[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5974150,"mediaKeyId","5855192-4f742caef4b82e138480b31cb06a1966","parentId",5855192,"title","Committee directs study of indoor air quality impacts on children and older adults; adds labor, industry representation","audioSeconds",342,"startMs",1131000,"endMs",1473000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5855192-4f742caef4b82e138480b31cb06a1966&start=1131&end=1473","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5855192-4f742caef4b82e138480b31cb06a1966/thumbnail_1131000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5974150/Pennsylvania/Committee-directs-study-of-indoor-air-quality-impacts-on-children-and-older-adults-adds-labor-industry-representation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5974150-5265cd08aaa79112e17e3bc2d39e7787/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162951&Signature=W4R4dQblaHbQVc2qmMrLIpAgtLibAcJietfLwJRmO6Vdr3bt~8qlWJkwVSFwnaS04ru-fADLmXQ1X3wbqFBFdBJo2X9ctJm0JNkE3Oa-ZFiSk2yy7rDVInl~9lbnRbbTRWPtOroKmvJkAPJT3ymIU9mzEVbgnxXXc1f6bxcLR4z62fFsgry15FVPuMVVCLo2SldywNhVO9B5jpbjPGiGF7ZGHOYAvLH2xedwCmLzeuD8BPbUMEIJuqF0ENKH3A5T-dqKqBT1hVY71ih8D4ZsKIw6Shm02yB4Tdqsg8~RMYnRshk-NWxNkON-kOLKnarWFmz4BN-W-BXOXbdaWu7sLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pennsylvania House of Representatives","date","2025-09-25T14:32:13Z","article","The House Health Committee voted to report House Resolution 271 directing the Joint State Government Commission to study indoor air quality and make recommendations on education, data collection and prevention, with a report due within 18 months.

Erica, a committee staff member, summarized the resolution: \"House resolution 2 71 directs the joint state government commission to conduct a study on indoor air quality and make recommendations related to indoor air quality, including education, data collection, and prevention. The committee will consist of at least 15 members, including representation from the departments of aging, education, environmental protection, health, and human services. The report the report must be completed within 18 months.\" Representative Benham, sponsor of the resolution, explained that the study is intended to clarify how indoor air quality affects children and older adults and to identify policy responses. He said indoor air can be worse than outdoor air because of ventilation and filtration issues and noted that elevated carbon dioxide levels can impair concentration: \"This is particularly important for young children with developing brains and older adults trying to retain brain function. This resolution will help us understand any steps we should take as a Commonwealth to improve indoor air quality, and I would appreciate if folks would vote yes.\"

Representative Benham offered amendment A01756 to add the Department of Labor and Industry to the list of agencies and to specify that committee members include experts in public health, green building, construction trades, long-term care and K–12 education. The amendment passed.

On the question to report House Resolution 271 as amended, the committee voted in favor and the chair announced the resolution will be reported as amended. Representative Benham and supporters emphasized that the study will examine ventilation, filtration, particulate matter and CO2 levels and focus on populations at greater risk.

