Appropriations Committee reports bill to seek federal waiver for diaper and menstrual product coverage; home preservation grant bill sent to floor

Chairman Harris, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, called the meeting to order and the committee voted to report a two‑bill package including House Bill 1,100 and House Bill 16‑50 to the full House.

House Bill 1,100, as described to the committee, would amend the human services code to require the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Department of Health to submit a waiver request to the federal government seeking coverage of diapers and menstrual hygiene products under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The committee summary presented at the hearing identified the change as a statutory amendment to the human services code and specified SNAP and WIC as the federal programs involved.

House Bill 16‑50 was reported alongside HB 1,100 as part of the same package. The committee summary described HB 16‑50 as providing for a Pennsylvania Home Preservation Grant Program; the committee record did not specify the implementing agency or the full statutory text during the meeting.

There was no substantive debate on the two‑bill package during the hearing. A committee member speaking on behalf of House Republicans said, “No discussion, mister chairman. On these 2 bills, Republicans will be voting in the negative.” Chairman Harris then announced that, with Democratic members voting in the affirmative, the ayes carried and both bills “will be reported from committee.” The meeting record does not show an individual roll‑call tally by name in committee minutes provided in the transcript.

Next steps: both bills were reported from committee and will be re‑referred to the House floor for further consideration.