PENNSYLVANIA - While Pennsylvania residents raise their glasses to 2025, the state will be ringing in the New Year with new laws.
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed more than 150 bills into law this year. Here's a look at some of the ones going into effect in 2025:
Lawmaker pay raise
Beginning January 1, 2025, more than 1,300 state lawmakers, judges and top executive branch officials in Pennsylvania will get a 3.4 percent salary increase under a state law that guarantees automatic pay raises.
Shapiro’s salary will rise to nearly $246,000, which puts him in line to be the second-highest paid governor in 2025 behind New York's governor, according to the Associated Press.
Safe havens
Urgent care centers and health care providers will be included in Pennsylvania's Safe Haven law beginning January 1, 2025. It allows newborn children to be surrendered to public safety authorities and health care workers without punishment.
Doula access
Starting January 1, 2025, new Medicaid coverage will include reimbursing doulas for childbirth education and support services during pregnancy, labor and delivery and up to one year postpartum.
"Pennsylvania’s recent expansion in Medicaid creates a path for doulas to become certified providers, increasing women’s access to doulas as part of their care teams and helping to improve birth outcomes in Pennsylvania."
New laws for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware coming in 2025
From health care to wage increases, here are some bills that were signed into law for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, and take effect on January 1, 2025:
Biomarker cancer testing
Biomarker testing for cancer will be covered by all health insurance plans regulated by Pennsylvania, including Medicaid, as of January 1, 2025.
"An insurer's coverage for biomarker testing shall be required for the purposes of diagnosis, treatment, appropriate management or ongoing monitoring of a covered person's disease or condition to guide treatment decisions for the covered person"
Perinatal and postpartum mental health
The Perinatal and Postpartum Education Act will kick-start a campaign addressing perinatal and postpartum depression and anxiety before summer of next year.
"Requiring information relating to perinatal or postpartum mood and anxiety disorders and resources to be provided to pregnant patients; and providing for powers and duties of the Department of Health."
Post-traumatic stress injury
Emergency responders, including EMS providers, fire company members, state police officers and peace officers, who develop post-traumatic stress injury will be eligible for worker's compensation by the end of October 2025.
"Workers' compensation benefits for a post-traumatic stress injury suffered by an individual shall be available during the period of the post-traumatic stress injury."
Health care noncompete agreements
The Fair Contracting for Health Care Practitioners Act will prohibit the enforcement of certain noncompete covenants between an employer and their health care practitioner starting January 1, 2025.
"Noncompete covenants in health care inhibit competition that benefits employees and patients and can deter needed health care practitioners from wanting to practice in Pennsylvania."