Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee 8 R cosponsors

SB 1355 — An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in State Veterans' Commission and Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, establishing a pilot program to award grants for veterans traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.

Last action — Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, June 24, 2026

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

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced May 28, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

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.

  • 8 sponsors

    1 primary, 7 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (8 R).

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.

In plain language

The bill establishes a pilot program for grants to treat veterans with TBI and PTSD.

This legislation creates a pilot program aimed at providing grants for the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans. It seeks to enhance access to necessary mental health services for those who have served in the military.

What this means for you
  • Families: This program could help families of veterans by providing access to necessary mental health treatments for TBI and PTSD.

Summary

Treating Veterans with TBI

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

56 added · 60 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Bill SB 1355 has revised the structure of how treatment programs for veterans are managed and where responsibility lies. Specifically, it clarifies that the Department of Health will work in conjunction with the Department to establish a pilot program for awarding grants, rather than just the Department managing it on its own. This change is important because it emphasizes collaborative effort and ensures that health expertise from the Department of Health is incorporated into the treatment initiatives for veterans dealing with traumatic brain injuries and PTSD.

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1752 PRINTER'S NO.
1752 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
1835 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
1355 2026 INTRODUCED BY MASTRIANO, PENNYCUICK, ARGALL, BROOKS, LANGERHOLC, LAUGHLIN, STEFANO AND VOGEL, MAY 28, 2026 REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, MAY 28, 2026 AN ACT Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in State Veterans' Commission and Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, establishing a pilot program to award grants for veterans traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.
1355 2026 INTRODUCED BY MASTRIANO, PENNYCUICK, ARGALL, BROOKS, LANGERHOLC, LAUGHLIN, STEFANO AND VOGEL, MAY 28, 2026 SENATOR MASTRIANO, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AS AMENDED, JUNE 23, 2026 AN ACT Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in State Veterans' Commission and Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, establishing a pilot program to award grants for veterans traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.
(4) An entity the department or the Department of Health <-- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OR THE DEPARTMENT determines appropriate <-- for an award of a grant under this section 1742 (RELATING TO <-- PILOT PROGRAM).
(4) An entity the department or the Department of Health determines appropriate for an award of a grant under this section.
(a) Establishment.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, in <-- consultation with the Department of Health DEPARTMENT, shall <-- establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible entities for the development, implementation and evaluation of treatment.
(a) Establishment.--The department, in consultation with the Department of Health, shall establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible entities for the development, implementation and evaluation of treatment.
(b) Posting.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH shall post <-- information announcing the pilot program and guidelines on the department's DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S publicly accessible Internet <-- website.
(b) Posting.--The department shall post information announcing the pilot program and guidelines on the department's publicly accessible Internet website.
(c) Application.-- (1) Each eligible entity shall apply in the manner determined by the department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
(c) Application.-- (1) Each eligible entity shall apply in the manner determined by the department.
<-- (2) Each eligible entity shall provide, in the 20260SB1355PN1835 - 2 - application, the eligible entity's qualifications, proposed activities, expected outcomes and plans:
(2) Each eligible entity shall provide, in the application, the eligible entity's qualifications, proposed activities, expected outcomes and plans:
(i) For evaluating effectiveness to improve mental health outcomes among veterans.
20260SB1355PN1752 - 2 - (i) For evaluating effectiveness to improve mental health outcomes among veterans.
(d) Regions.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, in <-- consultation with the Department of Health DEPARTMENT, to the <-- greatest extent practicable, shall select one entity each from the eastern, central and western regions of this Commonwealth.
(d) Regions.--The department, in consultation with the Department of Health, to the greatest extent practicable, shall select one entity each from the eastern, central and western regions of this Commonwealth.
(e) Award.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH shall <-- annually award a grant of $150,000 to each of the selected entities for the duration of the pilot program.
(e) Award.--The department shall annually award a grant of $150,000 to each of the selected entities for the duration of the pilot program.
By March 1, 2028, and each year thereafter, the department <-- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH shall submit to the chairperson and <-- minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the House of Representatives a report detailing the awarding of grants in the prior fiscal year, describing the programs and projects that received grants and an 20260SB1355PN1835 - 3 - evaluation of the projects.
By March 1, 2028, and each year thereafter, the department shall submit to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the House of Representatives a report detailing the awarding of grants in the prior fiscal year, describing the programs and projects that received grants and an evaluation of the projects.
20260SB1355PN1835 - 4 -
20260SB1355PN1752 - 3 -
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How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill establishes a pilot program in Pennsylvania to grant funding for the treatment of veterans with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.

