2024 brings a fresh batch of laws to Pennsylvania, impacting various aspects of life in the Keystone State. 

As the new year begins, there are new laws that residents should know about in Pennsylvania, including: 

  • Pennsylvania Turnpike Toll Increase: Pa. Turnpike Commission approved a 5% toll increase for all E-ZPass and Toll by Plate customers. New Rates start Sunday, Jan. 7 
  • Probation Reform: Gov. Shapiro signed what he calls "landmark probation reform and clean slate legislation" This law aims for fairer and more effective rehabilitation. 
  • Porch Pirating is a Felony 
  • Retail Theft Crackdown
  • Lower Fitness Requirements for Prospective Police Officers: The new law reduces requirements so that an applicant only has to score in at least the 15th percentile for evaluations. 
  • Police Applicant Fingerprint Checks: The new law gives the MPOETC the statutory authority to conduct fingerprint based criminal history checks for municipal police officer applicants. 
  • Treatment of Incarcerated Women: Includes PROHIBITION of shackling a pregnant women, solitary confinement of pregnant women and full-body searches of female inmates by male guards. 
  • Renewing and Expanding Automated Enforcement Programs: New law eliminates the Feb. 2024 expiration date of the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program. 
  • School Bus Safety: Updated rules for automated enforcement for drivers who fail to stop. 
  • Insurance Data Security: Insurance entities would have to conduct a cybersecurity risk assessment and develop protocols.
  • Fentanyl Testing in Hospitals: Requires general acute care hospitals to include testing for fentanyl in urine drug screening 
  • Enhanced Coverage for Breast Cancer Screenings 
  • No Pelvic, Prostate, Rectal Exams without Consent
  • Coverage for Pasteurized Donor Human Milk: Requires Medical Assistance coverage for medically prescribed pasteurized donor human milk in inpatient and outpatient setting for medically fragile infants under the age of 12 months. 
  • Maternal Morbidity Reporting: This law categorizes maternal morbidity complications as reportable events. 
  • Transitioning Military Medics to Civilian EMT/Paramedics: Ensures that service member's military education and training are taken into consideration for the purpose of fulfilling requirements for professional credentials related to emergency medical service providers. 
  • Flexibility for school district scheduling: Changes state law to allow schools to complete the school year in either a minimum of 180 days of 900 hours - eliminating the current obligation to meet both mandates 
  • Child Care Tax Credit: Legislation signed Gov. Shapiro expanded the Pa. Child Care & Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit. 
  • Teachers Allowed to Wear Religious Garb: Repeals Section 112 of the Public School Code that prohibits a teacher from wearing any garb, mark, emblem or insignia that would indicate he or she is a member of any religious order while performing their duties as a teacher. 
  • In-State Tuition for Reassigned Military Families
  • Right-to-Know for State Related Universities: The four state related universities (Penn State, Pittsburgh, Temple, and Lincoln) must significantly increase the amount of university personal salary information that must be disclosed. 
  • Advance School Enrollment for Children of Military Families 
  • Automatic Voter Registration: If you renew your driver's license in Pa., you can be automatically registered to vote. 
  • Removing Racist Language in Deed
  • Expansion of Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program: The program was expanded to nearly 175,000 more Pa. Seniors and doubles rebates for many of the 400,000 Pennsylvanians who already qualify. 
  • Frozen Dessert Law Repeal: The law, passed in 1965 was repealed. 
  • Preferred Organic Trademark
  • Pennsylvania Dog Laws
    • Dogs need to be licensed at three months of age or at the point of transfer to new owner
    • Increased licenses and kennel fees
    • Pet shops & kennels offering dogs for sale or adoption are required to display specified information about the dog
    • Additional penalties and fines and increased violation fees 
    • Department authorized to revoke a kennel's license or refuse a kennel license application for individuals convicted of animal cruelty. 
    • Requires dangerous dogs to not only be muzzled and leased, but also under physical restraint  

More information on these new laws can be found here.