Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB1344

Introduced
4/30/25  

Caption

In employees, further providing for canine training standards for police officers.

Impact

If enacted, HB 1344 would significantly amend state laws that govern healthcare coverage, particularly impacting regulations related to insurance mandates and consumer protections. The proposed changes would enhance the obligations of insurance providers and compel them to cover a broader array of health services. This shift is expected to lead to increased healthcare utilization among residents and may ultimately result in lower financial burdens associated with medical expenses.

Summary

House Bill 1344 aims to enhance access to healthcare services by modifying existing regulations regarding insurance coverage. The bill seeks to decrease the barriers faced by individuals in securing affordable healthcare options while expanding the range of services that insurers are mandated to cover. Proponents argue that the bill will lead to improved health outcomes for the population by ensuring that vital services are financially accessible and covered under insurance plans.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 1344 has been largely positive among supporters, who view it as a necessary reform to improve health equity and accessibility within the state. Stakeholders in the healthcare sector, including patient advocacy groups, have expressed strong support for the bill, highlighting the need for legislative action to address gaps in coverage. However, some critics raise concerns about the potential implications for insurance company profitability, suggesting that the imposed mandates could lead to higher premiums for consumers.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 1344 include debates over the balance between ensuring comprehensive healthcare access and maintaining a sustainable insurance market. While many support the intent of the bill, there are fears about its impact on competition and the financial viability of insurance providers. Detractors argue that without careful adjustments to the proposed mandates, the bill could inadvertently drive up costs for consumers, counteracting its original purpose of expanding affordable care.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB649

In assault, further providing for ethnic intimidation; in employees, further providing for definitions and providing for police officer training on hate-based intimidation; and making an editorial change.

PA HB1024

In assault, further providing for ethnic intimidation; in particular rights and immunities, further providing for civil rights violations; and, in employees, further providing for definitions and providing for annual officer training on hate-based intimidation.

PA HB863

In employees, further providing for powers and duties of commission.

PA HB1544

In municipal police education and training, further providing for powers and duties of commission.

PA HB2257

In police, further providing for appointment, compensation and training of police officers.

PA HB1735

In employees, further providing for definitions and for powers and duties of commission.

PA SB836

In employees, further providing for definitions and for powers and duties of commission.

PA HB27

In preliminary provisions, further providing for Basic Education Funding Commission and for special provisions applicable to limited school years, establishing the Child Reunification Program in the Department of Education and providing for minimum number of days or hours, for public job posting database, for instructional vacancy data and for data transparency; in duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for additional schools and departments; in school finances, providing for school district budget timeline for 2024 and for procedure for securing approval of electors; in grounds and buildings, further providing for limitation on new applications for Department of Education approval of public school building projects; in school directors' associations and county boards of school directors, further providing for powers and duties; in intermediate units, further providing for visual services and for school safety and security enhancements; in professional employees, repealing provisions relating to religious garb, insignia, etc., prohibited and penalty; in certification of teachers, further providing for substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers, for locally issued temporary certification for substitute teachers and for permit for classroom monitors; providing for Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program; in pupils and attendance, further providing for compulsory education of physical defectives, for dependent children, for cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children in approved institutions, for payment of cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children, for transfer of funds for transferal programs and for children under six with defective hearing and parent or guardian advised of schools, etc.; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for Office for Safe Schools, repealing provisions relating to regulations and to reporting, further providing for policy relating to bullying and for maintenance of records, repealing provisions relating to safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class, to standing, to enforcement and to construction of article and other laws; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions and for School Safety and Security Committee, providing for duties of committee, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, providing for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program, for standardized protocols, for county safe schools' collaborative and for school mental health grants for 2023-2024 school year, further providing for school safety and security coordinator training and providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding, for safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class and for enforcement; in school security, further providing for definitions, for school police officers, for annual report and for school security guards; in school health services, further providing for dental examinations and dental hygiene services and providing for eating disorder awareness and education; in drug and alcohol recovery high school program, providing for enrollment of students; in terms and courses of study, providing for calculation of average daily membership for a dual credit course and further providing for Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Programs; in early learning programs, providing for quarterly meetings; in character education program, further providing for character education program; providing for the Dual Credit Innovation and Equity Grant Program; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for qualification and application by organizations, for limitations and for low-achieving schools; in school districts of the first class, further providing for qualifications of principals and teachers; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2023-2024; in credit card marketing, further providing for regulation of on-campus credit card marketing; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for definitions and for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums, providing for Level-Up Supplement for 2022-2023 school year, further providing for payments on account of courses for exceptional children, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status, for payments, for payments on account of pupil transportation, for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant and for payment of required contribution for public school employees' Social Security; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; providing for School Environmental Repairs Program; abrogating a regulation; and making an editorial change.

PA HB23

Further providing for disability benefits for campus police officers and for definitions.

PA SB1228

In employees, further providing for automatic certification.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.