Pennsylvania House approves package of health, public‑safety and tax measures; directs study of underground power lines

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on June 24, 2025 approved a series of resolutions and bills that lawmakers said address public health, child safety, consumer protection and infrastructure planning.

Lawmakers adopted a resolution recognizing July 25, 2025 as World IVF Day after Representative Mays described her personal experience beginning an in‑vitro fertilization cycle. "Anyone who desires to bring children into this world should be afforded every opportunity, including IVF," Representative Mays said, and she told colleagues an IVF cycle can cost "$20,000 to $25,000 per cycle." The resolution was adopted (ayes 192, nays 11).

The House also voted to direct the Joint State Government Commission to study underground electrical lines. Representative Steele said intensified storms and lengthy outages in his district highlighted the need for information on cost, feasibility and geographic constraints. The study resolution was adopted (ayes 120, nays 83).

Major standalone bills that passed included legislation to restore dental benefits to adults in the Medical Assistance program, a measure sponsors said would reduce emergency‑room visits and long‑term health costs. Representative Curry said, "Oral health is not a luxury. It's a necessity," and cited an annual price tag from avoidable emergency care she described as larger than the savings from benefit cuts a decade ago. The bill passed final passage (yeas 154, nays 49).

The chamber unanimously passed Elijah's Law, which requires EpiPens on site at daycare and child‑care facilities, training for staff to recognize anaphylaxis and annual information for parents. Representative Kosrowowski, who carried the bill, described the 2013 death of a 3‑year‑old named Elijah after he was fed a meal that triggered a dairy allergy; Representative Marcel described her family's experience with severe allergies when urging support. The bill passed final passage (yeas 197, nays 6).

Members approved a bill creating a new criminal offense for deed fraud, which supporters said targets scammers who steal or attempt to steal homeowners' property interests. Representative Rapp, a prime sponsor, said the measure protects "vulnerable homeowners from professional scammers" and the bill passed unanimously (yeas 203, nays 0).

The House unanimously approved legislation to allow coroners and medical examiners to list sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) as a cause of death where appropriate, a change advocates said will improve research opportunities. Representative Flood recounted the death of her child and asked colleagues to support the measure; Representative Borowski and other sponsors cited the bill's potential to enable research through the North American SUDEP Registry. The bill passed final passage (yeas 203, nays 0).

The chamber also approved a mix of other measures on final passage, including: - A ban on commercial sale or purchase of covered animal parts and products (house bill 9‑94) to combat wildlife trafficking (yays 127, nays 76). - An amendment and related package including corporate tax reporting changes and tax relief provisions debated on the floor; an omnibus amendment (A1267) containing combined reporting and other provisions was approved in a recorded vote on the amendment (ayes 104, nays 99) and the amendment was adopted as described on the floor. - A bill to require instruction in cursive handwriting (house bill 17) cleared final passage (yeas 195, nays 8). - Legislation to expand access to telebehavioral health under a federal "four‑walls" exception (house bill 15‑90) passed (yeas 202, nays 1). - Enabling legislation for tourism improvement districts (house bill 13‑47) passed (ayes 149, nays 54).

Several bills and committee reports were agreed to on voice or consent without extended floor debate earlier in the day and were either agreed to by the House or later recommitted to the Appropriations Committee, according to the clerk's announcements at the close of the session.

The House adjourned and will reconvene Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 11 a.m., unless sooner recalled by the speaker.