Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility House continues efforts to update modern terminology in state law

House continues efforts to update modern terminology in state law

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    June 17, 2026 | 3:56 PM

Recognizing the need to change outdated terminology in laws to better reflect modern language, the Pennsylvania House today passed legislation introduced by state Rep. Darisha Parker, D-Phila., that would update references to the agency in charge of providing human services to Pennsylvanians.

The bill (H.B. 2464) would change references to the Department of Public Welfare and Public Welfare Code to the Department of Human Services and the Human Services Code in the Insurance Company Law of 1921. Parker said the reasons for her bill are twofold.

“At the very least, the law should be modernized to reflect the agency’s current name to reduce confusion,” Parker said. “The department’s name was changed in 2014, and it is past time that the insurance code’s language was updated to reflect it.

“The language we have in our laws also should better reflect the mission of our human services agency today, which is to ‘assist Pennsylvanians in leading safe, healthy and productive lives through equitable, trauma-informed and outcome-focused services while being an accountable steward of commonwealth resources.’

“The change in my bill better captures the agency’s mission of helping individuals and families have food to eat, heat to keep people warm in winter and a roof over their heads, all in addition to adoption services, child protection, juvenile justice, state hospitals, long-term care, early childhood education, child support, Medicaid, employment and training, mental health, support for people with physical and intellectual disabilities and much more,” she said.

The bill was amended in the House chamber to include the current names of other state agencies in the state’s insurance law, such as the Department of Community and Economic Development, which was previously called the Department of Community Affairs. 

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.