The state House of Representatives voted on the bills listed below, sending them to the Senate for concurrence. Here is how our representatives voted on them:

House Bill 71

The legislation allows for the use of safety cables when towing vehicles. Currently, when two vehicles are connected by certain hitches or devices, safety chains are required to be equipped in order to prevent the tow bar from hitting the ground should the tow bar fail or become disconnected.

Safety cables, however, are often preferred as they are typically lighter and easier to handle, while being just as strong and capable as conventional chains.

Vote: 202-0

Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader.

House Bill 377

The bill would ban and criminalize the sale and manufacture of tianeptine, a highly addictive, opioid-like substance commonly marketed as “gas station heroin.” It would allow conviction of the offense to carry penalties of up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $15,000.

Vote: 200-2

Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader.

House Bill 2084

The bill would make higher education more affordable by establishing the Pennsylvania Promise Program, which would provide scholarships to eligible students attending community colleges, state universities, and state-related institutions. It would focus on households earning up to $250,000 annually.

Vote: 119-83

No: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader.

House Bill 2450

The bill would amend the Radiation Protection Act to update and increase the fees used by the Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to monitor and inspect nuclear power reactors and radioactive material shipments.

The facility fees would increase from $650,000 to $825,000 per site; a flat annual fee of $100,000 would be allowed for nuclear reactors that have permanently shut down and store their spent fuel in dry casks on-site; and transport fees would raise to $3,000 for escorted vehicles and $5,000 for railroad car or river barge shipments.

Vote: 199-3

Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader.

House Bill 2540

The bill would require the Department of Human Services to transition all SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer access cards to secure, chip-enabled technology by Jan. 1, 2028. The legislation is designed to protect Pennsylvanians from “skimming,” a widespread scam where thieves use hidden devices on card readers to clone magnetic strips and steal food assistance funds.

Vote: 202-0

Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader.

House Bill 1616

The bill would increase penalties for infant trafficking and establish compassionate sentencing options for minors exploited in sex trafficking. It would upgrade the crime of dealing in infant children (children aged one year or younger) from a first-degree misdemeanor to a first-degree felony, increasing potential penalties to up to 20 years in prison.

Vote: 200-2

Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader.

House Bill 2243

The bill would ensure that children that are found to be sexually exploited are immune from being prosecuted for any nonviolent crime they were forced to commit while being trafficked. This legislation would also ensure that minors cannot be charged with offenses related to prostitution to specify that they cannot be charged with a crime that is a result of their exploitation.

Vote: 198-4

Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader.

House Bill 2264

The bill would require the state’s major electric distribution companies to submit Virtual Power Plant proposals to the Public Utility Commission by July 1, 2027. VPPs connect household technologies (such as smart thermostats, solar batteries, and electric vehicles) into a coordinated network to dynamically reduce or dispatch energy during peak demand.

Homeowners who opt into the voluntary program receive direct compensation, with mandated enhanced incentives for low-income households and historically disadvantaged communities.

Vote: 107-95

Yes: Gary Day.

No: Jamie Barton, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader.

House Bill 2307

The bill would reform the Special Education Contingency Fund by increasing the portion of the state’s annual appropriation dedicated to it from 1% to 2%, providing better financial resources to school districts facing extraordinary, unanticipated special education costs.

It would update how contingency funds are allocated, prioritizing districts with the highest costs relative to their total special education budget. Smaller school districts and those experiencing emergent, extraordinary special education costs will be the primary beneficiaries, ensuring students receive the necessary service.

Vote: 202-0

Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader.