HB 1212 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions, providing for drug screening and awareness education and for fatherhood engagement in maternal health; and imposing duties on the Joint State Government Commission.

HB 1212 requires Pennsylvania maternal health programs to provide drug screening and awareness education to patients. It also mandates the inclusion of fatherhood engagement strategies in prenatal care discussions, directly affecting pregnant individuals and their partners receiving maternal health services. The bill imposes specific duties on the Joint State Government Commission to develop and oversee these program requirements. These provisions aim to integrate substance use prevention and family involvement into standard maternal health care protocols.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Oct 2025

House Passage

Sep 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Apr 15, 2025 Last action Oct 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1360 → Printer's No. PN1935 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify that fathers can provide support during prenatal care and that their engagement can reduce health risks for mothers and babies. A new requirement was added to encourage screening for paternal depression during maternity care. The timeline for a future study on the bill's implementation was shortened from six years to four years.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include paternal depression screening and to clarify the benefits of father involvement in prenatal care and breastfeeding.

REQUIREMENT

Added a specific requirement for the Department of Health to encourage and promote paternal depression screening during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care.

Revised the language regarding fatherhood engagement to clarify that it can reduce risks of postpartum mood disorders and improve health outcomes.

TIMELINE

Changed the deadline for the required implementation study from six years after the effective date to four years.

FISCAL

Added a condition stating that the public awareness campaign is subject to funding availability.

Floor votes · House Sep 29, 2025

How they voted

198–5

Passed

Total votes 203

Sep 29, 2025

D Democratic102

102 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican101

96 Yea 5 Nay

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Oct 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to Health & Human Services

upper

Sep 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

lower

Jul 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Jul 9, 2025

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

Jul 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Jun 16, 2025

Committee

Re-committed to Rules

lower

Jun 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported as amended

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Committee

Referred to Health

lower

1 primary · 27 co-sponsors