HB 453 — An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; in Commonwealth services, further providing for definitions relating to intrastate mutual aid; and, in emergency responder mental wellness and stress management, further providing for definitions.
Last action — Laid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9), June 10, 2026
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed House
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 03, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.
Odds of enactment
Moderate chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Passed House
Current position in the legislative process.
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30 sponsors
1 primary, 29 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (28 D · 2 R) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 1 recorded vote so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
In plain language
The bill defines dispatchers as first responders in Pennsylvania.
This bill amends definitions in Pennsylvania's health and safety laws to classify dispatchers as first responders. This change impacts emergency management and the mental wellness provisions for responders.
What this means for you
- Workers: For emergency workers, this classification could lead to improved mental health support and recognition of their role in emergency response.
Summary
Defining Dispatchers as First Responders
Bill Text
- Printer's No. 0435 View text Current
Action History
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Laid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9), June 10, 2026
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First consideration, April 21, 2026
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Reported as committed, April 21, 2026
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Referred to VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, April 9, 2025
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In the Senate
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(Remarks see House Journal Page 353-354), April 8, 2025
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Third consideration and final passage, April 8, 2025 (203-0)
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Re-reported as committed, April 8, 2025
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Re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS, April 7, 2025
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Second consideration, April 7, 2025
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Removed from table, March 26, 2025
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Laid on the table, March 17, 2025
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First consideration, March 17, 2025
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Reported as committed, March 17, 2025
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Referred to VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, Feb. 3, 2025
Sponsors
- Keith S. Harris · Cosponsor
- Carol Hill-Evans · Cosponsor
- Patrick J. Harkins · Cosponsor
- Liz Hanbidge · Cosponsor
- Malcolm Kenyatta · Cosponsor
- Tarik Khan · Cosponsor
- Arvind Venkat · Cosponsor
- Daniel J. Deasy · Cosponsor
- Jose Giral · Cosponsor
- Tarah Probst · Cosponsor
- Lisa A. Borowski · Cosponsor
- Danielle Friel Otten · Cosponsor
- La'Tasha D. Mayes · Cosponsor
- Melissa Cerrato · Cosponsor
- Benjamin V. Sanchez · Cosponsor
- Kyle Donahue · Cosponsor
- Joseph C. Hohenstein · Cosponsor
- Nathan Davidson · Cosponsor
- Gina H. Curry · Cosponsor
- G. Roni Green · Cosponsor
- Brenda M. Pugh · Cosponsor
- Jacklyn Rusnock · Cosponsor
- Joe Webster · Cosponsor
- Tina M. Davis · Cosponsor
- John C. Inglis III · Cosponsor
- Dan Goughnour · Cosponsor
- Jessica Benham · Primary
- Michael H. Schlossberg · Cosponsor
- Heather Boyd · Cosponsor
- Brett R. Miller · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 29 co-sponsors · 223 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Jessica Benham Democratic
Co-sponsors (29)
- Keith S. Harris Democratic
- Carol Hill-Evans Democratic
- Patrick J. Harkins Democratic
- Liz Hanbidge Democratic
- Malcolm Kenyatta Democratic
- Tarik Khan Democratic
- Arvind Venkat Democratic
- Daniel J. Deasy Democratic
- Jose Giral Democratic
- Tarah Probst Democratic
- Lisa A. Borowski Democratic
- Danielle Friel Otten Democratic
- La'Tasha D. Mayes Democratic
- Melissa Cerrato Democratic
- Benjamin V. Sanchez Democratic
- Kyle Donahue Democratic
- Joseph C. Hohenstein Democratic
- Nathan Davidson Democratic
- Gina H. Curry Democratic
- G. Roni Green Democratic
- Brenda M. Pugh Republican
- Jacklyn Rusnock Democratic
- Joe Webster Democratic
- Tina M. Davis Democratic
- John C. Inglis III Democratic
