Senate push for abortion bills likely
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Gov. Josh Shapiro made it clear that protecting the right to an abortion will be a priority when the new legislative session begins.
A couple of days before voters handed Democrats the keys to the state Senate on Election Day, a sitting Democratic state senator provided some detail on Shapiro's Election Night remarks.
Sen. Amanda Cappelletti, D-Norristown, criticized Senate Republicans for leaving several abortion-related bills untouched as the 2026-27 legislative session came to an end. It's likely Cappelletti, who served as the Director of Policy for Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates prior to her time in the legislature, will push Senate Democrats to advance those bills when the new session begins in January with Democrats in control of the state House of Representatives, state Senate and the executive branches of state government.
"Wrapping up this legislative session and looking ahead to next Tuesday, access to abortion care is at the very top of my mind. I'm deeply disturbed that the majority party in our chamber was once again unwilling to come to the table and move lifesaving legislation that would protect basic healthcare in Pennsylvania," Cappelletti said on Oct. 30.
Among the legislation Cappelletti singled out are:
– Senate Bill 837, The Reproductive Freedom Act: This legislation would repeal the Abortion Control Act and replace it with a new legal framework aimed at accessibility, privacy, and patient well-being. This legislation would remove abortion from the crimes code and move it into the Pennsylvania health code.
– Senate Bill 881, which would prohibit Pennsylvania courts from cooperating with out-of-state civil and criminal cases involving reproductive healthcare services, and prevent officials from other states from arresting individuals in Pennsylvania for an abortion-related crime.
– Senate Bill 882, which would prohibit Pennsylvania courts from enforcing another state's judgment for a case involving the provision of reproductive healthcare services.
– Senate Bill 883, which would will instruct Pennsylvania's healthcare licensure boards not to take adverse action against providers who offer reproductive healthcare services to out-of-state residents.
– Senate Bill 884, which would instruct insurance companies not to take adverse action against providers who offer reproductive healthcare services to out-of-state residents.
– Senate Bill 885, which would protect Pennsylvania's abortion providers' home addresses from public discovery.
– Senate Bill 886, which would protect reproductive health care records from disclosure in Pennsylvania civil actions or criminal investigations.
– Senate Bill 887, which would shield healthcare providers by allowing doctors to request that only the address of the dispensing health care practice be listed on prescription labels, omitting the name of the individual prescriber or clinic.
– Senate Bill 1197, Repealing Pennsylvania's Pregnancy Exclusion Law: This legislation would repeal Section 5429 of Title 20, ensuring that pregnant people can make their own decisions about the medical care they do or do not wish to undergo regardless of their health status.
On November 30, 2026, all legislative proposals not signed into law will be forced back to restart the legislative process.
"There aren't two ways about it: the Pennsylvania legislature needs to codify access to abortion in our state law now. We have no time to waste," said Senator Cappelletti. "The Pennsylvania House is ready to act, the Governor and First Lady are staunch advocates for reproductive freedoms. All we're lacking is the political will in the Senate. Majorities matter, and who sits at the decision-making tables has widespread impacts in all 67 counties. It's past time we get this done for Pennsylvanians."