House approves O’Mara bill to protect rights to fertility treatments in PA
Southeast Delegation June 9, 2026 | 3:46 PM
HARRISBURG, June 9 — The state House today approved on a bipartisan vote a bill sponsored by state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, to protect prospective parents’ rights to fertility treatments in Pennsylvania.
House Bill 836, dubbed the PARENT Act, would prohibit the commonwealth from creating policies that limit access to assistive reproductive technology such as IVF.
O’Mara said the potential loss of access to these treatments is a challenge for many prospective parents, even though 11% of women and 9% of men struggle with fertility. A 2024 Alabama Supreme Court ruling caused disruption by declaring frozen embryos as children, and fetal personhood bills have passed in other states, causing fear and confusion related to IVF.
“We didn’t ask for this to become a controversial issue, but we’ve been forced to address it so people can fulfill the dream of starting a family,” O’Mara said. “The journey toward a family may come easily to many parents, but for some it can be difficult. Whether through traditional or medically assisted means, it certainly shouldn’t be affected by politicians at any level of government.”
"Starting a family is one of the most meaningful experiences one can have, and that's a right we must preserve for all Pennsylvanians,” said state Rep. Steve Malagari, D-Montgomery, a lead co-sponsor of the bill. “My wife and I have faced the challenge of infertility, so I know how much hope fertility treatments provide to people facing an uncertain path to parenthood. Passing the PARENT Act is a chance to put people over politics and protect the freedom to build a family–for every family."
“Pennsylvanians have a right to decide how to plan and form their families,” said state Rep. La’Tasha Mayes, D-Allegheny, also a lead co-sponsor. “We all have the human right to decide if and when and how we have our children—this is reproductive justice. The PARENT Act ensures that families have the choice to start their family and have access to the medical care and assisted reproductive technology to do so.”
House Bill 836 now moves to the Senate for consideration.