State Rep. Russ Diamond (R‑Lebanon) and other Pennsylvania lawmakers are urging residents to submit comments on a massive 502‑page proposal to rewrite the Commonwealth’s health code. Critics argue the changes could create a new era of “COVID 2.0” by granting health officials broad “police power” over citizens during future disease outbreaks.
Key concerns from legislators
Diamond called the proposal “COVID 2.0, but even worse,” saying Governor Josh Shapiro is trying to sidestep a 2021 constitutional amendment that limited the governor’s disaster‑declaration powers to 21 days unless the General Assembly extends them. “We were the only state in the nation to reduce our governor’s powers after COVID,” Diamond noted, adding that the draft includes language on “surveillance, segregation and quarantine.”
One highlighted provision would allow the Department of Health or a local health authority to enter an apartment, building, school, college, university, or other location “as necessary to conduct its investigation” under the new rules. Diamond warned that such authority could let officials enter homes without a warrant.
Official response
Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen’s office said Governor Shapiro did not personally draft the updates and rejected the characterization of the changes as a scare tactic. “Any misconstruing of these proposed changes designed to scare Pennsylvanians is inaccurate and disingenuous,” spokesperson Neil Ruhland told Fox News Digital.
Shapiro’s office emphasized that the governor’s philosophy is that “public health depends on trust” and that the regulations are part of a broader effort to update roughly 200 regulatory areas across state agencies. The administration also stressed respect for parental rights, noting that the proposed rules would not create a new mask mandate but would modernize disease‑control language.
Public‑comment process
The Department of Health began drafting the updates several years ago, saying the existing regulations are 25 years old and need modernization to better support evolving public‑health needs. The public‑comment period ends later this month, after which Governor Shapiro will review feedback and the regulations could be revised.
State House Minority Leader Jesse Topper (R‑McConnellsburg) warned that the changes could expand government authority beyond what the Commonwealth Constitution allows. “We don’t want unelected bureaucrats making those decisions,” he said, recalling Pennsylvania’s strict limits on emergency powers.
State Sen. Doug Mastriano, who was nominated by President Trump to serve as U.S. ambassador to Slovakia, echoed the sentiment, calling the draft an “end‑round” around voters’ wishes. Lieutenant‑governor candidate Jason Richey described the proposal as allowing officials to “look at your medical records, enter any building without a warrant, and even talk to your child without your consent.”
What’s at stake
If adopted, the revised code would broaden the list of reportable diseases and give health officials clearer authority to investigate outbreaks. Supporters argue this is necessary to protect public health in a post‑pandemic world, while opponents fear it could erode constitutional protections and parental rights.
Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to review the proposed Regulation 10‑242, “Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases,” and submit their comments online before the deadline. The outcome could set a precedent for how states balance public‑health preparedness with individual liberty.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
