The legislative session in Harrisburg is coming to a close. It appears that Pennsylvania families have been spared the extreme agenda and tomfoolery of the past two years with a narrow Democrat majority in charge of the Pennsylvania House. It is important to celebrate with gratitude the proposals and bills stopped through the combined efforts of pro-family legislators, attentive and engaged citizens, and the watchful efforts of the Pennsylvania Family Council team.

This has been a busy legislative session with more harmful proposed bills than I have ever seen in the past 30 years serving with the PA Family Council. 

This year, our organization tracked and monitored over 100 pieces of legislation that would have undermined family values, religious liberty, and the sanctity of life,  demonstrating why constant vigilance is necessary.

Protecting Life

Pro-abortion legislators made an unprecedented number of attempts to expand abortion access in Pennsylvania – more than  30 bills in this legislative session alone. House Bill 2304, the abortion industry’s wishlist bill, would have overturned every reasonable protection currently in place, including removing protections for babies born alive in failed abortions. It would have eliminated parental consent requirements for minors seeking abortions while opening the door to painful, late-term abortions and forced taxpayer funding of these procedures.

Rep Tarik Khan, D-Phila., joined by Planned Parenthood, announced with fanfare his legislation to remove the requirement that abortion facilities meet the same health and safety regulations as all other ambulatory surgical centers, regulations enacted in the wake of the infamous case of Dr. Kermit Gosnell and his abortion facility in West Philadelphia that because known as a “House of Horrors.”

Religious Freedom

The assault on religious freedom and family values was equally concerning. HB 300, which garnered 89 co-sponsors, threatened to make radical changes to our state’s accommodation law by creating special protected classes that would infringe on religious freedom and put women at risk in sex-segregated private spaces. This legislation would also have forced female athletes to compete against biological males and compromised women’s privacy rights in appropriately sex-segregated bathrooms, locker rooms, dorms, and shelters. Religious entities such as Christian schools and ministries could have lost their right to exercise their convictions about human sexuality, while creative professionals and medical doctors would have been compelled to violate their conscience. We have seen the negative impact of this kind of legislation in Colorado.

Marijuana

The marijuana industry continues to lobby in the halls of the Pennsylvania State Capitol, advocating for the recreational use of harmful high-potency, THC products. These are often marketed in kid-friendly ways, as well as in ways where the state incentivizes the use of these addictive drugs. As already evident in other States, full legalization and the proliferation of pot shops would result in great harm to  the health and safety of Pennsylvania citizens, particularly our youth. 

Why does stopping bad legislation matter? Because laws shape culture, and culture shapes our children’s future. When harmful bills fail to advance, it’s often because organizations and citizens have worked diligently behind the scenes – analyzing legislation, educating lawmakers, mobilizing constituents, and making compelling arguments in legislative hearings. 

The good news is all of these proposed bills were stopped this past legislative session – often thanks to concerned citizens using their voice to contact their state lawmakers in opposition. Yes, our collective voice can make a difference.

The volume of concerning legislation reveals the increasingly coordinated nature of efforts to reshape Pennsylvania’s religious and social landscape. Many bills introduced this session were part of larger packages, designed to advance specific ideological agendas through multiple legislative angles. This sophisticated approach requires an equally sophisticated response from those defending traditional family values and religious freedom.

Looking ahead to 2025, the stakes couldn’t be higher. While we celebrate that many concerning bills didn’t advance this year, we must remember that elections continue to have consequences. Pennsylvania citizens must be diligent in engaging and speaking up with their local elected officials to ensure conservative voices continue to be heard. Your engagement can help ensure Pennsylvania remains a place where religious liberty is protected, families can thrive, and life is cherished.