Advocates speak out in support of Smith-Wade-El, Neilson’s Legionnaires’ disease legislation
Rep. Ed Neilson March 25, 2026 | 10:10 AM
HARRISBURG, March 25 – Patient advocates, disease experts, and water management officials joined state Reps. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, and Ed Neilson, D-Phila., at a news conference Monday at the Capitol in support of the legislators’ H.B. 2085, which is aimed at stopping the spread of a severe type of pneumonia, Legionnaires’ disease, that is on the rise in Pennsylvania.
The disease is caused by Legionella bacteria, which are found in freshwater, including water that supplies public water systems. Disease symptoms include high fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, headaches, and diarrhea. Smokers, the elderly, those with asthma, and those with chronic lung disease or suppressed immune systems are particularly vulnerable to the disease.
“Pennsylvania has one of the highest rates of Legionnaires’ infection and illness in the country, with case rates increasing over 65% over a five-year period and claiming 10% of the lives of those infected, according to the CDC,” Smith-Wade-El said. “It’s time for Pennsylvania to step up to protect its residents’ water sources, so we’ve introduced legislation that would require government agencies, public water systems and some building owners to maintain new minimum standards to better prevent, detect, and control cases of Legionnaires’ disease.”
At the press conference, Neilson spoke about his personal experience contracting the disease and Gwen Hanlon, a family advocate, spoke about losing her husband, Kevin, to it.
"As a survivor of Legionnaires' I can personally speak about the severity of this illness and the impact it has on the human body,” Neilson said. “As cases continue to rise nationwide, Pennsylvania has some of the highest rates of infection. We must act now to spread awareness, improve the tracking of our water systems, and increase research into this life-threatening disease. This legislation will help prevent more Pennsylvanians from becoming victims of Legionnaires’ disease.”
Tim Keane from Legionella Risk Management Inc., Reading Area Water Authority Executive Director Bill Murray, and Bill McQuade, president of ASHRAE gave their views on how improved water quality management is necessary to stop the spread of the disease.
“Let me be clear, this is not about policy or systems, it’s about people,” Murray said. “This disease is preventable and more needs to be done to prevent it.”
According to Smith-Wade-El, New Jersey passed a version of H.B. 2085 in 2024 with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Smith -Wade-El had introduced an earlier version of the bill, H.B. 2145, in the 2023-2024 legislative session.