6 New PA Laws: See How They Could Impact You

HARRISBURG, PA — With 2024 now past the halfway mark, several news laws are on the books in Pennsylvania. Gov. Josh Shapiro on Monday signed a half-dozen bills into law impacting state license plates, highway vegetation, acupuncturists, medical patients and insurers, the abused elderly and digital financial transactions.

Here is a look at the state's new laws and what they do:

Create a new veterans license plate

Introduced by Rep. Joe Kerwin (R-Dauphin County), House Bill 73 mandates that PennDOT create a license plate for veterans who participate or participated in Operation Inherent Resolve. Initiated in 2014, the operation coordinates military efforts against ISIL and consists of campaigns in Iraq, Syria and Libya.

Add native vegetation along Pennsylvania highways

House Bill 797, the brainchild of Rep. Brett Miller (R-Lancaster County), requires that PennDOT plant vegetation native to Pennsylvania along state highways when roadside work occurs.

In a memo to colleagues prior to the bill's passage, Miller contended that the state's ecosystem has been disrupted over the years by non-native plants that have become noxious and invasive. He noted that native plants will thrive along highways because they adapt better to local conditions.

Require Pennsylvania acupuncturists to be licensed

Introduced by Rep. Pat Gallagher (D-Philadelphia), House Bill 1490 mandates the licensing of all acupuncturists in the state and requires them to take continuing education programs to get their licenses renewed.

Require Pennsylvania insurers to cover medical patient biomarker testing

House Bill 1754, introduced by Rep. Kyle Mullins (D-Lackawanna County), expands the use of personalized health care by increasing access to biomarker testing and requires state-regulated insurance companies to cover it. Biomarker testing involves biospecimen analysis to help determine a patient's best possible medical treatments.

Bar elderly abusers from benefiting from the abused person's estate

This law expands the 1972 Slayer Statute that prohibits people who murder or who are an accessory to a murder from financially benefiting from the crime. Introduced by Rep. Liz Handbidge (D-Montgomery County), House Bill 1760 bans elderly abusers from realizing any financial gain from the abused.

Modernize digital financial transaction guidelines

Senate Bill 1084, introduced by Sen. Greg Rothman (R-Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties), establishes guidelines to govern transactions involving digital assets such as virtual currencies, non-fungible tokens and electronic accounts and payment obligations.