HB 156 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in departmental powers and duties as to licensing, providing for carbon monoxide alarm standards in child care centers and family child care homes.

HB 156 requires child care centers and family child care homes in Pennsylvania that use fossil-fuel heaters, fireplaces, or have attached garages to install operational carbon monoxide alarms. Specifically, alarms must be placed within 15 feet of these hazards and on every level of the facility, with full compliance needed within 18 months of the law's effective date. The Department of Human Services must notify all affected facilities within 12 months of the law taking effect. This bill amends the Human Services Code to add these safety standards, referencing existing carbon monoxide alarm definitions from the 2013 Carbon Monoxide Alarm Standards Act. It does not change the Department of Labor and Industry's authority under the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Apr 14, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1047 Printer's No. PN1302 · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was updated to reflect its progression through the legislative process, including new co-sponsors and a second amendment vote. The substantive policy content regarding carbon monoxide alarm requirements for child care centers and family child care homes remains consistent, though the formatting was standardized to remove all-caps text and consolidate definitions into a single section.
Scope change
The scope of applicability is unchanged; the bill continues to apply to child care centers and family child care homes using fossil-fuel-burning equipment.
TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header to reflect the new printer's number (PN 1302) and added the new co-sponsors (Fleming and Khan) and the second consideration amendment date (April 8, 2025).

Standardized the text by removing all-caps formatting for terms like 'CHILDREN'S INSTITUTION' and replacing them with standard lowercase text for consistency.

Consolidated the definitions of 'Approved carbon monoxide alarm', 'Children's institution', and 'Installed' into a single subsection (E) and removed redundant definitions that appeared earlier in the text.

Reformatted the bill text to use standard capitalization for section headers and subsections (e.g., changing 'Section 1017' to 'SECTION 1017' and using letters A-E instead of lowercase a-e for subsections).

Floor votes · House Apr 8, 2025

How they voted

2021
Passed
Total votes 203
Apr 8, 2025
D Democratic102
102 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican101
100 Yea 1 Nay
99% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Apr 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health & Human Services
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Apr 8, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (202-1)
house
Apr 8, 2025
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
Referred to Children & Youth
lower
1 primary · 28 co-sponsors

Sponsors