pharmacy technicians registered with the Board of Pharmacy (Board). The bill would also:
- Allow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or another competent authority approved by the board and the Department of Health (DOH), to set immunization administration guidelines;
- Allow pharmacies with valid certification of waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to order and perform certain laboratory examinations and procedures; and
- Require DOH and the Board to issue a report on pharmacy-administered vaccines.
Two other bills of note passed finally and will head to the Senate: HB 1530 (Burgos, D-Philadelphia), which would require direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies to safeguard the privacy of a consumer’s genetic data; and HB 1825 (Madden, D-Monroe), which would require employers to adopt policies and procedures for preventing harassment, discrimination, and retaliation against employees.
On Wednesday, the House Local Government Committee reported out HB 1764 (Madden, D-Monroe), which would require data centers and other large developers to prepare and submit an impact analysis as a condition of receiving preliminary approval for land development.
HB 1450 (Davidson, D-Cumberland) was reported from the House Finance Committee. The bill would provide a realty transfer tax credit for new residents of the state or current residents who have not purchased a home in the previous five years.
The House Health Committee reported out: HB 1202 (Zimmerman, R-Lancaster), which would establish an Infectious Disease Advisory Commission; and HB 1851 (Curry, D-Delaware), which would allow nurse-midwives to complete fetal death reports.
The following bills of note passed finally and will make their way to the Senate for consideration:
- HB 505 (Donahue, D-Lackawanna), which would modernize energy efficiency in the Commonwealth by providing more money for consumers when they shop for new appliances, increasing the flexibility of utilities to encourage larger efficiency investments by industrial customers, and catalyze investments that increase energy efficiency while preventing power outages during extreme weather events;
- HB 710 (Benninghoff, R-Centre), which would establish an online verification system for automobile insurance;
- HB 1251 (Curry, D-Delaware), which would allow midwives to refer patients for physical therapy;
- HB 1663 (Hanbidge, D-Montgomery), which would establish a program to promote the development of a statewide initiative to encourage eligible children to develop a love of reading and learning;
- HB 1957 (Otten, D-Chester), which would amend the state Constitution to provide for personal reproductive liberty.
Lastly, the House concurred in amendments made by the Senate to the following two bills, which will next go to the Governor for his signature before becoming law:
- HB 274 (Dawkins, D-Philadelphia), which would make numerous changes to the Unemployment Compensation system, including: (1) delaying the implementation of “quarters averaging” for seasonal employees; (2) strengthening requalification requirements for individuals who previously quit or were fired for cause; and (3) clarifying work-search rules and preventing applicants from intentionally discouraging their own hiring; and
- HB 1425 (McNeill, D-Lehigh), which would establish an Electronic Nicotine Devices Directory and increases the cost of doing business, as it relates to the sale of tobacco products.
In Other News
- Governor Josh Shapiro announced that as a result of his legal action, consumers saved $9.9 billion in PJM’s auction and a total of $18.2 billion in the next two years.
- The Shapiro Administration launched a suite of new and improved technology and tools to support the administration and management of public assistance programs and improve customer experience.
- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced that combined total revenue generated in November was an all-time high.
- Attorney General Dave Sunday was elected to serve as Eastern Region Chairperson for the National Association of Attorneys General.
- Colonel Christopher L. Paris will retire as Commissioner of the State Police effective January 2, 2026, and Lieutenant Colonel George L. Bivens, who currently serves as Deputy Commissioner of Operations, will be named Acting Commissioner.
