Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 3 R · 2 D cosponsors

SB 716 — An Act amending the act of July 9, 1976 (P.L.817, No.143), known as the Mental Health Procedures Act, in general provisions, further providing for statement of policy and for definitions.

Last action — Referred to Health & Human Services

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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 02, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Prognosis

Advancing 40% · 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.

  • 5 sponsors

    1 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (3 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

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.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

5 changes Share ↗

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

The bill broadens definitions and policies related to mental health treatment, particularly addressing various conditions and enhancing treatment availability.

  • Section 102

    who are mentally ill → with mental illness

    The term 'mentally ill' is updated to 'with mental illness' to promote more inclusive language.

  • Section 102

    mentally ill person → person with mental illness

    The phrase 'mentally ill person' is replaced with 'person with mental illness' to enhance the sensitivity of the language used.

  • Section 102

    who are mentally retarded, senile, alcoholic, or drug dependent shall receive mental health treatment only if they are also diagnosed as mentally ill, but these conditions of themselves shall not be deemed to constitute mental illness: Provided, however, That nothing → with an intellectual disability, an alcohol use disorder or with age-related cognitive decline or dementia shall receive treatment only if they are also diagnosed with a mental illness, but these conditions of themselves shall not be deemed to constitute mental illness. For the purposes of this act, substance use disorder shall be considered a mental illness that may qualify for treatment under this act. Nothing in this act shall prohibit underutilized State facilities for persons with mental illness to be made available for the treatment of alcohol abuse or drug addiction pursuant to the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.221, No.63), known as the 'Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act.'

    The language is modernized and inclusivity is increased by removing outdated terminology while recognizing substance use disorder as a mental illness.

  • Section 103.1

    alcohol [or substance] abuse treatments when the treatment is a co-occurring condition for a person with a primary diagnosis of mental [health] illness. → alcohol abuse treatments when the treatment is a co-occurring condition for a person with a primary diagnosis of mental illness; Substance use disorder.

    The definition includes substance use disorder explicitly, indicating its recognition alongside alcohol abuse treatments in the context of mental health.

  • Section 103.1

    A treatable mental illness that affects a person's brain and behavior, leading to the person's inability to control the person's use of legal or illegal drugs or medications.

    The bill adds a definition for 'substance use disorder', clarifying it as a mental illness for better understanding and treatment alignment.

Action History

  1. Referred to Health & Human Services

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 248 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (248)

248 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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 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

Who sponsors SB 716?
SB 716 is sponsored by Daniel Laughlin (Republican), Wayne D. Fontana (Democratic), Gene Yaw (Republican), Tracy Pennycuick (Republican), and Anthony H. Williams (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 716?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced May 02, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 716?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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