Pennsylvania Governor signs 23 bills into law: Here’s what they are

(WHTM) – Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed more than two dozen bills into law.

The Governor’s Office says some of the new laws include cutting red tape, expanding the state’s workforce, and addressing workforce shortages.

“Even with one of the only divided legislatures in the country, we are still showing that we can come together to get stuff done for Pennsylvanians,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done together to cut red tape for working Pennsylvanians, address critical workforce shortages, expand support for survivors of sexual assault, and ensure our veterans can access the benefits they’ve earned through their service.”

Here’s what the 23 new laws mean for Pennsylvanians.

Pennsylvania Joining the National Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact

House Bill 482 passed through both chambers with nearly unanimous support. The compact is designed to increase public access to occupational therapy services by recognizing other member states’ licenses, facilitating telehealth, and supporting relocation of military spouses, among several other initiatives.

Eliminating Blight and Revitalizing Communities

House Bill 858 allows the chief assessor of a county to establish and maintain a list of real properties in their community to allow for citations for violations of municipal ordinances or codes. Lawmakers hope this will help with code enforcement and property upkeep.

Providing Opportunities to Serve in National Guard through Targeted Incentives

House Bill 1102 expands existing incentive programs to include additional specialty branch officers, including U.S. Army JAG officers and chaplains. It also updates the law regarding eligible medical or health officers.

“Pennsylvania’s Medical Officer and Health Officer Incentive Program provides additional financial incentives for skilled medical professionals to enlist in the Pennsylvania National Guard. The program was launched nearly a decade ago and since then has proven to be a meaningful tool for bringing highly qualified health professionals into our National Guard,” Chris Pielli added.

Human Trafficking Awareness Training For Hospitality Workers

House Bill 1286 passed through the legislature with bipartisan support. It requires hotel and motel employees in Pennsylvania to receive human trafficking awareness training, including how to identify the signs of trafficking and how to respond.

Keeping the Board of Barber Examiners Operating Smoothly

House Bill 1646 changes the meeting quorum for the Board of Barber Examiners to a majority of members rather than a set number.

Flashing Blue Lights for Roadside Assistance Vehicles

House Bill 1830 allows roadside assistance vehicles to install blue safety lights to increase visibility. Previously, the law only allowed tow trucks to add blue lights when stationary on the side of the road.

“The fleet of roadside assistance vehicles operated by AAA Clubs provides multiple forms of assistance to stranded motorists, including fuel delivery, flat tire replacement, lockout assistance, and battery jump start or replacement, among others,” said State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton. “It is important that roadside assistance vehicles be provided the same opportunity to operate blue safety lights as they carry out their often-hazardous duties in aiding stranded motorists along Pennsylvania roads and highways.”

Expanding Midwifery Access and Authority for Healthier Communities

House Bill 1851 allows midwives to make referrals for physical therapy and to sign fetal death certificates.

Permitting Remote Work for Employees in the Vehicle Sales Financing Industry

House Bill 1860 permits remote work opportunities for workers licensed under the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicles Sales Finance Act.

“Allowing continued remote work will not only assist consumers if a branch location must close because of weather, construction or a disaster, but also will assist these businesses with workforce readiness and retention,” said State Rep. Abigail Salisburg (D-Allegheny) last year. “With the use of technology and training in place, consumers will have the exact same experience whether the employee is in the office or working from home. For the businesses, the ability to offer remote working opportunities provides more flexibility in employment practices.”

Making Necessary Updates to Pennsylvania’s Ignition Interlock Law

House Bill 1862 was bipartisan legislation that would create a single Ignition Interlock Driver’s License and reduce the time it will take for PennDOT to approve an application.

“The processes surrounding ignition interlock devices need to be easier to understand, more accessible, and more efficient,” said State Rep. Ed Neilson (D-Philadelphia) last year.

Removing an Unnecessary Obstacle to Nuclear Development in Pennsylvania

House Bill 2017 authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to adjust the fee structure to account for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors. Lawmakers hope this will help boost the development of smaller, more efficient nuclear reactors.

“Pennsylvania has long been a national energy leader,” said Rep. Jose Giral (D-Philadelphia), one of the bill’s sponsors last week. “The up-front capital needed to build new traditional reactors is prohibitively expensive and this bill meets the moment by recognizing small modular reactor development as the next important step in nuclear development and updating our current fee structure to make it more affordable for SMR developers to build here.”

Increasing Awareness of Military Sexual Trauma

House Bill 2024 requires the establishment of training on veteran-related topics, including trauma-informed care, military sexual trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and other forms of trauma-informed care.

River Pilots – Changing the Maximum Draft Size from Twenty-Seven Feet to Twenty-Nine Feet

House Bill 2426 enables the safe passage of deeper-draft vessels and aligns pilotage standards with modern shipping practices for commercial vehicles on the Delaware River, Bay, and its tributaries.

