This bill amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to restrict where large data centers can be built. It specifically prohibits municipalities from allowing hyperscale data centers, which cover more than five acres, in areas designated for agriculture unless they are allowed in every district within that community. Additionally, the law bans data centers on agricultural land if at least half of the property consists of prime agricultural soil or land rated as fourth class by the USDA. Local governments will need to update their zoning ordinances to comply with these new definitions and restrictions on data center development.
This bill designates a specific bridge in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, as the Private Robert M. Pittman Memorial Bridge in honor of a local World War II veteran. The legislation officially names the structure after Private Pittman, who lost his life aboard the USS Dorchester, and directs the state Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs with this new name for public visibility. By changing the bridge's official title, the act serves as a commemorative measure to recognize Pittman's service and sacrifice rather than altering any traffic laws or infrastructure requirements.
This bill directs the Pennsylvania Department of Health to launch a public education campaign focused on prostate health and cancer screening. The legislation requires the department to provide clear, up-to-date information on risk factors, screening guidelines based on age and risk level, and the benefits and risks of available tests. To support these efforts, the bill establishes a dedicated state fund that can be financed through appropriations, grants, and donations to cover the costs of the campaign. The outreach will utilize various channels, including media, community forums, and partnerships with health providers, while ensuring materials are available in multiple languages.
This bill directs the Pennsylvania Department of Health to create a grant program designed to help healthcare providers and facilities run education campaigns about prostate cancer and general prostate health. The Department of Health will manage the program by accepting applications from eligible local healthcare entities and awarding grants ranging from $1,000 to $30,000 to fund the creation and distribution of educational materials. A dedicated fund will be established in the State Treasury to hold money from the General Assembly, donations, and grants, with any leftover funds staying in the program rather than returning to the general state budget. Additionally, the Department of Health is required to submit annual reports to the General Assembly detailing how many grants were awarded, the total amounts involved, and a summary of the educational activities carried out by the recipients.
This bill amends Pennsylvania's Patient Test Result Information Act to require laboratories to directly notify patients when their prostate-specific antigen blood tests show abnormal results. Under the new rules, labs must send a notice within five days that includes a plain-language summary of the findings, the name of the doctor who ordered the test, and instructions on how to get the full report. The Department of Health is tasked with overseeing compliance with these notification requirements and creating a publicly available list of age-specific normal and abnormal test levels. While the full results are still sent to the ordering doctor, the law ensures patients receive immediate awareness of potential issues and are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider promptly.
This bill amends Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act to allow landlords to charge tenants for shared internet service through a ratio utility billing system. Under the new rules, landlords can only recover the exact amount they pay their internet provider and must include specific details about the billing method in the rental agreement. Tenants are given the right to opt out of these shared subscriptions, and landlords cannot retaliate against those who choose not to participate. Additionally, the law requires landlords to provide at least 90 days of notice before implementing this billing system for existing tenants.
This bill amends Pennsylvania's Minimum Wage Act to update provisions regarding training wages for employees under the age of twenty. It allows employers to pay a reduced wage rate during the first sixty days of employment for young workers, provided the employee is informed of their right to the full minimum wage after the training period ends. The legislation also includes a prohibition against hiring new trainees at a lower wage if it results in displacing existing employees through reduced hours or benefits. These changes directly affect employers in the state and young workers entering the workforce, ensuring specific protections while allowing for a temporary training wage structure.
This bill requires Pennsylvania's Public Utility Commission to create a centralized online database tracking all utility rates and rate increase requests. The database must be searchable by company, entity, utility type, year, or docket number and will store information for at least the previous 20 years. The commission must update the database within 10 days of receiving a new rate increase request and may hire a third party to manage the system. This change directly affects utility customers by making historical pricing data more accessible and transparent.
This bill, known as the Legacy Law, amends Pennsylvania's homicide statutes to mandate financial restitution for parents or guardians when a child under 18 or a dependent dies due to a parent driving under the influence. If a court convicts a driver of this offense and the victim was a minor or dependent, the defendant must pay reasonable financial support to the victim's family until the child turns 18 or 19, depending on their education status. The law requires courts to consider various factors, such as the child's needs and the surviving parent's resources, when calculating these payments, which can be made directly to the family or held in a court trust. Additionally, the bill specifies that if a surviving parent has already won a civil lawsuit for damages, the criminal restitution order will be adjusted to avoid double compensation. The new provisions take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.
This bill creates the Health Care Facility Threat Assessment Grant Program within the Pennsylvania Department of Health to improve safety and security at hospitals and other medical facilities. The program will use state funds to hire a contractor that provides a standardized digital platform for conducting threat and risk assessments. This platform is designed to collect real-time data, manage workflows for identifying and mitigating risks, and allow healthcare administrators and public safety officials to collaborate on security evaluations. Additionally, the bill imposes new duties on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to support these efforts.
House Resolution 396 designates January 2026 as "School Director Recognition Month" in Pennsylvania to honor the 4,500 locally elected school directors serving the state's public school districts. The resolution formally recognizes their roles in providing educational leadership, setting standards, and managing district finances as fiscal stewards of public funds.
HB 434, the "Ebony Alert System Act," requires the Pennsylvania State Police to establish a system providing public alerts for missing young people of color (ages 12-25) under specific circumstances, including abduction, suspicious disappearance, or if they have disabilities. Law enforcement must consider eight factors - such as the individual's age, race, disability, or safety risks - before activating an alert. The system is funded by a $25 assessment on individuals convicted of kidnapping (18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 29), and falsely impersonating the alert system carries a $5,000 civil penalty. It directly affects law enforcement agencies, public safety systems, and vulnerable missing persons cases.
