HARRISBURG – Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) has issued the following statement following The Department of Health’s notification they are withdrawing Proposed Rulemaking – Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases (#10-242 / IRRC # 3490) from consideration by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission on September 25, 2026:
“The withdrawal of Gov. Shapiro and the PA Department of Health’s overbearing and unconstitutional proposed regulations is a tremendous victory for the grassroots efforts of Pennsylvanians. The people of Pennsylvania have been loud and clear in making their voices heard. Thank you to the thousands of citizens who stood up and spoke out about their serious concerns.
“Together we worked to shine a spotlight on the 502-pages of massive Executive Branch overreach. Let me be clear – these proposed regulations should never have been pursued by the Shapiro Administration. From schools, to hospitals, to individual residences, the proposal sought to permit governmental oversight in almost every facet of one’s life, casting aside our Constitutional rights to privacy and unlawful searches and seizures.
“This is a stark reminder that we must continue to be vigilant when the Executive Branch attempts overreach. We cannot and will not allow actions like we saw taken by the Executive Branch during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to be put in place again. Protecting the freedoms and rights of Pennsylvanians remains of utmost importance for our Senate Republican Caucus.”
Media Contact: Kate Flessner