PA Gov. Josh Shapiro Signs More Than 2 Dozen Bills Into Law

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Josh Shapiro signed more than two dozen bills into law last week, giving him 102 thus far in 2024.

Among others, the new laws will affect alcoholic beverage consumers, veterans, medical professionals, barbers, cosmetologists, public school students, community college students and landlords.

The bills that became laws include:

House Bill 115: Revamps the state's existing probate law to make it easier for grandchildren, grandparents, nephews, nieces, aunts and uncles to claim money and property from a deceased relative provided they are the decedent's closest surviving relative.

House Bill 327: Retools the state's law regulating barbers and cosmetologists, who now are permitted to practice in a mobile setting. Service providers can now bring a fully equipped salon or barbershop to places such as a home, senior center or recreation center.

House Bill 663: In the event of a student residency dispute between school districts, a district no longer can remove the student from classes while it is being determined in which district the student should be enrolled.

House Bill 897: The new law guarantees all community college students who earn a two-year associate's degree admission as a junior to a Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education school.

House Bill 1032: Establishes a grant program for school districts, intermediate units, career and technical schools and community colleges to fund solar energy projects. Grants will cover equipment and installation costs, permit fees, energy storage and utility interconnection.

House Bill 1633: Nullifies health care non-compete clauses that were forcing doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to leave the state or their profession for up to two years if they left their jobs.

Senate Bill 447: Codifies into law the PA VETConnect program established to link Pennsylvania's 700,000-plus veterans to local and state resources available to them.

Senate Bill 24: Permits the Pennsylvania Treasury Department to automatically return single-owner property valued up to $5,000 to the rightful owner. The law enables the proactive return of unclaimed property for claims in which establishing ownership requires only proper identification.

Senate Bill 688: Allows restaurants, bars, beer distributors, grocery stores and convenience stores to sell ready-to-drink cocktails by purchasing a special permit.

Senate Bill 1236: Clarifies the legal status of squatters in Pennsylvania and streamlines the process for removing them from residential properties.

Also signed into law were House bills 1086, 1466, 1540, 1853, 1889, 1993, 2182, 2200, 2216 and Senate bills 209, 359, 560, 656, 831, 1150, 1154 and 1246.