How I Voted
Information about legislation in the 2023-24 legislative session
Rep. Danielle Friel Otten December 1, 2023 | 2:19 PM
How I Voted
As your elected representative in Harrisburg, I feel it is important to share information about the bills that come before the House, how I’ve voted on those bills, and why I voted the way I did.
On this page, you’ll find a recap of my voting record for the legislative session, with brief descriptions of each bill and brief explanations for my votes. This page does not include “bridge-namer” bills or summaries of other uncontested votes (including some bills that pass the House unanimously), although you can always find my votes on those here.
While state legislators’ votes are always public record, the reasons behind those votes are not always clear. My goal on this page is to help inform constituents about the bills that come before the House and create more transparency around the legislative process. We strive to update this page as quickly as we can following the end of each session week.
To find the current status of a bill, click on the bill number, then click “History” on the bill information page. You can find scheduled session dates and more information here. If you have questions or would like more information on the bills below or any other legislative issue, please contact my office at repotten@pahouse.net.
12/13/2023
HB 301 (Harkins) and SB 843 (Argall) – 2023-24 FY Education Code Bills
How I voted: Yes (House Concurred in Senate Amendments 175-28 and 118-15)
After months of deliberation, the House and Senate passed a pair of bipartisan Education Code Bills, part of the annual package of budget bills.
Key provisions include Student Teacher Stipends, legislation I introduced in the House, which will help address Pennsylvania’s teacher shortage and provide prospective teachers financial relief during their student teaching.
Also included is $175 million for school facility repairs to address things like lead, mold, and asbestos removal.
Of the $175 million going to school facility repairs, $100 million comes from funding previously earmarked for the Level Up program, which in recent budget years has provided additional support to the state’s 100 poorest school districts. There was also a 30% increase to the EITC and OSTC programs, which give public tax dollars to unaccountable private and religious schools that often engage in discriminatory practices. I opposed this increase, and it was disheartening to see both this funding and Level Up’s exclusion in the final legislation, but these are the compromises we make in a divided legislature, and I am proud of the work that House Democrats did to build on an already historic year for public education funding in PA.
The Governor signed the bills into law on December 13, 2023, as Act 33 and Act 35 of 2023, respectively.
HB 1300 (Mehaffie) –2023-24 FY Fiscal Code Bill
How I voted: Yes (House Concurred in Senate Amendments 154-49)
The House passed the Fiscal Code bill authorizing state agencies to spend the money that was included in the general appropriations bill we passed in August.
Included in the Fiscal Code bill, HB 1300, were a number of provisions that work to deliver real help for thousands of Pennsylvanians. I was particularly pleased to see significant increases to the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credits. This tax credit eases the burden for working families who pay for and rely on child and dependent care in order to work.
Eligible families who qualify for the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit are eligible for the state tax credit, which is currently equal to 30% of the federal credit. These families claim this tax credit when they file their federal and state tax returns. As a result, nearly a quarter million working families will see their state tax credits more than triple. That means more money back in your pocket for childcare expenses and dependent care expenses, beginning with the 2023 tax return you’ll file in spring of 2024.
As a mother and the family member of someone who required round-the-clock care, I know just how difficult it can be to balance work, bills, and securing access to affordable and dependable care for our loved ones. And this budget prioritized making child and dependent care accessible for families. That’s a win for our families, our workforce, and our economy.
Governor Shapiro signed the bill into law on December 13, 2023, as Act 34 of 2023.
SB 596(Argall) – Fighting Back Against Organized Retail Theft
How I voted: No (Bill passed the House 179-24)
Senate Bill 596 would significantly lower thresholds for retail theft felonies. The bill relies on demonstrably failed “tough on crime” policies. SB 596 will increase the disparate impact already felt in marginalized communities with responses such as over-policing and increased incarceration.
By also creating a new first-degree felony for organized retail theft, the bill would fuel racial and economic disparities, while siphoning off taxpayer dollars to fund the prosecution of these cases. For these reasons, I voted No on the bill.
Senate bill 596 was signed into law by Governor Shapiro on December 14, 2023, as Act 42 of 2023.
SB 527 (Farry) – Cracking Down on Porch Pirating
How I voted: No (Bill passed the House 181-22)
Senate Bill 527 creates a new, duplicative offense for theft of mail and would treat Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition (ARD) as a prior conviction. Under state law, theft is already criminalized. This bill is redundant in that it creates a new offense for theft specifically as it relates to mail, rather than simply amending the current law to clarify “theft” includes “theft of mail.”
The bill also treats ARD acceptance as a prior guilty conviction to trigger penalty enhancements. This defeats the purpose of the ARD program, which is a type of pretrial intervention that offers first-time offenders the ability to expunge that charge from their record upon successful completion of rehabilitation and supervision. Importantly, acceptance of ARD does not constitute a conviction.
For these reasons, I voted No on the Senate Bill 527. The bill was signed into law by Governor Shapiro on December 14, 2023, as Act 41 of 2023.
SB 140 (Langerholc) – Mass Transit Prosecutor Program
How I voted: No (Bill passed the House 159-44)
Senate Bill 140 creates a special prosecutor under the Attorney General’s office responsible for investigating and prosecuting all crimes that occur on public transportation in Philadelphia.
This bill is just another way to undermine the authority of a single district attorney—specifically the Philadelphia District Attorney—who was duly elected by the residents of Philadelphia. This bill risks violating the Pennsylvania Constitution, which bars the state from creating laws that undermine local governing authorities.
For these reasons, I voted No on the bill. It was signed into law by Governor Shapiro on December 14, 2023, as Act 40 of 2023.
HR 282 (Otten) – Recognizing 2023 as the “Taylor Swift Era” in Pennsylvania
How I voted: Yes (Resolution adopted by the House 103-100)
In celebration of Taylor Swift’s recent selection as TIME Magazine's 2023 Person of the Year and acknowledgment of her positive impact on Pennsylvania, the economy, voter registration numbers, consumer protections and pro-labor practices; I introduced a resolution formally recognizing 2023 as the “Taylor Swift Era” in Pennsylvania
I know there are some who may be wondering why something like this is a legislative priority. Congratulatory resolutions have been a regular part of every session week I have participated in since taking office in 2019. For example, just a few weeks before the Taylor Swift resolution, the House voted on a resolution to recognize MLB Hall-of-Famer Roberto Clemente for his achievements and contributions to Pennsylvania. Interestingly, no one made speeches objecting to that resolution, which passed the House by a vote of 202-1.
The vote itself took about five minutes in an extremely busy and productive week. The only thing that was frivolous about the Taylor Swift resolution was the extensive debate from detractors on the House floor about whether the contributions and successes of a woman from Pennsylvania were worthy of recognition by the House of Representatives.
I am super proud that we ultimately voted to recognize a young woman from Pennsylvania, as the House adopted the resolution with bipartisan support.
12/12/2023
HB 1417 (Curry) – Restoring Dental Coverage for Medical Assistance Recipients
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 153-50)
I voted yes as the House passed House Bill 1417, restoring dental coverage for Pennsylvanians on Medical Assistance. I applaud Rep. Gina Curry for introducing this important legislation.
Dental health is a critical component of overall health and wellbeing, but spending cuts approved under the Corbett administration in 2011 allowed Pennsylvania to fail its most vulnerable residents. Medical Assistance recipients have been prevented from receiving the oral health care they need. By restoring this coverage, we can ensure these individuals are covered for dental cleanings and procedures.
I was proud to vote yes and take a step in ensuring a dental benefit package is provided to Medical Assistance recipients. This legislation now awaits action in the Senate.
HB 1585 (Frankel) – Expansion of Dental Care through Technology Act
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 163-40)
The house passed House Bill 1585, which would provide for the regulation and insurance coverage of tele dentistry services. A 2019 report from the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health at Penn State found a significant disparity in dental supply rates between urban and rural areas, with rural areas having only half the supply as urban areas.
This bill could help bridge that disparity. By ensuring insurance coverage of tele dentistry services, households in rural areas would still maintain the option of meeting with urban dental providers through virtual connections. For these reasons, I voted Yes on this bill. It now awaits action in the Senate.
12/11/2023
HB 1751 (Donahue) – Strengthening the Construction Workplace Misclassification Act
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 121-82)
The House held a floor vote on House Bill 1751 to prevent worker misclassification, specifically as it relates to construction contractors.
The intentional misclassification of employees by construction contractors prevents workers from being able to get access to workers’ compensation and unemployment compensation. In the interest of fairness and ensuring that workers get their benefits, I voted Yes on this bill, and I will continue to prioritize the protection and advancement of workers’ rights throughout the Commonwealth.
11/15/2023
HB 1461 (Harris) – Funding for State-Related Universities
How I voted: Yes (House concurred in Senate amendments 149-54)
House Bill 1461, originally passed by the House in the June as the funding bill for Lincoln University, was amended in the Senate to include funding for all four of our state-related universities – Lincoln, Penn State, Pitt, and Temple.
The House concurred with these Senate amendments, and the Governor signed the bill into law on November 16 as Act 11A of 2023, finally securing the continuation of this funding, which is used to provide tuition discounts for in-state college students and their families.
HB 507 (Fiedler) – No Pelvic Exams Without Consent
How I voted: Yes (House unanimously concurred in Senate amendments)
Patients who walk into the hospital for a procedure may not be aware of what happens while they are under anesthesia. It’s a shocking and disturbing realization for many people that, for educational purposes, medical students in teaching hospitals may perform a rectal, prostate, or pelvic exam on a patient who is under anesthesia for an unrelated procedure.
I co-sponsored and voted support of this bill, which requires providers to obtain specific, informed consent before performing a rectal, prostate, or pelvic exam for educational purposes. Governor Shapiro has signed the bill into law as Act 31 of 2023.
HB 1786 (Daley) – Abortion Protections
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 117-86)
This bill would prohibit other states from using resources of Pennsylvania courts, court officers, certain law enforcement agencies, and the Governor to assist in civil and criminal actions from other states involving reproductive healthcare services.
I co-sponsored and voted yes on this legislation to ensure that the Commonwealth is not complicit in other states’ efforts to attack bodily autonomy. While we cannot prevent other states from criminalizing abortion, we can protect individuals seeking and providing reproductive healthcare services in Pennsylvania.
HB 1752 (Kazeem) – Designating Eid al-Fitr as a State Holiday
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 134-69)
This bill would provide for the annual designation and holiday observance of the first day of the Islamic lunar month of Shawwal as Eid al-Fitr day in the Commonwealth.
This legislation does not require an employer to treat Eid al-Fitr Day as a legal or official holiday or provide paid leave to an employee on Eid al-Fitr Day solely by virtue of the date being designated under this legislation. I voted yes because it is important to me that our state holidays reflect and recognize all Pennsylvanians.
HB 1481 (Steele) – Unemployment Compensation Eligibility for Striking Workers
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 106-97)
I voted yes and was a co-sponsor on HB 1481. This bill would permit any worker who is unemployed due to a work stoppage (lock-out or strike) to qualify for unemployment compensation (UC) benefits.
While a work stoppage is not ideal for employees nor employers, employers have the option to hire temporary replacement workers, while striking employees must simply “stick it out” and wait for a resolution to be reached.
I believe the right thing to do is to offer striking employees the same eligibility status as any other eligible worker who meets all other requirements under our Unemployment Compensation Act.
11/14/2023
HB 1416 (Malagari) – Providing a COLA to SERS and PSERS
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 140-63)
I voted yes to pass House Bill 1416, which would provide a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for school employees (PSERS) and state workers (SERS) who retired before July 2, 2001.
This subset of long-retired public workers has not received a pension adjustment to account for inflation in more than 20 years, and we received a tremendous amount of support from constituents in support of this legislation. Pending Senate consideration, this bill will deliver crucial financial help for older seniors who are struggling to live frugally on fixed incomes.
HB 863 (D. Williams) – Lowering Fitness Standards for Police Officers
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 115-88)
This bill seeks to address a widespread shortage of police recruits by using a lower entry point for candidates to begin their training by reducing the physical fitness requirements and permitting local jurisdictions to use an alternative reading comprehension test.
While this legislation does reduce the physical fitness standards required to begin training, it’s important to note that the bill still maintains the current physical fitness standards for a recruit to actually be employed as a police officer.
11/13/2023
HB 1243 (Benninghoff) – Real ID Application Process
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House unanimously)
With the Real ID enforcement deadline now extended to May 7, 2025, and many Pennsylvanians still needing to obtain their Real IDs, the House passed HB 1243 to help streamline this process. This bill requires PennDOT to accept additional documents (W-2 form, SSA 1099 form, non-SSA 1099 form, or a pay stub) to verify an applicant’s social security number, in lieu of the applicant’s original social security card, which is the only social security documentation accepted by PennDOT under the current system.
This commonsense, bipartisan legislation, now pending Senate consideration and approval, would make it more convenient for Pennsylvanians to get their Real IDs.
SB 500 (Brooks) – Medicaid Coverage for Pasteurized Donor Human Milk
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House unanimously)
I heard an overwhelming amount of support for this bill from constituents. The bill would provide for Medical Assistance coverage for human breast milk for medically qualified infants.
SB 500 passed unanimously in all floor and committee votes in both the House and Senate, and Governor Shapiro signed the bill into law on November 21 as Act 32 of 2023.
HB 842 (Kenyatta) – The Clawback Act
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)
This bill establishes that all new state grant and loan programs include contract language to address and require payback of funds if the recipient fails to comply with contract terms or funds are being misused. I voted yes because this bill safeguards taxpayer dollars by ensuring that critical tools like our commonwealth’s loan and grant programs are used to serve the needs of said taxpayers.
10/31/2023
HB 612 (Harris) - Funding for State-Related Universities
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 145-57)
On Tuesday, October 31, the House finally got the necessary votes to pass an omnibus appropriations bill for our state-related universities, Lincoln, Penn State, Pitt, and Temple. With this bill now moving over to the Senate for continued consideration, we are one step closer to bringing financial relief to our in-state college students and their families.
HB 1024 (Frankel) – Anti-Hate Crimes Package
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 112-90)
HB 1024 is part of a package of anti-hate crime bills. This bill would expand protections for hate-based intimidation and requires police training to identify hate-based intimidation. Passage of this bill in the Senate would allow Pennsylvania to accurately track cases of hate-based intimidation across the state.
HB 1025 (N. Nelson) – Anti-Hate Crimes Package
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 111-91)
The Southern Poverty Law Center has warned that hate groups are specifically “targeting college campuses” as recruiting grounds, where “you're dealing with people who may be just starting to form their ideas about the world.” HB 1025 would require educational institutions to include hate-based intimidation policies and reporting within their existing reporting systems.
HB 1027 (Frankel) – Anti-Hate Crimes Package
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 116-86)
HB 1027 strengthens the criminal hate-based intimidation statute and civil rights violation statute regarding hate-based intimidation. Specifically, this bill would strengthen criminal penalties for ethnic intimidation and civil penalties for those who target individuals or groups because of their race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.
I voted yes because hate-based attacks have become more frequent and more violent, but Pennsylvania still does not have adequate laws to address them. Hate has no place in Pennsylvania, and every resident of our state deserves to live safely and without fear.
10/30/2023
HB 1474 (Ciresi) – Expanding C-PACE to Include Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-100)
House Bill 1474 expands the Pennsylvania Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program to include EV charging infrastructure as an eligible project type. This bill would afford the Commonwealth the opportunity to connect the growing demand for electric vehicle charging infrastructure with the successful funding mechanism already in place in the C-PACE program.
SB 84 (Phillips-Hill) – Protecting the First Amendment Right to Freedom of Religious Expression
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 201-1)
By repealing a section of the School Code, this bill allows for a public-school teacher to wear a garb, mark, emblem, or insignia that would indicate that they are member or adherent to any religious order or sect while in the performance of their duties as a teacher.
Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law as Act 26 of 2023.
10/18/2023
HB 1658 (Matzie) – Banning Speculative Ticketing
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 201-0)
This bill bans the deceptive practice known at “speculative ticketing,” which occurs when ticket resellers don’t yet have tickets to sell for an event, but they sell tickets they don’t have in hopes of obtaining some prior to making a transfer to the buyer.
Victims of speculative ticketing not only fail to get a real ticket but also don’t get their money back. HB 1658 would bar resellers from selling tickets unless they actually possess the tickets. Additionally, this bill would allow victims to sue for damages, such as costs of a ticket, hotel, and travel expenses.
With this bill unanimously passing the House, the Senate now has the opportunity to do the same and add an extra safeguard for Pennsylvania consumers.
HB 636 (Pisciottano) – Pay the Price You See – Junk Fee Transparency
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 172-31)
I co-sponsored and voted Yes on HB 636, which is intended to improve transparency for consumers. Far too often, consumers are hit with hidden, last-second, mandatory fees, also known as “junk fees,” when purchasing event tickets, lodging, or food delivery services.
This bill would require companies to show consumers the full price, including all mandatory fees and charges, right up front (“all-in pricing”), instead of waiting until the last second at check out. I voted Yes to help ensure that consumers are protected from deceptive and hidden fees. The bill is now in the Senate for consideration.
10/16/2023
HB 1378 (Malagari) – Prohibiting Grinch Bots
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 193-10)
This bill aims to protect Pennsylvania consumers by banning “Grinch Bots” – computer programs used to purchase tickets for an event for the purpose of reselling them at a higher price. This legislation would punish companies that use AI and software loopholes known as Grinch Bots to digitally cut in line and buy up huge quantities of tickets or products before regular consumers can even log on, and then re-sell them to consumers at massive markups.
10/2/2023
HB 540 (McNeill) – Prohibiting Early Termination Fees of Leased Vehicles for Medical Reasons
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 146-57)
This bill states that a lessee requesting early termination of a vehicle lease is not liable for any penalty or early termination charge provided by the lease if the lessee’s driving privileges have been recalled for medical reasons.
House Democrats will continue to prioritize easing the burden on Pennsylvania families dealing with medical difficulties.
9/27/2023
HB 1291 (O’Mara) – Increasing Access to Driver’s Licenses and ID Cards for Individuals Living with Disabilities
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 161-41)
This bill would allow for individuals with disabilities to renew their driver’s license or photo ID using the most recent photo and signature in PennDOT’s records.
Travel is difficult or impossible for some individuals living with disabilities, and passage of this bill would eliminate burdensome travel for eligible Pennsylvanians.
7/7/2023
HB 1448 (Bellmon) – Conflict Resolution in Schools
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)
House Bill 1448 would require public schools to educate students on conflict resolution. This would include topics such as skills of conflict resolution; respect for different cultures, races, and beliefs; effectively managing emotions; and how to resolve differences peacefully.
Schools would work in conjunction with the PA Department of Education to ensure that conflict resolution instruction is age appropriate and is incorporated into an appropriate area of study.
HB 1422 (Ciresi) – Modernizing Our Cyber Charter School Law to Protect Kids and Taxpayers
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 122-81)
In a bipartisan effort, the House passed House 1422, which would reform our cyber charter school law to cap tuition, promote transparency and fiscal responsibility, and ensure cyber charter schools are held to the same rules and regulations as traditional public schools.
Here in the 155th district, this bill (if passed in the Senate and signed by the governor) would save Downingtown Area School District an estimated $948,000 and Coatesville Area School District an estimated $2,799,000 in the 2024-25 fiscal year, in cyber charter tuitions.
HB 1394 (Mayes) – CROWN Act: Ending Hair Type, Hair Texture, and Hairstyle Discrimination
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 182-21)
CROWN: Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. It is currently legal in Pennsylvania to discriminate against a person in the workplace, school, or even in recreational activities based on how a person wears their natural hair.
I voted yes on the CROWN Act because a person’s natural hair should not be deemed unacceptable, inappropriate, or unprofessional. At its core, the CROWN Act is not just about hair; it is about protecting everyone’s basic and fundamental human rights.
HB 1218 (Cerrato) – Family Caregiver Support
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 109-94)
I was a co-sponsor on this bill that would require the Department of Human Services to submit a waiver application to the federal government allowing for the payment of personal care services provided by the spouse of a Medical Assistance recipient.
This bill would help Pennsylvania meet the growing demand for high-quality, cost-effective care for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable individuals.
HB 1130 (Green) – Safe Communities Grant Program
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)
This bill would create a program that provides grant funding to communities to install lighting and security cameras around schools, playgrounds, community centers, and high crime areas.
HB 716 (Kazeem) – Community Service in Lieu of Vehicle Code
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 103-100)
For Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents, a traffic fine can be an expensive nightmare. I was a yes vote on House Bill 716 to change this. This legislation would allow for an individual to be given community service for a traffic violation in lieu of a fine, if they can prove to the court that they are financially unable to pay the fine.
7/6/2023
HB 613 (Harris) – Funding for University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 177-26)
This bill contains the funding provision for UPenn’s Veterinary School, the only Veterinary School here in the Commonwealth.
HB 612 (Harris) – Funding for State-Related Universities (Lincoln, Penn State, Pitt, and Temple)
How I voted: Yes (Bill failed 130-73)
House Bill 612 once again failed to gain the two-thirds support of the House chamber required to approve this appropriation, as House Republicans continue to neglect our in-state students and families. I will continue to fight for and vote in support of this crucial funding for our state-related universities, which is used to provide tuition discounts for in-state students.
7/5/2023
HB 611 (Harris) – General Appropriations Act (2023-2024 state budget)
How I voted: Yes (House concurred in Senate amendments 117-86)
This is the main budget bill for the 2023-24 Fiscal Year, appropriating $45.5 billion from the state’s general fund. I voted yes in concurrence with the Senate amendments.
This budget is not perfect. It is missing many of the priorities that are important to me and to our community. But the Democratic-controlled House was at an impasse with the Republican-controlled Senate, and that is the reality that we live with in a divided legislature. You can see my full statement on the budget here.
6/29/2023
HB 1032 (Fiedler) – Solar for Schools
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 134-69)
I co-sponsored and voted in support of this proposal to create the Solar for Schools Grant Program, which would issue grants to school districts, intermediate units, career and technical schools, and community colleges to fund solar energy projects. The passing of this bill in the House is a step towards creating union jobs, saving taxpayer money, protecting our environment, and creating new learning opportunities.
HB 1139 (Kenyatta) – Cybersecurity Coordination Board
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101).
This bill would establish the Cybersecurity Coordination Board to streamline and modernize the Commonwealth’s cybersecurity standards, policies, and procedures.
The Board would be responsible for informing the Governor about cybersecurity issues and initiatives, as well as partnering with government agencies, institutions, and the private sector to promote effective cybersecurity measures to benefits Pennsylvanians.
HB 1216 (Salisbury) – Municipal Grant Assistance Program
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)
House Bill 1216 would provide municipalities with grant writing training and allow for professional grant writers to connect with municipalities to provide their services through the Department of Community and Economic Development, bringing state grants to our local communities.
Pennsylvania has many grants available to local municipalities, but unfortunately in many cases the municipalities most in need of funding assistance lack the expertise and resources to effectively seek out these grants. I voted Yes to bring more equity and opportunity to the grant application process.
HB 807 (Hanbidge) – Menopause Education
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 106-97)
This bill would prepare women for menopause through partnerships between the Department of Health and medical providers, geared towards educating women on the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, the biological changes behind the processes, and how to talk to family and friends about the experience.
HB 1296 (A. Brown) – Fitzgerald’s Law – Protecting Our Law Enforcement Officers
How I voted Yes (Bill passed the House 154-49)
House Bill 1296 was penned in honor of fallen Temple University Police Sgt. Chris Fitzgerald. I voted in support of this legislation, as it would ensure law enforcement officers are accompanied by a partner when in a critical crime area, as designated by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
6/28/2023
HB 850 (Parker) – Accessibility to Menstrual Hygiene Products
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 131-72)
Under current federal policy, diapers and menstrual hygiene products are not allowable purchases under the SNAP and WIC programs. House Bill 850 would allow for Pennsylvania to apply for a federal waiver permitting SNAP or WIC recipients to use their benefits to purchase diapers or menstrual hygiene products, should the federal government make such a waiver available, expanding access to these essential items.
HB 106 (Mehaffie) – Patient Safety Act
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 119-84)
I co-sponsored and voted in support of House Bill 106, which would institute safe patient limits under the care of individual nurses in Pennsylvania hospitals. My district office staff received an overwhelming amount of support from our constituents for this legislation.
Pennsylvania nurses and their unions have reported that high staff-to-patient ratios have increased staff turnover and made it more difficult to find replacements.
The Patient Safety Act would improve patient monitoring, enhance emergency responsiveness, allow nurses to more time to fully assess and listen to the concerns of their patients, and stabilize the nursing workforce here in Pennsylvania. We now look to the Senate to advance this legislation.
6/27/2023
HB 817 and HB 818 (Giral) – Drug Take Back and Disposal by Pharmacies
How I voted: Yes (Both passed the House 102-101)
These two related bills both passed the House on votes of 102-101 and now await consideration in the Senate. Together, these bills would help to prevent the misuse of opioids and other prescription drugs by expanding access to secure and convenient takeback locations for unused prescription medications.
House Bill 817, passed in the House 102-101, would direct the State Board of Pharmacy to educate pharmacies on drug takeback programs, providing the necessary guidance and logistics plan for these programs to be implemented.
Meanwhile, House Bill 818 would create the Pharmaceutical Collection Sites Educational Program within the Department of State. The program would help pharmacies meet the cost and complete the necessary steps of setting up a takeback location.
HB 1333 (Dawkins) – Allowing Recycled Materials in Stuffed Toys
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 128-75)
This commonsense legislation would enable manufacturers to make stuffed toys with clean, safe recycled materials in Pennsylvania. This aligns Pennsylvania with global stuffed-toy requirements, while also promoting sustainability on behalf of the manufacturers. This bill now heads to the Senate for passage.
6/26/2023
HB 1461 (Harris) – Funding for Lincoln University
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 195-8)
House Bill 1461 contains the standalone funding provision for Lincoln University. I voted in support and was pleased to see Lincoln’s state appropriation, a $3.8 million increase over the 2022-23 fiscal year, pass the House.
