PA House Judiciary Committee approves four measures
Southeast Delegation May 14, 2025 | 1:16 PM
HARRISBURG, May 14 – The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee, chaired by state Rep. Tim Briggs, D-Montgomery), advanced bills today aimed at strengthening public safety, supporting working families, and protecting vulnerable populations across the Commonwealth. The legislation addresses compassionate release for seriously ill incarcerated individuals, parental rights, child exploitation laws and oversight of illicit vapor products.
“Today’s committee action reflects our commitment to practical, thoughtful and bipartisan solutions that respond to real needs in our communities,” Briggs said. “These bills tackle everything from criminal justice reform to public health and safety, and I’m proud to move them forward with support from both sides of the aisle.”
House Bill 150, sponsored by state Reps. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., and Torren Ecker, R-Adams/Cumberland, would reform Pennsylvania’s current compassionate release program. It would establish an expanded process for seriously ill incarcerated individuals to petition the court for sentence modification modeled after the federal First Step Act. The bill includes strong public safety measures and would relieve strain on state correctional medical resources.
House Bill 526, introduced by state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, would update Pennsylvania’s law that protects parents who breastfeed in public by making it clear that pumping breast milk is also protected. Many parents need to express milk while away from their child -- at work, while traveling or running errands -- and this bill ensures they can do so without fear of being harassed or penalized. It also gives parents the ability to take legal action if their rights are violated.
House Bill 940, sponsored by state Rep. Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland, would make sure that children who are trafficked or forced into sexual servitude are clearly recognized as victims of abuse under state law. The bill updates the definition of child abuse to include these horrific crimes, helping ensure that survivors get the protection and support they deserve.
House Bill 1425, sponsored by state Reps. Jeanne McNeill, D-Lehigh, Lee James, R-Crawford/Venango, Briggs, and Melissa Shusterman, D-Chester, aims to crack down on illegal vape products—especially those targeting kids with colorful packaging and candy-like flavors. The bill would create a public directory listing only those products that have been approved or are under review by the FDA. It also gives law enforcement tools to stop unregulated, often imported, vapes from being sold in local stores.
“This bill is about keeping dangerous, unapproved vape products -- many of which are designed to appeal to kids -- off the shelves,” Briggs said. “It supports responsible businesses, gives law enforcement what they need to do their jobs and helps parents feel more confident about what’s being sold in their communities.”
Added Shusterman, “It’s incredibly important that these products that are intentionally marketed toward children are not permitted to be sold in our Commonwealth. We have a duty to protect their health and to responsibly regulate vape products.”
All four bills move to the full House for further consideration.
“These bills reflect commonsense progress on some of the most pressing challenges facing our state -- from keeping our kids safe to making sure our justice system works fairly and efficiently,” Briggs said. “I look forward to seeing them advance through the full House.”
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CONTACT: Ryan Bevitz
House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-787-7895
Email: rbevitz@pahouse.net
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