PA House OKs McNeill bill for carbon monoxide alarms in childcare facilities
Rep. Jeanne McNeill April 9, 2025 | 2:19 PM
HARRISBURG, April 9 – State Rep. Jeanne McNeill announced today that her legislation (H.B. 156), which would protect children from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning incidents at childcare facilities across Pennsylvania, has passed the state House.
“Detecting carbon monoxide poisoning is difficult with children. It has no smell, no color and typically gives symptoms of headaches and nausea, which children and educators wouldn’t typically associate with carbon monoxide poisoning,” said McNeill, D-Lehigh. “Carbon monoxide leaks can easily go undetected, leading to tragic outcomes.”
In October 2022, over two dozen children and adults who care for them were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning at an Allentown daycare center.
House Bill 156 would require childcare facilities housed in buildings with carbon monoxide sources to be equipped with at least one carbon monoxide alarm, depending on the size of the building.
According to McNeill, there are currently no statewide carbon monoxide alarm requirements in place and hundreds of Americans die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s estimated that 50,000 Americans are sent to the emergency room from accidental exposure every year.
“This legislation would protect the youngest and most vulnerable part of our population,” McNeill said. “This is a sensible safety precaution that needs to be implemented.”
The legislation was supported by more than two dozen co-sponsors. The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration.