Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility House passes bill to protect disability accommodations under Right-to-Know Law

House passes bill to protect disability accommodations under Right-to-Know Law

Rep. Liz Hanbidge    March 25, 2026 | 11:59 AM

HARRISBURG, March 25 – On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation (H.B. 802) to amend the state’s Right-to-Know Law, to ensure that sensitive records created or used to accommodate individuals with disabilities are protected from public disclosure. This bill was introduced by Rep. Liz Hanbidge, D-Montgomery, last year.

“This legislation closes a gap in the law and protects individuals who rely on assistive tools to perform their duties,” Hanbidge said. “No one should have to worry that using a device or accommodation to participate fully in public service could expose sensitive or personal information.”

The bill would update the Right-to-Know Law by adding a clear exemption for disability-related accommodations. While the law already includes important exemptions for certain public records, it has not explicitly addressed materials generated to assist individuals with disabilities, creating potential privacy concerns.

North Wales Mayor Neil McDevitt, who is deaf and uses a device to generate visual transcripts of conversations, applauded the passage of the bill:

"Representative Hanbidge is someone who understands that for our society to be inclusive, it has to break down the barriers when they arise,” said McDevitt. “Bills like these are not the ones that get all the headlines, but they are the quiet workhorses of our democratic processes. I thank Representative Hanbidge for her continual support of her constituencies."

The bill passed by a vote of (199-00).

The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.