Pennsylvania HB1961: An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the PA Licensure Compact; providing for the form of the compact; and imposing additional powers and duties on the Governor, the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the PA Licensure Compact.

What the bill says

From the amended text, February 4, 2026:

SENATE AMENDED PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2470, 2551 PRINTER'S NO. 2870 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL No. Session of INTRODUCED BY MERSKI, BURNS, HILL-EVANS, HARKINS, KENYATTA, FRANKEL, HOHENSTEIN, SANCHEZ, SHUSTERMAN, CURRY, CEPEDA- FREYTIZ, SAMUELSON, RIVERA, K. HARRIS, SCOTT, KHAN AND BOROWSKI, OCTOBER 17, 2025 SENATOR STEFANO, CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, IN SENATE, AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 4, 2026 Authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the PA Licensure Compact; providing for the form of the compact; and imposing additional powers and duties on the Governor, the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the PA Licensure Compact. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows: Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the PA Licensure Compact Act. Section 2. Authority to execute compact. The Governor of Pennsylvania, on behalf of this State, is hereby authorized to execute a compact in substantially the following form with any one or more of the states of the United States and the General Assembly hereby signifies in advance its approval and ratification of such compact: PA LICENSURE COMPACT Section 1. Purpose In order to strengthen access to Medical Services, and in recognition of the advances in the delivery of Medical Services, the Participating States of the PA Licensure Compact have allied in common purpose …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Robert Merski (D, 2) · primary sponsor
• Frank Burns (D, 72)
• Carol Hill-Evans (D, 95)
• Patrick Harkins (D, 1)
• Malcolm Kenyatta (D, 181)
• Dan Frankel (D, 23)
• Joseph Hohenstein (D, 177)
• Benjamin Sanchez (D, 153)
• Melissa Shusterman (D, 157)
• Gina Curry (D, 164)
• Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz (D, 129)
• Stephen Samuelson (D, 135)

Latest actions

1. October 22, 2026: Act No. 76 of 2026, Oct. 22, 2026
2. October 22, 2026: Approved by the Governor, Oct. 22, 2026
3. October 22, 2026: Presented to the Governor, Oct. 22, 2026
4. October 22, 2026: Signed in Senate, Oct. 22, 2026
5. October 21, 2026: Signed in House, Oct. 21, 2026
6. October 21, 2026: (Remarks see House Journal Page ), Oct. 21, 2026
7. October 21, 2026: House concurred in Senate amendments, Oct. 21, 2026 (203-0)
8. October 21, 2026: Re-reported on concurrence, as committed, Oct. 21, 2026
9. October 21, 2026: Referred to RULES, Oct. 21, 2026
10. October 21, 2026: In the House

Votes

• House Rules: Re-report Bill As Committed (October 21, 2026): 33 yea, 0 nay, passed
• House Floor: HB1961, RC 1610 (October 21, 2026): 203 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Senate Floor: HB1961, RC 570 (October 20, 2026): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Senate Appropriations: Re-Reported as Committed (July 10, 2026): 22 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure: Reported as Amended (February 4, 2026): 14 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure: Adopt Amendment (February 4, 2026): 14 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is HB1961?

HB1961 is a bill in the Pennsylvania Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the PA Licensure Compact; providing for the form of the compact; and imposing additional powers and duties on the Governor, the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the PA Licensure Compact.

What is the status of HB1961?

Signed into law as of October 22, 2026. Latest action: Act No. 76 of 2026, Oct. 22, 2026 (October 22, 2026).

Who sponsored HB1961?

Robert Merski (D, 2), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HB1961?

On the Pennsylvania Legislature website: https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb1961