This Senate Resolution supports a federal bill that would create a three-year grant program to fund research and development of new treatments for veterans with chronic mild traumatic brain injury. The proposed grants would support academic institutions, healthcare providers, and community organizations in testing non-drug interventions, conducting clinical trials, training clinicians, and building partnerships to scale effective care strategies. The measure specifically aims to address mental health needs and suicide prevention among veterans, with Pennsylvania institutions encouraged to participate in the program. The resolution urges Congress to pass the federal legislation and calls for ongoing collaboration between state and federal officials to monitor and improve outcomes for veterans.
This bill is a House Resolution that formally recognizes May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Pennsylvania. It does not change laws or allocate funding, but instead encourages government agencies, schools, businesses, and residents to increase awareness and understanding of mental illness. The resolution calls for communities to promote accessible mental health services and reduce stigma around mental health conditions. It is a symbolic measure intended to highlight the importance of mental health without implementing new policy requirements.
This bill requires health insurance companies in Pennsylvania to annually certify that their mental health and addiction treatment coverage complies with federal and state parity laws. Insurers must submit sworn statements by January 1 each year confirming they have reviewed all their policies and plans for compliance, including those managed by third-party administrators. The law also clarifies which types of insurance policies are covered and establishes specific filing deadlines with the state insurance department. These changes aim to ensure consistent oversight of mental health and substance use disorder benefits across the state's health insurance market.
HB 2175 requires businesses using AI chatbots to clearly disclose when consumers are interacting with artificial intelligence, especially for mental health support (e.g., chatbots claiming to treat anxiety or depression). It prohibits deceptive advertising, mandates protection of personal data shared with these tools, and gives Pennsylvania’s Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection authority to enforce these rules and impose penalties. The law directly affects companies offering AI chatbots that provide health-related advice to Pennsylvania residents. It does not cover scripted tools (like guided meditation) or AI that simply connects users with human professionals.
HB 2100 prohibits mental health chatbot suppliers from selling or sharing Pennsylvania users' personal health data or chat inputs with third parties. It directly affects companies providing AI therapy tools that simulate confidential conversations with users in Pennsylvania. The law requires suppliers to protect user data, with limited exceptions for user consent or sharing with health providers. This creates new data privacy rules for AI mental health tools used by therapists in the state.
HB 252 requires Pennsylvania school entities (like districts, charter schools, and cyber schools) to obtain written parental permission before students can access or use any mental health services digital platform. Schools must provide parents a 30-day written notice detailing the platform’s purpose, structure, and practices before implementation, including clear information on how to grant or withdraw consent. Parents can revoke permission anytime in writing, and schools must immediately stop facilitating platform access upon receipt of withdrawal. The bill also ensures parents may request to be present during their child’s use of the platform (unless documented cause for exclusion exists) and access or delete student data collected via the platform per federal privacy laws.
HB 595 requires Pennsylvania's Medicaid program to integrate mental health, addiction, and physical health services into a single managed care system for all eligible residents. The bill mandates that the state contract with managed care organizations to provide comprehensive, community-based care addressing both behavioral and physical health needs, while also addressing social factors affecting health. It requires the state to seek federal waiver approval by October 1, 2025, to implement this integration, including mandatory enrollment for all Medicaid-eligible individuals in the new system. This change aims to improve care coordination and create a more efficient health care delivery model.
This Pennsylvania House Resolution (HR 65) establishes a task force to study social media platforms and websites that encourage suicide. The task force, chaired by the Attorney General and including health officials, legislative committee leaders, and appointed experts in psychology, cyberbullying, and suicide prevention, will examine how to address such content. It must issue a report within two years with recommendations for legislative or executive actions to prevent suicides linked to these online spaces. The resolution focuses on gathering evidence and advice to inform future policy, without creating new laws or regulations.
HB 564 updates Pennsylvania law to establish a new mental health crisis response system. It requires the Department of Human Services to create and operate this system, including training crisis responders and coordinating care. The bill directly affects individuals experiencing mental health crises and the state agencies responsible for emergency mental health services. Key provisions mandate specific duties for DHS to ensure timely, accessible crisis support statewide. The bill passed final passage on July 14, 2025, and is now under review by the Health & Human Services committee.
HB 686 amends Pennsylvania's 1970 law to give parents or legal guardians full access to their minor child's medical, dental, and mental health records until the child turns 18, subject to federal law. This new provision (Section 1.3) overrides a prior rule allowing minors to control their mental health records, directly affecting minors under 18 and their parents/guardians. The bill changes how healthcare providers handle record access requests, requiring disclosure to parents unless federal law prohibits it. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is signed.
