PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — As we gear up to head into 2026, there are a plethora of new laws that will be going into effect in Pennsylvania come the new year.
While most of the legislation signed into law over the course of 2025 is already in effect, there are a handful of bills that had to wait until the new year to become active on the books. The new laws concern driving, discrimination, health care and transparency in schools.
While Paul Miller’s law, the ban on the use of hand-held devices while driving, became effective in June 2025, for the first twelve months, only warnings were issued. Beginning June 5, 2026, police can begin issuing summary offenses with a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees. The violation carries no points as a penalty and will not be recorded for non-commercial drivers.
Additionally, if a driver is convicted of homicide by vehicle and driving while distracted, they may be sentenced to an additional five years in prison.
The new law, originally introduced by Senator Jarrett Coleman, increases the requirements around reporting incidents when a weapon is brought onto school grounds. Previously, districts were only required to report to the Department of Education on incidents “relating to expulsions for possession of a weapon on school grounds, school-sponsored activities or public conveyances providing transportation to a school or school-sponsored activity.”
Now, under the new law, parents, guardians and school employees are required to be informed in a timely manner of any incidents with the potential to affect their children and the safety of the school.
This new law builds off of Act 1 of 2023, which was signed in as a comprehensive breast cancer screening and genetic testing law. The legislation eliminated cost-sharing for high-risk individuals for supplemental screening procedures such as MRIs and ultrasounds.
SB 88, introduced by Sen. Frank Farry, allows patients to now receive supplemental screenings and diagnostic examinations without cost-sharing if they are at average risk or higher for breast cancer.
HB 439, also known as the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act, introduced by Representative La’Tasha Mayes, will prohibit discrimination based on a person’s hair type, texture or style.
Historically, hairstyles such as locs, braids, twists, coils, Afros, wicks and cornrows, which are typically associated with Black Americans, have created problems for human resource managers, educators and coaches who want employees or students to follow established policies and maintain a uniform “neat” appearance.
The new law, which tracks definitions already set in place by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, prohibits any type of discrimination based on hair.
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This law will now allow motorcycle riders to wear one or more headphones/earphones or a helmet with the same built-in capabilities. Rep. Zachary Mako, the author, argued in his original legislative piece that the law should be updated to better reflect the times, with the advent of wireless headsets, earbuds and Bluetooth communication speakers used by a majority of riders.
Changes coming to GLP-1s in Pennsylvania
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, Pennsylvania Medicaid will no longer cover GLP-1 medications, which are used to treat several conditions, including weight loss and type 2 diabetes. The coverage will cease for those prescribed GLP-1s for weight loss for adults 21 and over.
It is important to note that even if coverage does not affect you, anyone taking GLP-1s must have their doctor request a new authorization. This includes those taking the medication for reasons other than weight loss.
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