HB 612 (Harris) – Funding for State-Related Universities
How I voted: Yes (Bill failed 118-85; required a two-thirds majority)
House Bill 612 is an omnibus bill that includes funding for Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities (Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, and Lincoln University). As a non-preferred appropriation, this bill required support from two-thirds of the House chamber.
I will continue to vote in support of our universities and our in-state students and families and to push for a final budget that includes full appropriations for every one of these schools.
HB 1067 (Cepeda-Freytiz) – Educator Certification and Employment for Immigrants in Pennsylvania
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 110-93)
One of my priorities in the House is to curb our ongoing teacher shortage in Pennsylvania. This bill provides for qualifications and certifications of teachers who are not citizens of the United States.
The bill adds language that individuals who hold a valid immigrant visa, work visa, or valid employment authorization document that allows them to work in the United States may have the citizenship requirement waived and are eligible to teach in the public schools of the Commonwealth.
The passage of this bill in the House is one step in helping the Commonwealth address its teacher shortage.
HB 78 (Venkat) – Pennsylvania Medical Debt Repayment Program
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 114-89)
Medical debt is a devastating burden on many residents of the Commonwealth, particularly our most vulnerable low-income families.
This bill would create the Medical Debt Relief Program to relieve patients of medical debt through an appropriation to the Department of Health, allowing the Department to purchase medical debt from providers and debt collectors. Eligible patients would be those whose income is under 400 percent of the federal poverty level, or whose medical debt is a large portion of their income (five percent).
I co-sponsored and voted in support of this bill, which now goes to the Senate for consideration.
HB 1050 (Boyle) – Maintaining Access to Preventative Healthcare
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 199-4)
In March 2023, a Texas judge struck down part of the Affordable Care Act that gave Americans access to no-cost or low-cost preventative healthcare.
This bill, now in the Senate, would protect Pennsylvanians, regardless of what the federal courts do, by requiring health insurers to cover preventative health care services without cost-sharing.
HB 897 (Kinkead) – A Degree with A Guarantee – Transferring from Community College to PASSHE
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House unanimously)
This bill would guarantee admission of an undergraduate student transferring from a community college to a parallel baccalaureate program at a State-owned or State-related university.
The guaranteed admission is depended upon the transferring student meeting the mandated admission requirements laid out by the respective State-owned or State-related university. This system would encourage students to remain at in-state institutions and keep their talents here.
6/22/2023
HB 1331 (Otten) – Student Teacher Stipend Program
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 141-62)
In what was a very proud day for our office, the House passed my House Bill 1331 with overwhelming bipartisan support.
This legislation will help to address our teacher shortage by providing up to $15,000 for aspiring teachers during their student teaching semesters as well as a $2,500 stipend for cooperating teachers who agree to mentor student teachers. For aspiring teachers, student teaching is a full-time commitment that often prohibits college students from holding another job during their student-teaching semester. The prospect of giving up that income, while incurring additional expenses associated with things like commuting and purchasing a work wardrobe, is a significant barrier for prospective teachers in Pennsylvania who are already struggling to afford the cost of a college education and working to cover their living expenses.
By providing student teachers with the resources and compensation they deserve, we can eliminate some of the undue financial burdens that prevent many from pursuing a career in this high-demand field. This is an essential step in both addressing our teacher shortage and supporting every aspiring educator in Pennsylvania so they can join the workforce fully prepared to teach upon graduation.
This bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
SB 262 (Schwank) – Maternal Morbidity
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House unanimously)
This bill, sent to the House by the Senate, would require the Department of Health to report maternal morbidity data. Severe maternal morbidity is a category of health conditions that complicate pregnancy. Accurate and regular tracking of data is essential for the comprehensive research of maternal morbidity in the Commonwealth. This data will be included in the annual Maternal Mortality Review Committee report.
Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on July 5 as Act 5 of 2023.
6/21/2023
HB 767 (Burgos) – Establishing a Pennsylvania Socially Diverse Farmers Commission
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)
Not every Pennsylvanian has the same opportunity to help grow and produce our state’s bountiful fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, and other agricultural goods or otherwise participate in the Commonwealth’s $133 billion agricultural industry. This inequality is perhaps most glaring in the small number of farms with producers of color. Over 99% of Pennsylvania farms have white producers.
I voted yes on House Bill 767, which would create a commission aimed at improving opportunities for socially diverse and historically disadvantaged farmers, and aligns with the priorities shared by myself and my Democratic colleagues to eliminate systems of inequality in our Commonwealth.
HB 580 (Kinsey) – Fresh Food Financing Initiative
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 141-62)
I voted yes to re-establish the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative to provide for more fresh food purchasing options for residents in underserved areas, pending pass in the Senate.
Research suggests that people living near full-service grocery stores tend to have healthier diets, including higher intakes of fruits and vegetables and lower levels of obesity. However, residents in low-income and rural neighborhoods, where grocery stores are scarce, rely more on small corner grocery stores with little stock and no produce. I voted Yes to help eliminate fresh food deserts and provide more fresh food purchasing options to residents in underserved areas.
6/20/2023
HB 1500 (Dawkins) – Increasing the Minimum Wage
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 103-100)
All of Pennsylvania’s six border states have a higher minimum wage than Pennsylvania, ranging from $8.75 in West Virginia to $14.20 in New York. With HB 1500, the House voted to work towards changing that, voting to increase the minimum wage to $11 in 2024, and eventually reach $15 in 2026.
Nine in ten Americans believe the current wage is too low, and more than six in ten believe the wage should be $15. It is now in the hands of the Senate to get this bill, and a long-overdue minimum wage increase for Pennsylvanians, to the Governor’s desk.
HB 1249 (Munroe) – Tax Credit for New Nurses, Teachers, and Police Officers
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 137-66)
Legislators must do our part to ensure Pennsylvania can attract and keep qualified individuals in some of our most vital professions.
Therefore, I voted yes as House Bill 1249 passed the House. This bill would provide a three-year tax credit (up to $2,500 per year) for Pennsylvania residents who are certified and employed as a nurse, teacher, or police officer. The bill is now with the Senate.
HB 967 (Pisciottano) – Protecting the Safety of Hotel Workers
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 108-95)
Hotel housekeepers often face unwanted sexual advances and violence. This is unacceptable — ALL workers deserve a safe workplace. That is why I voted yes on this bill, which would require hotels provide their employees with remote security devices to call for help. Employees would be able to activate the device if there were an ongoing crime, immediate threat of sexual assault/harassment, or any other emergency.
6/14/2023
HB 1305 (Kinsey) – Ensuring a Sustainable 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 113-90)
House Bill 1305 will ensure adequate funding for Pennsylvania’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, created in 2022. It is a priority of mine to maintain open lines of communication here in our local communities for individual’s experiencing a mental health crisis. We will be able to fund this lifeline through just a $0.06 surcharge similar to the existing 911 surcharge. This bill would go into effect in 2024, pending consideration and passage in the Senate.
6/13/2023
HB 900 (Cephas) – Dignity for Incarcerated Women
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House unanimously)
This commonsense legislation passed with unanimous bipartisan support. This bill, now in the Senate, includes language that prohibits the shackling of women in labor, allows time for newborns to bond with their mothers, and provides free menstrual and incontinence products to incarcerated women.
6/12/2023
HB 1272 (Sappey) – Creating Earned Tax Income Credits in Pennsylvania
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 122-81)
I co-sponsored and voted yes on this legislation to implement a state-level Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income working households. This was a meaningful step towards Pennsylvania joining 31 other states in offering a similar tax credit against state income taxes.
HB 1259 (T. Davis) – Easing the Burden of Childcare Costs
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 141-62)
This bill will build off the childcare tax credit that was passed as part of Pennsylvania’s 2022-23 budget. It provides a stepped increase from 2023-2027. By increasing the credit incrementally by year, we ensure that the credit keeps up with rising costs over time and keeps people at work. This bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
6/7/2023
HB 849 (Schlossberg) – Time to Fix Pennsylvania’s Broken Mental Healthcare
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 173-30)
I was proud to co-sponsor and vote in support of this bill that would distribute $100 million in one-time federal funding for behavioral health services. This legislation was written following the recommendations of the Behavioral Health Commission for Adult Mental Health, established we have a mental health crisis in our Commonwealth.
6/6/2023
HB 815 (Briggs) – Electronic Filing of Campaign Finance Reports
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)
I voted yes on House Bill 815 as it passed the House 102-101. This bill will require that all candidates for office and political action committees (PACs) in Pennsylvania utilize the Department of State’s online filing system to electronically file campaign finance reports.
Paper filing of campaign finance reports is outdated, costly, and inefficient. Many candidates and political actions committees already file their reports electronically. Requiring electronic filing would not only improve government transparency and accountability, but it would also reduce existing costs to the Commonwealth and save taxpayer money.
HB 787 (Pisciottano) – Helping Local Elected Officials Better Serve Their Communities
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 125-78)
I voted yes on House Bill 787, which would allow for boroughs around Pennsylvania to fill their vacant elected positions with individuals who are committed and motivated to work for their respective community.
Currently in Pennsylvania, an employee of a borough cannot run as a candidate for elected office if that borough’s population is greater than 3,000. This proposed bill would raise that number to 5,000.
There are 120 boroughs across Pennsylvania that stand to benefit from this bill. Many of these boroughs do not have enough candidates running for local elected positions in their municipal government and would benefit from this legislative change. This bill, now in the Senate, also promotes active participation in local government by allowing people to serve in the dual capacity of elected official and employee.
6/5/2023
HB 1100 (Samuelson) – Expansion of Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 194-9)
I co-sponsored and voted yes as the House passed HB 1100. This long overdue bill expands the property tax/rent rebate program to raise the maximum income limit and the maximum rebate amount.
The number of recipients of the PTRR has dropped from about 600,000 individuals to an estimated 398,000 since the program last received an expansion. This bill passed the Senate and was signed into law by the Governor on August 4 as Act 7 of 2023.
5/24/2023
HB 577 (Mullins) – Keystone Saves Retirement Accounts
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 106-95)
I voted yes on House Bill 577, which would establish the freestanding Keystone Saves Program, Keystone Saves Program Fund, the Keystone Saves Administrative Fund, and the Keystone Saves Program Advisory Board.
A retirement savings program in the form of an automatic payroll deduction IRA within the Treasury Department will provide Pennsylvanians with financially secure retirement savings that will be administered by the department to promote greater retirement savings for covered employees in a convenient and low-cost manner. This bill is currently in the Senate.
