My PARENT Act has passed the House

Rep. Jennifer M. O'Mara June 13, 2026

PA Representative Jennifer O'Mara's banner image

Dear Neighbor,

I’m proud to report that the House this week approved my bill dubbed the PARENT Act, which would protect prospective parents’ rights to fertility treatments in Pennsylvania. House Bill 836 would prohibit the commonwealth from creating policies that limit access to assistive reproductive technology such as IVF. It now moves to the Senate for consideration.

I didn’t ask for this to become an issue that needs addressed, but I felt a responsibility to address it so that all Pennsylvanians have the opportunity to follow the dream of starting a family. A 2024 Alabama Supreme Court ruling declared frozen embryos as children, and other states followed that by passing fetal personhood bills have caused fear and confusion related to IVF.

As I’ve shared with my constituents before, my husband and I were able to have our two children with IVF. Everyone deserves that right, and politicians should never get in the way.

You can watch my remarks about the issue at a Capitol press conference this week here.

Advocating for the Family Care Act and more

It’s been a busy month of June so far in the Capitol, and I’ve had the opportunity so far to advocate for several important issues at rallies and press conferences, including:

This week I joined labor advocates and fellow legislators urging the state Senate to pass The Family Care Act, which would offer paid leave in PA to ensure that workers don’t have to choose between their job and their family’s well-being after the birth of a child or during a serious illness. You can watch the event here.
I also joined chiropractors from across PA to rally in support of Rep. Lisa Borowski's bill, which passed the House with bipartisan support, to remove barriers that chiropractors have by allowing assistants to oversee therapy sessions. Watch my remarks here.
I stood with student athletes, school officials and advocates to urge the state Senate to pass H.B. 41, bipartisan legislation allowing the PIAA to alter state playoff formats. Watch my remarks here.
Last week I joined the PA State Alliance of YMCAs Advocacy Day to share how important YMCAs are to our community, especially here in Delco. Watch my remarks here.

My upcoming License Plate Restoration Event

On Wednesday, June 24, I will be hosting a License Plate Restoration Event in partnership with Upper Providence Police Department at Rose Tree Park. From 4 pm to 6 pm, you can stop by to apply for a free license plate replacement if yours is peeling, faded, or hard to read. Call our office at 610-544-9878 to register and learn what to bring with you.

Our successful Environmental Expo

Thank you to everyone who joined PennEnvironment, Senator Tim Kearney, and me for our recent Environmental Expo! It was a great day to chat with the community about how we're working in Harrisburg to protect our environment and learn about steps we can take in our own lives. Special shout out to Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon for joining us!

Delco Pride Parade and Festival

It was a beautiful day for the Pride Parade in Media last weekend. As we celebrate Pride month in June, it’s important to remember to show up for our LGBTQIA+ community today and every day.

Coming up tomorrow, the Delaware County Pride Festival will be 1 to 6 pm at the Upper Darby Township Municipal Building, 100 Garrett Rd. This is another opportunity for people of all ages to celebrate inclusivity and learn about the advocacy efforts for LGBTQIA+ organizations and allies across the region.

Delco Human Services Block Grant public meeting

County officials are holding a series of public meeting this month on the Human Services Block Grant, which is the main funding source for key programs addressing mental health, homelessness, disabilities, and drug and alcohol treatment. See the graphic below for meeting times and how to connect with county officials if you can’t make a meeting.

House Fellowship Program accepting applications for fall 2026

The PA House Fellowship Program is accepting applications from eligible Pennsylvania college students for the Fall 2026 semester. Fellows work in committees or leadership offices at the state Capitol. The program provides compensation and may also offer college credit. Eligible applicants include college juniors, seniors, graduate students, or law students with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Applications are due by July 1.

Visit this page to learn more.

Distracted driving can now draw fines in PA

Under a new law that took full effect last week, you can now be cited for driving while using a hand-held device in Pennsylvania, even while stopped at a red light or traffic jam. June 6 marked the date when drivers convicted of distracted driving are subject to a fine under “Paul Miller’s Law.” There are exceptions for contacting emergency officials and hands-free technology.

Signed by Gov. Shapiro in 2024, “Paul Miller’s Law” was named for a 21-year-old Scranton man who was killed in a 2010 crash involving a truck driver who was using a cell phone.