PA HB54

Amends Pennsylvania's Religious Freedom Protection Act to expand the definition of "substantially burden" on religious exercise to include six specific categories: constraining religiously mandated conduct, curtailing religious expression, denying opportunities for fundamental religious activities, compelling conduct that violates religious tenets, preventing religious assemblies or travel to such gatherings, and authorizing adverse actions against religious exercise

Adds a new definition of "adverse action" meaning the application of civil or criminal penalties or imposition of administrative sanctions

Prohibits state agencies from using gubernatorial emergency orders under Article IV Section 20 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the Governor's general authority under 35 Pa.C.S. § 7301, or control measures under the Disease Prevention and Control Law of 1955 as justification for burdening religious exercise

Takes effect 60 days after enactment

Introduced January 14, 2025 and referred to the House Health Committee