Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 14 D · 1 R cosponsors

HB 2398 — An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in local organizations and services, providing for flood evacuation plans for organized camps.

Last action — Re-committed to RULES, June 30, 2026

  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 April 16, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 15 sponsors

    1 primary, 14 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (14 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

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 requires organized camps to create flood evacuation plans.

This legislation mandates that organized camps develop plans for evacuating campers in case of flooding. It aims to enhance safety by ensuring that camps are prepared for flood emergencies.

What this means for you
  • Families: This means families can have more confidence that organized camps are prepared for potential flood emergencies.

Summary

Keeping Sleepaway Campers Safe from Flood Risks

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

36 added · 99 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated bill, HB 2398, now includes provisions requiring organized camps to develop and maintain flood evacuation plans. Camp operators must post evacuation routes and safe locations within the camp and provide these plans to campers and their guardians before the season starts. Additionally, municipalities can refuse to issue or renew licenses for camps that do not comply with these requirements. This change aims to enhance safety and preparedness for campers in the event of flooding.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
3218 PRINTER'S NO.
3218 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
3729 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
WILLIAMS, GILLEN, CERRATO, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, WARREN AND O'MARA, APRIL 16, 2026 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 30, 2026 AN ACT Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania <-- Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to plans for organized camps.ion, providing for flood evacuation The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
WILLIAMS, GILLEN, CERRATO, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND WARREN, APRIL 16, 2026 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, APRIL 16, 2026 AN ACT Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to government and administration, providing for flood evacuation plans for organized camps.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
AMENDING TITLE 35 (HEALTH AND SAFETY) OF THE PENNSYLVANIA <-- CONSOLIDATED STATUTES, IN LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVICES, PROVIDING FOR FLOOD EVACUATION PLANS FOR ORGANIZED CAMPS.
20260HB2398PN3218 - 2 -
20260HB2398PN3729 - 2 - THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA HEREBY ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
TITLE 35 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:
§ 7505.
FLOOD EVACUATION PLANS FOR ORGANIZED CAMPS.
(A) EVACUATION PLANS.-- (1) THE GOVERNING BODY OF EACH POLITICAL SUBDIVISION SHALL REQUIRE THE OPERATOR OF AN ORGANIZED CAMP LOCATED WITHIN 500 FEET OF A SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A WRITTEN FLOOD EVACUATION PLAN FOR THE CAMP PREMISES.
(2) AN EXECUTIVE AGENCY OPERATING AN ORGANIZED CAMP LOCATED WITHIN 500 FEET OF A SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN, OR SHALL CAUSE A LESSEE TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN, A WRITTEN FLOOD EVACUATION PLAN FOR THE CAMP PREMISES.
(B) FILING AND REVIEW.-- (1) THE OPERATOR OF AN ORGANIZED CAMP, INCLUDING AN EXECUTIVE AGENCY, SHALL FILE A COPY OF THE FLOOD EVACUATION PLAN WITH THE AGENCY AND EACH COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS OF JURISDICTION WHERE THE ORGANIZED CAMP IS LOCATED.
(2) THE FLOOD EVACUATION PLAN SHALL BE REVIEWED ANNUALLY AND MODIFIED AS NECESSARY BY THE OPERATOR, INCLUDING AN EXECUTIVE AGENCY, IN CONSULTATION WITH EACH COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION OF JURISDICTION WHERE THE ORGANIZED CAMP IS LOCATED, BEFORE THE CAMP OPENS FOR THE CAMP SEASON.
(C) POSTING AND DISTRIBUTION.--THE OPERATOR OF AN ORGANIZED CAMP SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING DUTIES:
20260HB2398PN3729 - 3 - (1) POST A DIAGRAM OR SUMMARY OF EVACUATION ROUTES AND SAFE LOCATIONS IN EACH SLEEPING AND DINING FACILITY WITHIN THE CAMP PREMISES.
(2) PROVIDE A COPY OR SUMMARY OF THE FLOOD EVACUATION PLAN TO ADULT CAMPERS OR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH CAMPERS BEFORE EACH CAMP SEASON.
(D) ENFORCEMENT.--A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION MAY CONDITION THE ISSUANCE OR RENEWAL OF ANY LICENSE, PERMIT OR ZONING APPROVAL FOR AN ORGANIZED CAMP ON COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SECTION.
A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE AGENCY, SHALL ENSURE THAT THE FLOOD EVACUATION PLAN ESTABLISHED BY THE OPERATOR REMAINS COMPLIANT WITH FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLANS, REQUIREMENTS AND PROTOCOLS.
(E) DEFINITIONS.--AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SUBSECTION UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
"OPERATOR." A PERSON WHO OWNS OR MANAGES AN ORGANIZED CAMP.
"ORGANIZED CAMP." AS DEFINED IN SECTION 1 OF THE ACT OF NOVEMBER 10, 1959 (P.L.1400, NO.497), ENTITLED "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION OF ORGANIZED CAMPS FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND ADULTS;
DEFINING THE DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA;
AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES." "SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA." LAND IN A FLOODPLAIN HAVING A 1% OR GREATER ANNUAL PROBABILITY OF FLOODING AS IDENTIFIED BY THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ON A FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP OR DIGITAL FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP.
SECTION 2.
THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.
20260HB2398PN3729 - 4 -
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Action History

  1. Re-committed to RULES, June 30, 2026

  2. First consideration, June 30, 2026

  3. Reported as amended, June 30, 2026

  4. Referred to VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, April 16, 2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 14 co-sponsors · 238 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (14)

Not signed on (238)

238 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 238 →

"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

public-safety environment health-insurance
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 2398 do?
Keeping Sleepaway Campers Safe from Flood Risks
Who sponsors HB 2398?
HB 2398 is sponsored by Jennifer O'Mara (Democratic), Perry S. Warren (Democratic), Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz (Democratic), Melissa Cerrato (Democratic), Mark M. Gillen (Republican), Dan K. Williams (Democratic), Kristine C. Howard (Democratic), Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic), Danielle Friel Otten (Democratic), Jeanne McNeill (Democratic), Tarah Probst (Democratic), Melissa L. Shusterman (Democratic), Carol Hill-Evans (Democratic), Maureen E. Madden (Democratic), and Tina M. Davis (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 2398?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 16, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 2398?
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