Property Deals

House Bill 2559 allows for certain land deals, including Penn State Commonwealth campuses, such as Penn State York, that are set to close. Other properties include locations in Philadelphia, Millersville, and land owned by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Prostitution Penalty Enhancement Legislation

Senate Bill 45 moves prostitution-related offenses to the Human Trafficking section of the state’s crime code and increases penalties for most prostitution offenses related to the traffickers and buyers. It also updates language in the state’s prostitution statutes.

“No child ever aspires to be a prostitute,” said State Sen. Cris Dush. “Act 41 specifically increases criminal penalties for those who prey upon vulnerable individuals who have been groomed, manipulated and forced into ‘The Life.’ The fundamental purpose of this new law remains and has always been giving the AG’s Office full jurisdiction to comprehensively combat prostitution and the scourge of sex trafficking across the commonwealth.”

The legislation passed with bipartisan support.

“Again, this new law is absolutely not designed to prosecute the vulnerable,” said Dush. “The Johns, the pimps, the abusers of those young boys and girls, young women and men are targets. Those that traffic children, those who rent the bodies of these young people trying to survive The Life, those PREDATORS are the targets!”

Notice of VA Burial Benefits for Veterans

Senate Bill 130 passed unanimously in both chambers and requires a funeral director, funeral entity, or cemetery to notify its county director of veterans affairs of a deceased serviceperson and provide the veteran’s family with the county veteran affairs office’s contact information.

The law’s goal is to provide families with available benefits for deceased servicepersons and next of kin.

Cosmetology Licensure Compact

Pennsylvania lawmakers unanimously approved joining the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, which allows cosmetologists across the country to have a single, multistate license.

Bonding of Solar Installations

Senate Bill 349 establishes “decommissioning and bonding requirements for project developers who seek to install or operate commercial solar electric generation facilities in Pennsylvania.”

Lawmakers say this puts solar facilities in line with coal, natural gas, and solid waste industries that may require decommissioning once the facilities reach the end of their life.

Korean War Armistice Day

Senate Bill 511 establishes Korean War Veterans Armistice Day on July 27, and requires the governors to issue an annual proclamation encouraging schools to observe the day.

Protecting Consumers from Abusive Towing Practices

Senate Bill 779 enhances Pennsylvania’s towing law by establishing penalties for those who implement abusive towing practices, including new or increased fines in place of misdemeanors and summary offenses.

Prohibiting Telemarketers from Spoofing Phone Numbers

Senate Bill 992 amends the Telemarketer Registration Act to make it unlawful for telemarketers to spoof phone numbers to make it appear as if they are calling from the same area code. It also prohibits telemarketers from making robocalls after 7 p.m., before 9 a.m., or on a Sunday.

Modernizing Fuel Standards

Senate Bill 1058 modernizes the E85 fuel standards as containing 51% to 83% ethanol.

“Ethanol blends meeting the 85 percent threshold (i.e., current law) are not commercially available anywhere in the alternative fuel market, creating an unachievable standard and undermining the ability of our gas station retailers to promote alternative fuels,” said State Senator Judy Ward (R).

Taking Over Township Roads

Senate Bill 1181 allows for the takeover of two Midstate township roads

The section of Bow Creek Road in Dauphin County beginning at the intersection with Jonestown Road (T-601), heading in a northerly direction to a point at the intersection of SR 443 (formerly Legislative Route 22024) a distance of 10,085 feet or 1.91 miles.

Susquehanna Trail T-956 (formerly Legislative Route 333) in York County, upon completion of certain proposed improvements and completion of the Canal Road State Route 921 betterment project, that section of the Susquehanna Trail beginning at municipal line with Manchester Township, York County, station 1038+52 heading in a northerly direction to start of State Route 297, at station 1146+76, a distance of 10,824 feet or 2.05 miles.

Reinforcing Commercial Vehicle Safety

Senate Bill 1294 cracks down on unlicensed commercial driver training schools by increasing penalties and ensuring aspiring drivers receive proper instruction.

“Commercial driver’s license holders operate the largest vehicles on our roadways, and the training they receive has a direct impact on public safety,” Sen. Ward said. “By holding unlicensed training providers accountable, we are protecting motorists and ensuring the next generation of commercial drivers receives the essential skill set and respects the CDL credential.”

Amends Trailer Legislation

Senate Bill 1353 is “an Act amending the act of December 22, 1983 (P.L.306, No.84), known as the Board of Vehicles Act, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in vehicles, further providing for unlawful acts by manufacturers or distributors, for area of responsibility and for limitations on establishing or relocating dealers.”

The legislation adds trailer dealers to the law.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

 For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.