I’m back at the state Capitol for another week for session. Here’s a look at the bills my House colleagues and I passed last week that will help our neighbors and improve communities:

We’re protecting your health and safety, especially when it involves artificial intelligence, by requiring that patients are informed when AI is used during treatment or insurance decisions and ensuring that any final decisions on patient care or coverage are made by humans (HB 1925). We’re also requiring safeguards to prevent AI companions from encouraging or assisting suicide, self-harm or violence and direct users to crisis resources like the 988 Lifeline when appropriate; requiring AI companions to clearly disclose that users are interacting with AI rather than a human; and protecting kids from sexually explicit content and AI interactions designed to isolate them (HB 2006).

We’re increasing access to healthcare by requiring health insurers to cover fertility preservation services if a medically necessary treatment, like cancer treatment, could cause infertility (HB 2649) and by expanding the age groups who are offered the vaccines for flu, pneumonia, and RSV after a hospital stay or as part of their ongoing medical care (HB 2378).

We’re protecting consumers by requiring the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to explicitly consider the public interest – including affordability and service reliability – when making decisions on utility rates (HB 2184) and by setting statewide standards for licensing home inspectors and registration of home inspectors in training (HB 2645).

We’re continuing to hold Big Tech accountable and strengthening public safety by requiring data center operators to submit emergency floor plans to building code officials and local fire chiefs before they get an occupancy certificate (HB 2535).

We’re improving interactions between individuals and law enforcement by giving people with a communication barrier the option to show that on their driver's license or identification (HB 1700).

We’re keeping students and school staff safe by directing schools to consider using a silent panic alarm system as part of their emergency response plans (HB 634).

Pennsylvania veterans struggling to locate lost DD-214 forms or other military documents can get free assistance from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). These records are essential for accessing benefits, employment, and retirement credits.

Veterans can call 1-800-547-2838 or email RA-REQ@pa.gov. DMVA also assists with DD-215 corrections. As always, if you need help with DMVA or any other state agency or issue, you can contact my district office, and we’ll be happy to help.

 For updates, sign up for the DMVA Veterans Registry here.

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period will begin on October 15.

If you have questions about your current plan or want to know about your eligibility for cost-savings program, get help from a Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI) counselor.

PA MEDI provides easy-to-understand, unbiased help and information for those on Medicare, their families, and caregivers.

To talk to a PA MEDI counselor, reach out to your local Area Agency on Aging or call the Helpline, M-F, 8AM-5PM: 1-800-783-7067.

Pennsylvania State Capitol

101 Irvis Office Building

P.O. Box 202045

Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-3780

District Office

1350 Fifth Ave.
Coraopolis, PA 15108

(412) 264-4260

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