  • 51 Pa.C.S. Chapter 17

    SUBCHAPTER E VETERANS TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER TREATMENT Sec. 1741. Definitions. 1742. Pilot program. 1743. Annual report.

    Adds a new subchapter to Title 51 concerning veterans' health treatment.

  • 51 Pa.C.S. § 1741

    "Eligible entity." Any of the following: (1) A nonprofit organization. (2) An academic institution engaged in research with respect to traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorders. (3) A health care provider with expertise in neurorehabilitative therapies. (4) An entity the department or the Department of Health determines appropriate for an award of a grant under this section 1742 (RELATING TO PILOT PROGRAM). "Treatment." With respect to a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder, clinical interventions, the use of therapeutic devices or rehabilitation care provided directly to a veteran with a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder.

    Defines terms relevant to the pilot program for grants.

  • 51 Pa.C.S. § 1742

    (a) Establishment.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, in consultation with the Department of Health, shall establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible entities for the development, implementation and evaluation of treatment.

    Establishes the pilot program for awarding grants for veterans' treatment.

  • 51 Pa.C.S. § 1742

    (b) Posting.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH shall post information announcing the pilot program and guidelines on the department's DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S publicly accessible Internet website.

    Requires the department to provide public information about the pilot program.

  • 51 Pa.C.S. § 1742(c)(1)

    (1) Each eligible entity shall apply in the manner determined by the department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

    Sets forth application procedures for eligible entities.

  • 51 Pa.C.S. § 1742(c)(2)

    (2) Each eligible entity shall provide, in the application, the eligible entity's qualifications, proposed activities, expected outcomes and plans: (i) For evaluating effectiveness to improve mental health outcomes among veterans. (ii) To reduce suicidality and common risk factors for completing suicide, including depression and substance use disorders among veterans. (iii) To mitigate long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorders.

    Details application requirements for grant eligibility.

  • 51 Pa.C.S. § 1742(d)

    (d) Regions.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, in consultation with the Department of Health, to the greatest extent practicable, shall select one entity each from the eastern, central and western regions of this Commonwealth.

    Establishes a regional selection process for grant recipients.

  • 51 Pa.C.S. § 1742(e)

    (e) Award.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH shall annually award a grant of $150,000 to each of the selected entities for the duration of the pilot program.

    Specifies the grant amount for selected entities.

  • 51 Pa.C.S. § 1742(g)

    (g) Expiration.--The authority to award grants under this section shall expire three years from the effective date of this subsection.

    Sets a three-year limit on the grant program.

  • 51 Pa.C.S. § 1743

    By March 1, 2028, and each year thereafter, the department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH shall submit to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the House of Representatives a report detailing the awarding of grants in the prior fiscal year, describing the programs and projects that received grants and an evaluation of the projects.

    Mandates annual reporting on the grants awarded and program evaluations.

Action History

  1. Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, June 24, 2026

  2. Second consideration, June 24, 2026

  3. First consideration, June 23, 2026

  4. Reported as amended, June 23, 2026

  5. Referred to VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, May 28, 2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 245 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (245)

245 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 245 →

"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

veterans healthcare
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 SB 1355 do?
Treating Veterans with TBI
Who sponsors SB 1355?
SB 1355 is sponsored by Doug Mastriano (Republican), Tracy Pennycuick (Republican), David G. Argall (Republican), Michele Brooks (Republican), Wayne Langerholc (Republican), Patrick J. Stefano (Republican), Elder A. Vogel (Republican), and Daniel Laughlin (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 1355?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced May 28, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 1355?
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