HR 253 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish a task force and advisory committee on increasing access to drug and alcohol treatment for substance use disorders; and directing the task force to make recommendations to the General Assembly.

HR 253 is a resolution directing Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to create a task force and advisory committee focused on improving access to drug and alcohol treatment for people with substance use disorders. The task force, composed of four legislative members appointed by leadership, will work with an advisory committee of 26 stakeholders - including health officials, treatment providers, law enforcement, recovery advocates, and individuals in recovery - to examine barriers to treatment, review existing policies, and gather input from families and communities. The committee will analyze prevention services, recovery support, and quality care factors, then submit recommendations to the legislature within one year. This resolution does not change current law but establishes a process to inform future policy decisions on substance use disorder treatment access.
Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jun 6, 2025 Last action Jul 9, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1853 Printer's No. PN1878 · 8 edits
MODERATE
This bill update adds new committee members to represent emergency medical services, insurance, and behavioral health organizations, while removing a requirement for an addiction psychiatrist specialist. It also removes a resolution welcoming family testimony and adds a new resolution focusing on enhancing family support services.
Scope change
The advisory committee composition was expanded to include insurance industry and behavioral health managed care representatives, while the requirement for a Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society member specializing in addiction psychiatry was removed.
REQUIREMENT

Added a representative from the insurance industry who offers health insurance policies in Pennsylvania to the advisory committee.

Added a representative from a behavioral health Medicaid managed care organization in Pennsylvania to the advisory committee.

Added an emergency medical technician to the advisory committee membership.

Removed the requirement for an emergency room physician from the advisory committee.

Removed the requirement for a physician who is a member of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society specializing in addiction psychiatry.

Changed the order of committee members and added a semicolon after the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association representative.

Added a new resolution directing the advisory committee to examine how supportive services for families can be enhanced.

Removed a resolution welcoming family members to submit testimony on their experiences accessing treatment.

Floor votes · House Jun 10, 2025

How they voted

260
Passed
Total votes 26
Jun 10, 2025
D Democratic14
14 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican12
12 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
2
Committee
1
Amendments
1
Jun 10, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (26-0)
house
Jun 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
Jun 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to Human Services
lower
1 primary · 12 co-sponsors

Sponsors