House Bill 306 unanimously passed this week, according to the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz (D-Berks).
If passed, it would authorize the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to share records containing confidential security information with federal agencies investigating safety issues.
Cepeda-Freytiz said that, after the explosion, state law kept the PUC from giving inspection reports with such information to federal authorities.
The bill is one of several Cepeda-Freytiz introduced in response to the 2023 R.M. Palmer chocolate factory explosion.
“We should take every step to ensure that a tragedy like what occurred in my district in West Reading never happens again,” said Cepeda-Freytiz. “Statutory obstacles delayed the creation and release of the federal report into this tragedy, and we should not have to face any delays of this manner when we are working to solve a life-or-death issue.
“I am thankful to my House colleagues for taking action on this legislation, and several other natural gas safety bills I have introduced, so that families in my community are not just given words of support, but action so the loss of their loved ones are not in vain. I hope the Senate takes swift action to bring these bills to the governor’s desk,” he added.
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This bill and three others previously passed by the House in response to the explosion await consideration in the Senate.
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