House committee unanimously approves two child welfare reform bills
Rep. Rick Krajewski June 3, 2026 | 12:22 PM
HARRISBURG, June 3 – The House Children and Youth Committee on Tuesday voted unanimously to report out two pieces of legislation reforming Pennsylvania’s child welfare system.
The first bill (H.B. 133) would create a process for reinstating parental rights after they’ve been terminated. Following the lead of 22 states, Pennsylvania would provide the opportunity to petition for the reinstatement of parental rights, in cases where the child has been unable to successfully find an adoptive home and the parent has resolved the cause of their prior termination.
“While many states provide an opportunity to reinstate the parent-child relationship under specific conditions, in PA, termination is permanent,” said state Rep. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., the prime sponsor of the legislation. “Even when parents do the work to address the issues that resulted in termination – building a career, finding stable housing, recovering from a substance use disorder or ending a period of incarceration – the loss of the parent-child relationship is a punishment that lasts a lifetime. We must be more compassionate, promote second chances and ensure that children are not left needlessly languishing in county care.”
“At its core, House Bill 133 is about creating a pathway that represents the best interests of children and families,” said state Rep. Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland, the bill’s co-prime sponsor. “It’s also about offering second chances to parents who’ve turned their lives around. I am proud to work with Rep. Krajewski on this bipartisan bill to facilitate parental reunification when appropriate. I appreciate the unanimous support of the Children and Youth Committee and am looking forward to consideration by the full House.”
“Philly Voice for Change is ecstatic that House Bill 133 has passed the committee vote and that lawmakers listened to our community’s call for the reinstatement of parental rights in Pennsylvania. The bipartisan support of Representatives Krajewski and Delozier demonstrates a commitment to families and a recognition that children should not remain in the system when their parents are ready, willing and able to provide safe and loving care,” said April Lee, cofounder of Philly Voice for Change. “This vote is an important step toward keeping families together, promoting reunification and ensuring that children have every opportunity to return home when it is in their best interest. We thank the legislators who supported this measure and look forward to continuing the work needed to make parental rights reinstatement a reality for families across Pennsylvania.”
The second bill (H.B. 138), also sponsored by Krajewski, would ensure that parental incarceration is not the sole basis on which a court’s decision for involuntary termination of parental rights is made, a long-standing bipartisan recommendation proposed by a 2011 Joint State Government Commission on the Effects of Parental Incarceration on Children and previously championed by the late Republican Sen. Stewart Greenleaf.
Krajewski said many children whose parents are incarcerated lose their right to see, speak with or know their parents and families, even after their parents return home from incarceration.
“Community Legal Services is grateful to the House Children and Youth Committee for unanimously passing House Bill 138, which is dedicated to protecting the family ties of children facing parental incarceration,” said Kathleen Creamer, managing attorney at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia Family Law Unit. “This legislation will ensure that children of incarcerated parents receive individualized consideration of their family bonds when courts are considering termination of parental rights. We are so glad to see the work of the 2011 Joint State Government Commission Task Force, which included the leadership and voices of families impacted by incarceration, receive meaningful consideration and bipartisan support.”
Both pieces of legislation were supported by advocates across the state, including Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, Children First, and Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.
The bills now go to the full House for consideration.