- Dan Goughnour Democratic
- Michael H. Schlossberg Democratic
- Heather Boyd Democratic
- Brett R. Miller Republican
Not signed on (223)
223 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 223 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 97 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 203 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (203)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Rep. Torren Ecker | — | Yea |
| Rep. Seth Grove | — | Yea |
| Rep. Dan Miller | — | Yea |
| Rep. Louis Schmitt | — | Yea |
| Rep. Stephenie Scialabba | — | Yea |
| Rep. Joshua Siegel | — | Yea |
| Abigail Salisbury | Democratic | Yea |
| Aerion Abney | Democratic | Yea |
| Amen Brown | Democratic | Yea |
| Andre D. Carroll | Democratic | Yea |
| Anita Astorino Kulik | Democratic | Yea |
| Anthony A. Bellmon | Democratic | Yea |
| Arvind Venkat | Democratic | Yea |
| Ben Waxman | Democratic | Yea |
| Benjamin V. Sanchez | Democratic | Yea |
| Brandon J. Markosek | Democratic | Yea |
| Brian Munroe | Democratic | Yea |
| Bridget M. Kosierowski | Democratic | Yea |
| Carol Hill-Evans | Democratic | Yea |
| Carol Kazeem | Democratic | Yea |
| Chris Pielli | Democratic | Yea |
| Christina D. Sappey | Democratic | Yea |
| Christopher M. Rabb | Democratic | Yea |
| Dan Frankel | Democratic | Yea |
| Dan Goughnour | Democratic | Yea |
| Dan K. Williams | Democratic | Yea |
| Daniel J. Deasy | Democratic | Yea |
| Danielle Friel Otten | Democratic | Yea |
| Danilo Burgos | Democratic | Yea |
| Darisha K. Parker | Democratic | Yea |
| Dave Madsen | Democratic | Yea |
| David M. Delloso | Democratic | Yea |
| Ed Neilson | Democratic | Yea |
| Eddie Day Pashinski | Democratic | Yea |
| Elizabeth Fiedler | Democratic | Yea |
| Emily Kinkead | Democratic | Yea |
| Frank Burns | Democratic | Yea |
| G. Roni Green | Democratic | Yea |
| Gina H. Curry | Democratic | Yea |
| Greg Scott | Democratic | Yea |
| Greg Vitali | Democratic | Yea |
| Heather Boyd | Democratic | Yea |
| Ismail Smith-Wade-El | Democratic | Yea |
| Jacklyn Rusnock | Democratic | Yea |
| Jared G. Solomon | Democratic | Yea |
| Jason Dawkins | Democratic | Yea |
| Jeanne McNeill | Democratic | Yea |
| Jennifer O'Mara | Democratic | Yea |
| Jessica Benham | Democratic | Yea |
| Jim Haddock | Democratic | Yea |
| Jim Prokopiak | Democratic | Yea |
| Joanna E. McClinton | Democratic | Yea |
| Joe Ciresi | Democratic | Yea |
| Joe McAndrew | Democratic | Yea |
| Joe Webster | Democratic | Yea |
| Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz | Democratic | Yea |
| John C. Inglis III | Democratic | Yea |
| Jordan A. Harris | Democratic | Yea |
| Jose Giral | Democratic | Yea |
| Joseph C. Hohenstein | Democratic | Yea |
| Justin C. Fleming | Democratic | Yea |
| Keith S. Harris | Democratic | Yea |
| Kristine C. Howard | Democratic | Yea |
| Kyle Donahue | Democratic | Yea |
| Kyle J. Mullins | Democratic | Yea |
| La'Tasha D. Mayes | Democratic | Yea |
| Leanne Krueger | Democratic | Yea |
| Lindsay Powell | Democratic | Yea |
| Lisa A. Borowski | Democratic | Yea |
| Liz Hanbidge | Democratic | Yea |
| Malcolm Kenyatta | Democratic | Yea |
| Mandy Steele | Democratic | Yea |
| Manuel Guzman | Democratic | Yea |
| Mary Jo Daley | Democratic | Yea |
| MaryLouise Isaacson | Democratic | Yea |
| Matthew D. Bradford | Democratic | Yea |
| Maureen E. Madden | Democratic | Yea |
| Melissa Cerrato | Democratic | Yea |
| Melissa L. Shusterman | Democratic | Yea |
| Michael H. Schlossberg | Democratic | Yea |
| Morgan Cephas | Democratic | Yea |
| Nancy Guenst | Democratic | Yea |
| Napoleon J. Nelson | Democratic | Yea |
| Nathan Davidson | Democratic | Yea |
| Nikki Rivera | Democratic | Yea |
| Pat Gallagher | Democratic | Yea |
| Patrick J. Harkins | Democratic | Yea |
| Paul Friel | Democratic | Yea |
| Paul Takac | Democratic | Yea |
| Perry S. Warren | Democratic | Yea |
| Peter Schweyer | Democratic | Yea |
| Regina G. Young | Democratic | Yea |
| Rick Krajewski | Democratic | Yea |
| Robert E. Merski | Democratic | Yea |
| Robert F. Matzie | Democratic | Yea |
| Robert Freeman | Democratic | Yea |
| Ryan A. Bizzarro | Democratic | Yea |
| Scott Conklin | Democratic | Yea |
| Sean Dougherty | Democratic | Yea |
| Steve Samuelson | Democratic | Yea |
| Steven R. Malagari | Democratic | Yea |
| Tarah Probst | Democratic | Yea |
| Tarik Khan | Democratic | Yea |
| Tim Brennan | Democratic | Yea |
| Tim Briggs | Democratic | Yea |
| Tina M. Davis | Democratic | Yea |
| Aaron Bernstine | Republican | Yea |
| Abby Major | Republican | Yea |
| Alec J. Ryncavage | Republican | Yea |
| Andrew Kuzma | Republican | Yea |
| Ann Flood | Republican | Yea |
| Barbara Gleim | Republican | Yea |
| Brad Roae | Republican | Yea |
| Brenda M. Pugh | Republican | Yea |