Next steps: The Joint State Government Commission will convene the study panel and is required to deliver a report within 18 months to the designated legislative recipients per the resolution language. The committee's vote reports the resolution to the next legislative stage but does not itself direct funding or regulation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Health Committee -- September 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Resolution 271 was reported out of the House Health Committee after an amendment expanded agency representation and specified expertise; the joint-state-government commission must report within 18 months.","taxTitle","Health, House of Representatives, Legislative, Pennsylvania","taxId",29239,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5974155,"House committee advances bill banning smoking and vaping in most indoor public spaces, adds bus-shelter ban",856,241000,1097000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5855192-4f742caef4b82e138480b31cb06a1966&start=241&end=1097","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5855192-4f742caef4b82e138480b31cb06a1966/thumbnail_241000.jpg","/articles/5974155/Pennsylvania/House-committee-advances-bill-banning-smoking-and-vaping-in-most-indoor-public-spaces-adds-bus-shelter-ban","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5974155-e85a5e2e2462a30b946736ab2d7f2c45/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162951&Signature=cMV7OsHheC7CJmWRuw-uioS-pmdgbh4jlTZ-ue1TCXHZEDR-zVBsHWL0CubJZhSwmKKZ0Usj-2mJi538yF2v71cshK2a-Yn~k9XwUKvmiAV56isFwDnd-peRINGjkD0vPxqFP6valtHEm7Bi6Wdd532mICViKJvindhF0LEz77VMJxn1tFGu0IcjDkP-WnZq4EyV3yGKRlVD7VqqRYHx659rUxnyNcFlhj5xpG~ja0XRbvIp5ZIiwG8hQGyBWmNwmUmY7DdXrrdFuWIAbcvu6FKsXkcqXrlr4T2yEpLHWWXRi8-wEtPnaIVieGOR5yteJD40-s5kkxx6j-1VitytfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Health Committee voted to report House Bill 880, which would prohibit smoking and vaping in community spaces and workplaces while preserving narrow exceptions, as amended out of committee. Chair Frankel, who sponsored the bill, brought it forward in committee and asked staff to explain the measure.

The bill would bar smoking and vaping in indoor community spaces and workplaces but carve out exceptions for businesses organized around tobacco use — including tobacco importers, manufacturers, wholesalers, processors, storage facilities, stores and cigar bars — and permit businesses to allow smoking on outdoor patios. Erica, a committee staff member, summarized the bill to the committee: \"House bill 8 80 expands protections from smoke and vapor by prohibiting smoking or vaping in all community spaces and workplaces. Notable exceptions include businesses organized around tobacco use, such as tobacco importers, manufacturers, wholesalers, processors, storage facilities, stores, and cigar bars. Private clubs may choose to allow smoking if members vote to do so. Businesses may choose to permit smoking on outdoor patios.\"

Representative Roy offered amendment A01774, which Mister Sighet, a staff member, described as technical changes requested by the Department of Human Services: \"It reinserts the definition for licensed facility relating to licensed casinos. The amendment also will prohibit smoking inside bus shelters.\" The committee agreed to the amendment.

Committee debate focused primarily on the bill's private-club provisions and workplace impacts. Representative Krupa said he supported the bill's intent but opposed the draft as written because of a provision that he described as punitive to veteran organizations if they failed to hold a membership vote: \"If for whatever reason they fail to vote, that it is a 2 year ban on their ability to vote again. So I I think that that's punitive.\" Chair Rapp described negotiations with Chair Frankel and said the current bill incorporates a compromise: private clubs retain the ability to permit smoking if the entire membership votes (rather than only officers) and must vote more frequently than current law requires. Chair Rapp said the change reflected discussions that addressed his earlier concerns and that he would support moving the bill out of committee.

Supporters emphasized worker protections, particularly for casino employees. Representative Khan described a constituent with severe asthma who has been hospitalized after exposure to smoke while working in a casino and urged colleagues to support the bill: \"We need common sense legislation like this.\"

On the question to report House Bill 880 as amended, the committee voted to advance the bill. The committee chair announced, \"The bill passes 22 to 4.\" The committee also recorded that amendment A01774 had passed earlier in the session.

The committee's actions do not themselves change state law; reporting a bill moves it to the next legislative step for consideration by the full House. The bill text as discussed preserves specified tobacco-industry exceptions, adds a bus-shelter prohibition, and alters how private clubs determine whether to permit smoking.

Next steps: House Bill 880, as amended, will be reported to the floor for further consideration and potential floor amendments. The committee did not adopt a floor amendment at this meeting.","The House Health Committee voted to report House Bill 880 as amended, expanding indoor smoking and vaping prohibitions with specific exceptions for tobacco businesses and a private-club voting process; the amendment also banned smoking in bus shelters.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee directs study of indoor air quality impacts on children and older adults; adds labor, industry representation

House committee advances bill banning smoking and vaping in most indoor public spaces, adds bus-shelter ban