Did you know that 92 bills have become law this year in Pennsylvania?
Some of them have pretty hefty contents (for example, the state budget for this fiscal year), while others just tweak a few words or paragraphs of existing state law.
We obviously don’t have space to go over everything that’s been passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor this year. So instead, here’s a quick sampling of a few new Pennsylvania laws that you may not have heard of.
🐾 Pet Insurance Regulations (Act 19)
This legislation — introduced by Rep. Michael Schlossberg (D-Lehigh) and passed unanimously in both chambers of the General Assembly — goes into effect Dec. 7 and creates a framework for regulating pet insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania. Among other things, it requires insurance companies to tell pet owners about lifetime and annual coverage limits, clarify waiting periods, and disclose what coverage is excluded because of pre-existing conditions.
♻️ Allowing Recycled Materials in Stuffed Toys (Act 30)
Apparently, Pennsylvania has some of the most restrictive laws in the country when it comes to the materials that are allowed to be used in stuffed toys. (Who knew?) That will change on Aug. 27, when Act 30 of 2024 goes into effect.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Jason Dawkins (D-Philadelphia), permits manufacturers to use both new and “reclaimed” materials in toys, creates labeling requirements, and bans the use of “child labor, forced labor, or slave labor” in the making of stuffed toys that will be sold in PA.
❗ Free Credit Monitoring After Data Breaches (Act 33)
A new amendment to Pennsylvania’s “Breach of Personal Information Notification Act,” introduced by Rep. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery), passed without opposition in both chambers of the legislature.
Starting Nov. 1, organizations that experience data breaches exposing Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or driver’s license/state ID numbers will have to provide free credit monitoring services for a year to the people impacted. Also, orgs that experience data breaches exposing the personal info of 500 or more Pennsylvanians will have to notify the Attorney General.
🌱 Native Plants Along Highways (Act 37)
No one in the legislature disagreed with this bill, introduced by Rep. Brett Miller (R-Lancaster), which directs PennDOT to prioritize native vegetation when planting flora along state highways, effective immediately.
“These native plants … will thrive because those plants are better adapted to local conditions,” Miller wrote ahead of introducing the legislation. “Further, native vegetation is also more likely to support wildlife, while discouraging invasive plant species.”
📸 Photos of Towed Cars in Philly (Act 43)
This one’s just for us, Philly (a “city of the first class”), and it goes into effect Sept. 6. This legislation — introduced by Rep. Jose Giral (D-Philadelphia) and passed unanimously — updates the PA Vehicle Code to require towing companies to take a photo before they tow a car. The photo has to “clearly show” the vehicle’s license plate, the violation it’s being towed for, and the posted sign (if any) that shows that stopping or parking is forbidden in that spot.
In other words … pics, or it didn’t happen.
