An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; in Commonwealth services, further providing for definitions relating to intrastate mutual aid; and, in emergency responder mental wellness and stress management, further providing for definitions.
HB 453 clarifies definitions in Pennsylvania law related to emergency services. It adds a specific definition for "telecommunicator" (including 911 dispatchers and call takers) and expands the definition of "emergency responder" to explicitly include telecommunicators, medical personnel, and other emergency workers in multiple sections of law. This bill directly affects emergency service workers like dispatchers, firefighters, and medical personnel by formally including them under defined terms for mental wellness programs and mutual aid protocols. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment and does not create new policies or funding.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 3, 2025
Last action Jun 10, 2026
Floor votes · House Apr 8, 2025
How they voted
203–0
Passed
Total votes 203
Apr 8, 2025
D
Democratic102
100% Yea
R
Republican101
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
13
Key actions
4
Committee
6
Apr 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported as committed
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
Referred to Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as committed
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness
lower
1 primary · 29 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jessica Benham
DDemocratic
Co
Arvind Venkat
DDemocratic
Co
Ben Sanchez
DDemocratic
Co
Brenda Pugh
RRepublican
Co
Carol Hill-Evans
DDemocratic
Co
Dan Deasy
DDemocratic
Co
Dan Goughnour
DDemocratic
Co
Dan Miller
DDemocratic
Co
Danielle Otten
DDemocratic
Co
Gina Curry
DDemocratic
Co
Heather Boyd
DDemocratic
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