Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee 27 D cosponsors

HB 526 — An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, permitting a mother the freedom to nurse her child in public; and providing that breastfeeding may not be considered a nuisance, indecent exposure, sexual conduct or obscenity.

Last action — Laid on the table, May 14, 2025

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 10, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 27 sponsors

    1 primary, 26 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (27 D).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Adding Pumping Protections to the Freedom to Breastfeed Act

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

31 added · 127 removed

31 line(s) added, 127 removed.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
519 PRINTER'S NO.
519 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
1718 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
526 2025 INTRODUCED BY O'MARA, MAYES, GUENST, GIRAL, KHAN, HANBIDGE, FREEMAN, SANCHEZ, MALAGARI, KENYATTA, DONAHUE, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, STEELE, SCHLOSSBERG, DALEY, SHUSTERMAN, GREEN, FIEDLER, MADDEN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND BOYD, FEBRUARY 10, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 10, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of July 8, 2007 (P.L.90, No.28), entitled "An act permitting a mother the freedom to nurse her child in public;
526 2025 INTRODUCED BY O'MARA, MAYES, GUENST, GIRAL, KHAN, HANBIDGE, HOHENSTEIN, STEELE, SCHLOSSBERG, DALEY, SHUSTERMAN, GREEN, FIEDLER, MADDEN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, BOYD, CURRY, RABB AND BRENNAN, FEBRUARY 10, 2025 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MAY 14, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of July 8, 2007 (P.L.90, No.28), entitled "An <-- act permitting a mother the freedom to nurse her child in public;
and providing that breastfeeding may not be obscenity," providing for definitions and for private right of action.
and providing that breastfeeding may not be considered a nuisance, indecent exposure, sexual conduct or obscenity," providing for definitions and for private right of action.
AMECONSOLIDATED STATUTES, PERMITTING A MOTHER THE FREEDOM TO <-- NURSE HER CHILD IN PUBLIC;
AND PROVIDING THAT BREASTFEEDING MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED A NUISANCE, INDECENT EXPOSURE, SEXUAL CONDUCT OR OBSCENITY.
The act of July 8, 2007 (P.L.90, No.28), known as <-- the Freedom to Breastfeed Act, is amended by adding sections to read:
The act of July 8, 2007 (P.L.90, No.28), known as the Freedom to Breastfeed Act, is amended by adding sections to read:
SECTION 1.
20250HB0526PN0519 - 2 -
TITLE 35 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED <-- STATUTES IS AMENDED BY ADDING A CHAPTER TO READ:
CHAPTER 58A FREEDOM TO BREASTFEED SEC.
58A01.
SCOPE OF CHAPTER.
58A02.
DECLARATION OF POLICY.
58A02.1.
DEFINITIONS.
58A03.
GENERAL RULE.
58A04.
FREEDOM TO BREASTFEED.
58A05.
PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.
§ 58A01.
SCOPE OF CHAPTER.
THIS CHAPTER RELATES TO THE FREEDOM TO BREASTFEED.
§ 58A02.
DECLARATION OF POLICY.
20250HB0526PN1718 - 2 - THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT BREASTFEEDING A BABY IS AN IMPORTANT AND BASIC ACT OF NURTURING THAT MUST BE PROTECTED IN THE INTERESTS OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH AND FAMILY VALUES.
§ 58A02.1.
DEFINITIONS.
THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS CHAPTER SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
"BREASTFEEDING." THE PROCESS OF FEEDING HUMAN MILK TO A CHILD, EITHER DIRECTLY FROM THE BREAST OR BY EXPRESSING MILK FROM THE BREAST AND BOTTLE-FEEDING THE MILK TO THE CHILD.
§ 58A03.
GENERAL RULE.
A MOTHER SHALL BE PERMITTED TO BREASTFEED HER CHILD IN ANY LOCATION, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, WHERE THE MOTHER AND CHILD ARE OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED TO BE PRESENT, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER OR NOT THE MOTHER'S BREAST IS COVERED DURING OR INCIDENTAL TO THE BREASTFEEDING.
§ 58A04.
FREEDOM TO BREASTFEED.
THE ACT OF BREASTFEEDING SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED:
(1) INDECENT EXPOSURE AS DEFINED IN 18 PA.C.S.
Show all 85 changed rows (45 more)
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§ 3127 (RELATING TO INDECENT EXPOSURE).
(2) OPEN LEWDNESS AS DEFINED IN 18 PA.C.S.
§ 5901 (RELATING TO OPEN LEWDNESS).
(3) OBSCENITY OR SEXUAL CONDUCT AS DEFINED IN 18 PA.C.S.
§ 5903 (RELATING TO OBSCENE AND OTHER SEXUAL MATERIALS AND PERFORMANCES).
(4) A NUISANCE AS DEFINED IN 18 PA.C.S.
§ 6504 (RELATING TO PUBLIC NUISANCES).
§ 58A05.
PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.
AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE FREEDOM TO BREASTFEED AS PROVIDED IN THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN DENIED, INTERFERED WITH OR OTHERWISE RESTRICTED 20250HB0526PN1718 - 3 - OR WHO HAS EXPERIENCED RETALIATION FOR EXERCISING THE FREEDOM TO BREASTFEED UNDER THIS ACT MAY BRING AN ACTION IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION WITHIN TWO YEARS OF THE VIOLATION TO:
(1) ENJOIN FUTURE DENIALS, INTERFERENCE AND RESTRICTION;
(2) RECOVER STATUTORY DAMAGES OF $1,000 PER VIOLATION;
(3) RECOVER REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES AND LITIGATION EXPENSES;
OR (4) RECOVER ANY OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF AS THE COURT MAY DETERMINE APPROPRIATE TO REMEDY THE VIOLATION.
SECTION 2.
REPEALS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
(1) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECLARES THAT THE REPEAL UNDER PARAGRAPH (2) IS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE ADDITION OF 35 PA.C.S.
CH.
58A.
(2) THE ACT OF JULY 8, 2007 (P.L.90, NO.28), KNOWN AS THE FREEDOM TO BREASTFEED ACT, IS REPEALED.
SECTION 3.
THE ADDITION OF 35 PA.C.S.
CH.
58A IS A CONTINUATION OF THE ACT OF JULY 8, 2007 (P.L.90, NO.28), KNOWN AS THE FREEDOM TO BREASTFEED ACT.
THE FOLLOWING APPLY:
(1) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN 35 PA.C.S.
CH.
58A, ALL ACTIVITIES INITIATED UNDER THE FREEDOM TO BREASTFEED ACT SHALL CONTINUE AND REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AND MAY BE COMPLETED UNDER 35 PA.C.S.
CH.
58A.
ORDERS, REGULATIONS, RULES AND DECISIONS WHICH WERE MADE UNDER THE FREEDOM TO BREASTFEED ACT AND WHICH ARE IN EFFECT ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF SECTION 2(2) OF THIS ACT SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT UNTIL REVOKED, VACATED OR MODIFIED UNDER 35 PA.C.S.
CH.
58A.
CONTRACTS, OBLIGATIONS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO UNDER THE FREEDOM TO BREASTFEED ACT ARE NOT AFFECTED NOR IMPAIRED BY THE REPEAL OF THE FREEDOM TO BREASTFEED ACT.
20250HB0526PN1718 - 4 - (2) EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH (3), ANY DIFFERENCE IN LANGUAGE BETWEEN 35 PA.C.S.
CH.
58A AND THE FREEDOM TO BREASTFEED ACT IS INTENDED ONLY TO CONFORM TO THE STYLE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES AND IS NOT INTENDED TO CHANGE OR AFFECT THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT, JUDICIAL CONSTRUCTION OR ADMINISTRATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FREEDOM TO BREASTFEED ACT.
(3) PARAGRAPH (2) DOES NOT APPLY TO THE ADDITION OF THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS:
(I) 35 PA.C.S.
§ 58A02.1.
(II) 35 PA.C.S.
§ 58A05.
SECTION 4.
THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.
20250HB0526PN1718 - 5 -
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Action History

  1. Laid on the table, May 14, 2025

  2. First consideration, May 14, 2025

  3. Reported as amended, May 14, 2025

  4. Referred to JUDICIARY, Feb. 10, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 26 co-sponsors · 226 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (26)

Not signed on (226)

226 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 226 →

"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights healthcare
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 526 do?
Adding Pumping Protections to the Freedom to Breastfeed Act
Who sponsors HB 526?
HB 526 is sponsored by Jennifer O'Mara (Democratic), Nancy Guenst (Democratic), Jose Giral (Democratic), Tarik Khan (Democratic), Liz Hanbidge (Democratic), Robert Freeman (Democratic), Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic), Steven R. Malagari (Democratic), Kyle Donahue (Democratic), Carol Hill-Evans (Democratic), Joseph C. Hohenstein (Democratic), Mandy Steele (Democratic), Michael H. Schlossberg (Democratic), Mary Jo Daley (Democratic), Melissa L. Shusterman (Democratic), G. Roni Green (Democratic), Maureen E. Madden (Democratic), Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz (Democratic), Heather Boyd (Democratic), Gina H. Curry (Democratic), Christopher M. Rabb (Democratic), Tim Brennan (Democratic), Tim Briggs (Democratic), La'Tasha D. Mayes (Democratic), Malcolm Kenyatta (Democratic), Elizabeth Fiedler (Democratic), and MaryLouise Isaacson (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 526?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 10, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 526?
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