An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, further providing for Pennsylvania State Fire Academy.
HB 791 adds a religious exemption to Pennsylvania's firefighter certification requirements. It allows individuals whose religion prohibits shaving or trimming beards to receive an exemption from beard-related training standards, provided they pass a fit test for self-contained breathing apparatus masks. The exemption applies only to certification standards under existing rules and requires meeting the State Fire Commissioner's mask seal standards. This directly affects individuals seeking firefighter certification who have religious objections to beard removal. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 3, 2025
Last action Mar 3, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
1
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Mar 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness
lower
1 primary · 20 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Joe Hamm
RRepublican
Co
Aaron Bernstine
RRepublican
Co
Brett Miller
RRepublican
Co
Bryan Cutler
RRepublican
Co
Charity Krupa
RRepublican
Co
Chris Rabb
DDemocratic
Co
Dave Zimmerman
RRepublican
Co
David Rowe
RRepublican
Co
Jamie Flick
RRepublican
Co
Jamie Walsh
RRepublican
Co
Joanne Stehr
RRepublican
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