| Brett R. Miller | Republican | Yea |
| Brian C. Rasel | Republican | Yea |
| Brian Smith | Republican | Yea |
| Bryan Cutler | Republican | Yea |
| Bud Cook | Republican | Yea |
| Carl Walker Metzgar | Republican | Yea |
| Chad G. Reichard | Republican | Yea |
| Charity Grimm Krupa | Republican | Yea |
| Clint Owlett | Republican | Yea |
| Craig T. Staats | Republican | Yea |
| Craig Williams | Republican | Yea |
| Dallas Kephart | Republican | Yea |
| Dan Moul | Republican | Yea |
| Dane Watro | Republican | Yea |
| David H. Rowe | Republican | Yea |
| David H. Zimmerman | Republican | Yea |
| David M. Maloney | Republican | Yea |
| Donna Scheuren | Republican | Yea |
| Doyle Heffley | Republican | Yea |
| Eric Davanzo | Republican | Yea |
| Eric J. Weaknecht | Republican | Yea |
| Eric R. Nelson | Republican | Yea |
| Gary W. Day | Republican | Yea |
| Jack Rader | Republican | Yea |
| Jacob D. Banta | Republican | Yea |
| James B. Struzzi | Republican | Yea |
| Jamie Barton | Republican | Yea |
| Jamie L. Flick | Republican | Yea |
| Jamie Walsh | Republican | Yea |
| Jason Ortitay | Republican | Yea |
| Jeff Olsommer | Republican | Yea |
| Jeremy Shaffer | Republican | Yea |
| Jesse Topper | Republican | Yea |
| Jill N. Cooper | Republican | Yea |
| Jim Rigby | Republican | Yea |
| Joanne Stehr | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Emrick | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Hamm | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Hogan | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Kerwin | Republican | Yea |
| John A. Lawrence | Republican | Yea |
| John A. Schlegel | Republican | Yea |
| Jonathan Fritz | Republican | Yea |
| Joseph D'Orsie | Republican | Yea |
| Josh Bashline | Republican | Yea |
| Joshua D. Kail | Republican | Yea |
| Kate A. Klunk | Republican | Yea |
| Kathleen C. Tomlinson | Republican | Yea |
| Kathy L. Rapp | Republican | Yea |
| Keith J. Greiner | Republican | Yea |
| Kerry A. Benninghoff | Republican | Yea |
| Kristin Marcell | Republican | Yea |
| Leslie Rossi | Republican | Yea |
| Marc S. Anderson | Republican | Yea |
| Marci Mustello | Republican | Yea |
| Mark M. Gillen | Republican | Yea |
| Marla Brown | Republican | Yea |
| Martin T. Causer | Republican | Yea |
| Martina A. White | Republican | Yea |
| Michael Stender | Republican | Yea |
| Mike Armanini | Republican | Yea |
| Mike Jones | Republican | Yea |
| Milou Mackenzie | Republican | Yea |
| Mindy Fee | Republican | Yea |
| Natalie Mihalek | Republican | Yea |
| Parke Wentling | Republican | Yea |
| Perry A. Stambaugh | Republican | Yea |
| R. Lee James | Republican | Yea |
| Rich Irvin | Republican | Yea |
| Rob W. Kauffman | Republican | Yea |
| Robert Leadbeter | Republican | Yea |
| Roman Kozak | Republican | Yea |
| Russ Diamond | Republican | Yea |
| Ryan Warner | Republican | Yea |
| Scott Barger | Republican | Yea |
| Shelby Labs | Republican | Yea |
| Sheryl M. Delozier | Republican | Yea |
| Stephanie Borowicz | Republican | Yea |
| Steven C. Mentzer | Republican | Yea |
| Thomas H. Kutz | Republican | Yea |
| Thomas L. Mehaffie | Republican | Yea |
| Tim Twardzik | Republican | Yea |
| Timothy J. O'Neal | Republican | Yea |
| Timothy R. Bonner | Republican | Yea |
| Tina Pickett | Republican | Yea |
| Tom Jones | Republican | Yea |
| Valerie S. Gaydos | Republican | Yea |
| Wendy Fink | Republican | Yea |
| Zachary Mako | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 453 do?
- Defining Dispatchers as First Responders
- Who sponsors HB 453?
- HB 453 is sponsored by Keith S. Harris (Democratic), Carol Hill-Evans (Democratic), Patrick J. Harkins (Democratic), Liz Hanbidge (Democratic), Malcolm Kenyatta (Democratic), Tarik Khan (Democratic), Arvind Venkat (Democratic), Daniel J. Deasy (Democratic), Jose Giral (Democratic), Tarah Probst (Democratic), Lisa A. Borowski (Democratic), Danielle Friel Otten (Democratic), La'Tasha D. Mayes (Democratic), Melissa Cerrato (Democratic), Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic), Kyle Donahue (Democratic), Joseph C. Hohenstein (Democratic), Nathan Davidson (Democratic), Gina H. Curry (Democratic), G. Roni Green (Democratic), Brenda M. Pugh (Republican), Jacklyn Rusnock (Democratic), Joe Webster (Democratic), Tina M. Davis (Democratic), John C. Inglis III (Democratic), Dan Goughnour (Democratic), Jessica Benham (Democratic), Michael H. Schlossberg (Democratic), Heather Boyd (Democratic), and Brett R. Miller (Republican).
- What is the current status of HB 453?
- This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 03, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track HB 453?
- Track HB 453 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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