Last week, my House colleagues and I passed important bills that will help our neighbors and improve our communities:
We’re guaranteeing the right to choose or refuse an abortion, the right to choose or refuse contraceptives, and the right to choose or refuse fertility care, all without discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or relationship status by proposing an amendment to the PA Constitution (HB1957).
We’re protecting your privacy by establishing privacy and security requirements for direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies to protect consumer genetic data from misuse, unauthorized access, and discriminatory practices (HB 1530).
We’re protecting workers by requiring employers to adopt written policies and procedures to prevent workplace harassment, discrimination and retaliation (HB 1825).
We’re preventing human trafficking by requiring hotels, motels and third-party listing platforms to provide training to each employee and rental operator regarding what human trafficking is, how to identify the signs of trafficking, and how to respond if suspected trafficking is taking place (HB 1286).
We’re establishing a statewide literacy program to provide free books to Pennsylvania children ages 5 and younger (HB 1663).
We’re providing opportunities for fresh food in schools by establishing the Keystone Fresh grant program so schools can purchase local and minimally processed food for school meals (HB 1768).
We’re ensuring access to healthcare by allowing pharmacists to provide vaccines based on recommendations from Pennsylvania health authorities, which may draw from guidance issued by professional medical societies (HB 1881) and by letting midwives directly refer patients to physical therapy, reducing delays in care (HB 1251).
We also finalized legislation that now moves to Gov. Shapiro’s desk to be signed into law:
- We’re protecting workers by making it easier for domestic violence survivors to receive unemployment compensation benefits if they are forced to quit working in situations where continued employment would jeopardize their safety (HB 274).
- We’re reducing the required seven-day notification to a 24-hour notification for use of an off-premises catering permit for an end-of-life memorial event (HB 467).
- We’re protecting children and teens from illicit vape products by requiring a public directory managed by the Office of Attorney General that lists all approved and certified electronic cigarette manufacturers and products and requiring manufacturers to submit certification forms that confirm their compliance with federal regulations to the Attorney General's Office prior to selling e-cigarettes (HB 1425).