Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility PA House passes third natural gas safety bill after R.M. Palmer factory tragedy

PA House passes third natural gas safety bill after R.M. Palmer factory tragedy

Comes in response to factory explosion in Cepeda-Freytiz’s district

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    April 15, 2026 | 3:32 PM

HARRISBURG, April 15 – The Pennsylvania House today passed a bill introduced by state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, D-Berks, that would address safety concerns in workplaces that use natural gas, in response to the R.M. Palmer factory tragedy that occurred in West Reading in March 2023.

The legislation, H.B. 1522, would require the installation of natural gas alarms in businesses, residences and other buildings that use natural gas.

This measure follows findings that a natural gas leak was a root cause of the explosion at the West Reading chocolate factory—an explosion that claimed seven lives and injured 10 others in Cepeda-Freytiz’s legislative district.

“Three years after this tragedy, and one year after the investigation concluded, we have now passed the final bill addressing its cause,” Cepeda-Freytiz said. “There is an empty space in our community left by the seven lives we lost that day. Their families deserve action—action that ensures no other community has to endure the same heartbreak. I will continue to push for these bills as they move through the Senate.”

House Bill 1522 is the third and final piece of a legislative package introduced by Cepeda-Freytiz in response to the causes of the West Reading tragedy.

The other two bills are H.B. 1525, which would require the owners and operators of pipelines transporting steam in public rights-of-way to register the lines with the Pennsylvania One Call System, and H.B. 1526, which would require the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to work with natural gas pipeline operators to develop guidance and management programs to address potential threats to degrading plastic pipelines.

All three bills passed the House with bipartisan support and have been sent to the state Senate for consideration. House Bills 1525 and 1526 are awaiting consideration by the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee, while H.B. 1522 has not yet been assigned to a committee.