HB 1094 (Munroe) – Advance Enrollment
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House unanimously)
I was pleased to vote Yes in support of House Bill 1094, which allows for advance school enrollment for military children.
With current schools’ registration regulations, military children are often disadvantaged due to missed deadlines. Streamlining this process will make things easier for military families and their children. Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law as Act 24 of 2023.
5/22/23
HB 338 (Sanchez) – Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms
How I voted: Yes (Bill failed 100-101)
House Bill 338 would require gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 72 hours of the discovery of the loss or theft. This bill aims to assist law enforcement officers in more accurately tracing how these weapons come to be in illegal hands and hopefully prosecute those who participate in illegal markets, as well as allowing the missing weapon to be returned to their rightful owners when recovered.
I hope this failed voted is not the end of discussion on HB 338, as Democratic leadership has filed a motion for the bill to be reconsidered by the House.
HB 714 (Warren) – Background Checks for Firearms
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 109-92)
I co-sponsored and voted in support of this legislation, which would help to close the gun show loophole. This loophole has allowed for the sale and purchase of rifles, privately or via gun shows, without any background check taking place.
This commonsense legislation would ensure that all firearm sales are subject to a background check and identity verification, regardless of barrel length. This bill is now in the Senate.
HB 1018 (O’Mara) – Extreme Risk Protection Orders
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-99)
I co-sponsored and voted yes on this legislation that would institute Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) throughout the commonwealth. The bill now goes to the Senate.
ERPOs provide a mechanism for loved ones, family members, or law enforcement to ask a Judge to hold a hearing to temporarily disarm someone in crisis. In 2021, more than half of Pennsylvania’s firearm related fatalities were suicides. Through this limited, measured response, data shows we can reduce suicides in Pennsylvania.
5/3/2023
HB 950 (Fiedler) – Right to Organize
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-99)
I was proud to vote in support of House Bill 950, which establishes right-to-organize protections by amending Article I in the PA Constitution. Additionally, the bill will prohibit any other laws that may interfere with or diminish collective bargaining rights.
I join my Democratic colleagues in prioritizing the ongoing fight to protect and secure workers’ rights. I look forward to the continued consideration of this bill in the Senate.
5/2/2023
HB 300 (Kenyatta) - The Fairness Act
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-98)
May 2nd, the House passed the Fairness Act, an extension of the PA Human Relations Act that currently prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, disability, age, and other aspects of an individual’s identity. The Fairness Act simply extends the protections guaranteed under this existing state law to include LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians. The passage of this bill in the House moves us one step closer to achieving equality for all in our great commonwealth.
I am proud to co-sponsor and vote in support of the Fairness Act. Nobody should lose out on a job, apartment, access to education, or any other opportunity because of who they are or whom they love. The passage of the Fairness Act does not in any way infringe on anyone’s right to express or practice religious beliefs; it simply guarantees LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians the same legal protections as everyone else. The Senate must now do their duty and passage this landmark legislation.
HB 930 (Dawkins) – Expanding Workers’ Compensation for Permanent Disfigurement
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 112-88)
I voted yes on House Bill 930, which would extend existing workers’ compensation eligibility for permanent disfigurement from 275 weeks to 400 weeks and clarify that claimants are not precluded from collecting both total or partial disability benefits and disfigurement benefits simultaneously.
It is now up to the Senate to move this bill to Governor Shapiro’s desk. Pennsylvania needs to support its workforce by ensuring workers are provided workers’ compensation coverage for sustained injuries and disfigurement.
HB 688 (Rozzi) – PA Teach Scholarship Program
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 119-81)
I voted yes as the House passed House Bill 688 and moved the bill to the Senate. This bill would create a scholarship program that would benefit students studying within our state school system to become teachers.
According to a recent Pew Research Center report, the percentage of education graduates has dropped significantly over the past 50 years, from 21 percent of all graduates in 1970-71 to just four percent in 2019-20. While our universities are training fewer teachers, elementary and secondary schools have also been struggling to retain qualified teachers, and new demands on teachers have built on the pressures educators already face at work. It is imperative that Pennsylvania does the work needed to increase education graduates and reinforce the teacher workforce.
5/1/2023
HB 141 (Schlossberg) – Time for Pennsylvania to Grow Our Own Educators
How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 120-81).
I co-sponsored and voted in support of House Bill 557, the “Grow Our Own Educators” Program. This program would provide financial assistance, including pathways for educators to help support high-need schools in geographic areas that have hard-to-staff teaching positions. The program would equip aspiring educators with the supports necessary to ultimately become a certified educator.
Recognizing the decline in the number of people seeking a teaching certification in this Commonwealth, and that this Commonwealth has one of the least diverse educator workforces in the country, we need to increase the pipeline of high-quality and diverse future educators. Following passage in the House, the bill now moves to the Senate.
4/26/2023
SB 8 (K. Ward) – Enhanced Insurance Coverage for Life-Saving BRCA Testing and Breast Cancer Screenings
How I voted: Yes (Bill pass the House unanimously)
This historic, landmark bipartisan legislation amends the Insurance Company Law to remove out-of-pocket costs associated with genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes, as well as supplemental breast screenings for women with a high lifetime risk of breast cancer. It will make vital healthcare more accessible and save lives across Pennsylvania. Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on May 1 as Act 1 of 2023.