Overreach on New State Health Regulations
What Would the Regulations Do | How Does the Regulatory Process Work | Can These Regulations be Stopped | Let Your Voice Be Heard!
WHAT DID THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DO?
Under Gov. Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) submitted a 502-page document with proposed regulations which would rewrite massive portions of the rules governing diseases in the commonwealth. If these proposals take effect, DOH would have broad new powers that would have a dramatic impact on the lives every Pennsylvanian by limiting your personal rights.
These regulations were introduced by Gov. Shapiro’s DOH with NO input from the general public and NO input from the legislative branch of the commonwealth. It’s clear the regulations, if enacted, will infringe on the personal medical decisions and privacy of you and your family while also limiting the say of your local government by transferring power and authority to the executive branch of state government.
We think it’s important that you know these regulations are currently making their way through the rulemaking process and encourage you to make your voice heard.
WHAT WOULD THE REGULATIONS DO?
You can review the proposed regulations for yourself, but here are some of the most concerning parts:
- Expanding the authority of the Department of Health and local health agencies to enter any home, school, apartment, healthcare facility or other building without a warrant. (See p. 66, p. 208-209.)
- Giving the Department of Health the power to speak to a student in private without the consent or knowledge of a parent, and making it illegal for anyone to “interfere.” (See p. 66-67, p. 211.)
- Giving the Department of Health greater authority to access a private citizen’s health records. (See p. 67, p. 192.)
- Requiring healthcare providers to input every vaccination into a mandatory statewide government database. (See p. 60-61, p. 199-200.)
- Allowing the Department of Health to unilaterally issue statewide mask mandates and other disease mitigation measures. (See p. 65, p. 206-207.)
HOW DOES THE REGULATORY PROCESS WORK?
The Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC), established by state law, reviews proposed and final regulations from Pennsylvania state agencies – like DOH. IRRC is currently reviewing these proposed regulations, and they are accepting comments from the public – so you can let them know what you think!
IRRC has produced a series of helpful videos to help explain the regulatory process in Pennsylvania.
CAN THESE REGULATIONS BE STOPPED?
Yes! These regulations do NOT have to take effect. If enough concerned Pennsylvanians weigh in, one of three things can happen:
- Gov. Shapiro can withdraw them;
- DOH can withdraw them; or
- IRRC can reject them.
Pennsylvania is the birthplace of freedom, and our citizens do not take this status lightly. When our commonwealth faced draconian shutdowns and overly restrictive mandates from state government during COVID, we joined together to empower Pennsylvania voters to have the final say on whether the governor’s emergency powers should be limited through a constitutional amendment.
These regulations represent a unilateral power grab by the executive branch that threatens our personal privacy rights. Right now, the most important thing we can all do is submit comments to IRRC.
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!
The deadline to submit comments to IRCC is Monday, Sept. 21, 2026.
Many Pennsylvanians have already submitted comments – you can read them all on IRRC’s website.
Email your comments to irrc@irrc.state.pa.us or RA-DHCHAPTR27PROPREG@pa.gov and be sure to reference “Rulemaking #10-242: Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases; IRRC #3490”
