HARRISBURG, Dec. 17 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today approved a joint resolution sponsored by state Reps. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, Liz Hanbidge, D-Montgomery, and La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, that would allow Pennsylvania residents to add a Reproductive Rights Amendment to the state constitution. The Otten, Hanbidge and Mayes bill, H.B. 1957 , proposes an amendment to the Pennsylvania constitution that would reaffirm and protect every Pennsylvanians’ right to privacy and ensure that the state shall not deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate personal decisions. The amendment would ensure that every individual has a right of privacy with respect to personal, sexual and reproductive health care decisions, including the right to choose or refuse an abortion, the right to choose or refuse contraceptives, and the right to choose or refuse fertility care, all without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion or relationship status. The bill passed the House with bipartisan support by a vote of 102 to 101. Today’s action represents a significant step toward advancing the legislation, which could ultimately appear on a future ballot for Pennsylvania voters to decide whether fundamental reproductive rights should be explicitly protected in the state constitution. For the first time in recent legislative history, Pennsylvania is taking proactive steps to protect Read more
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This week, I want to share updates on several important animal welfare bills advancing in Harrisburg. As a member of the bipartisan Animal Protection Caucus, I am committed to strengthening Pennsylvania’s animal cruelty laws and ensuring that our Commonwealth leads with compassion and accountability. I’ve introduced legislation this session aimed at improving the lives of animals, and I’m pleased to report that the House Judiciary Committee, on which I serve, recently advanced a series of significant animal protection bills—each addressing different forms of cruelty and neglect. I am proud to co-sponsor all of these bills. Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 22 – The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee today approved a joint resolution sponsored by state Reps. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, Liz Hanbidge, D-Montgomery, and La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, that would add a Reproductive Rights Amendment to the Pennsylvania constitution. The proposed legislation, introduced as H.B. 1957 , comes at a pivotal moment in the national conversation on reproductive rights. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, the authority to regulate reproductive health care has shifted to individual states, prompting a wave of legislative and voter-led efforts across the country. In response, voters in states such as Ohio, Michigan, Vermont and California have approved constitutional amendments or ballot initiatives to enshrine reproductive rights in their state constitutions. These actions reflect a growing recognition that state-level protections are now essential to safeguarding access to abortion and other reproductive health care. Pennsylvania’s proposed amendment seeks to join this national movement by ensuring reproductive freedom is permanently enshrined in the state constitution. The Otten, Hanbidge and Mayes bill proposes an amendment to the Pennsylvania constitution that would reaffirm and protect every Pennsylvanian’s right to privacy and ensure that the state shall not deny or Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 15 – The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee, chaired by state Rep. Tim Briggs, D–Montgomery, today approved a series of bipartisan bills addressing animal welfare, criminal justice reform, law enforcement standards, and community safety. The committee also approved Briggs’ House Bill 1822, which protects the personal data of public servants and was announced in a separate release. Read more about that legislation here . “These bills represent thoughtful, sensible steps forward in protecting our most vulnerable — whether that’s pets, children, or public servants,” said Briggs. “Our committee continues to show that, when it comes to protecting Pennsylvanians and upholding justice, we can come together to do what’s right.” House Bill 608 (Sponsored by Rep. Mary Louise Isaacson): Would increase penalties for illegal ear cropping performed by non-licensed individuals, elevating the offense to a third-degree misdemeanor, and a second-degree misdemeanor for repeat offenses. House Bill 879 (Sponsored by Isaacson): Would allow the attorney general to prosecute felony animal cruelty cases when county district attorneys lack the experience or capacity to do so, ensuring consistent enforcement statewide. House Bill 1716 (Sponsored by Rep. Liz Hanbidge): Would prohibit the declawing of cats except for medically necessary, therapeutic purposes performed by Read more
Over the past few months, a number of you have reached out to me regarding gerrymandering – some asking whether Pennsylvania’s congressional maps can be pushed toward one political persuasion or another, and some asking what will preserve the integrity of Pennsylvania’s legislative maps. Read more
“I’m proud to see HB1613 move forward with the support of the House Judiciary Committee," Hanbidge, D-Montgomery, said. "Far too often, children in Pennsylvania are interrogated without a parent, guardian, or attorney present—and without a real understanding of the rights they’re being asked to give up. This bill ensures that no child has to face that situation alone. It’s a commonsense step to protect young people, reduce the risk of false confessions, uphold constitutional rights, and bring Pennsylvania’s practices in line with what research and justice demand." Read more
My Bill-- HB 1534 Read more
“This bill ensures that Intermediate Units can maintain their Pre-K Counts grants even without a Head Start affiliation. Our children deserve uninterrupted, high quality early education, and Pennsylvania must act to secure it,” Hanbidge said. “If the federal government eliminates or defunds Head Start, as many as an additional 2,500 Pennsylvania children could lose access to Pre-K Counts programming and it’s essential we take this step to help them.” Read more
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Across Pennsylvania — from rural towns to big cities — millions of people rely on public transportation every day. In fact, Pennsylvanians take nearly half a billion transit trips each year. Despite how essential these services are, transit agencies in all 67 counties are now facing serious threats — including major service cuts and fare hikes that put systems like SEPTA and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PTR) at risk. Over the past few months, many of you have reached out to share your concerns about these cuts — and I want you to know that I hear you, and I share those concerns. That’s why, earlier this month, the House passed House Bill 1364, a proposal now in the hands of the Senate, that would provide critical funding to protect and preserve public transit throughout the Commonwealth. Read more
The lawmakers stressed that while the factors are consolidated, the substance of them remain unchanged and the vital protections against child abuse put in place by Kayden’s Law are intact in the legislation. “Being caught between fighting parents and sometimes grandparents is harmful to children, and the current 16-factor process has been proven to needlessly delay resolution in these cases because of redundancies and unclear language,” Hanbidge said. “This bill puts the focus where it belongs – on reaching timely, clear decisions that serve the best interests of Pennsylvania’s children. Read more
“Childcare is not a luxury. It’s a necessity and it’s vital to us having a functional and growing economy. No qualifying family should be left behind. State tax laws meant to benefit working families should not be overly complicated nor set up to exclude families who are using all options available to them to ensure their children are safe and cared for while they work,” Hanbidge said. Read more
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