PA Senate law and Justice — 2026-09-29

Folks, I'd like to call to order this meeting of the Senate Law and Justice Committee. In order to establish a quorum, I'm going to now call the roll. Boscola.

Oh, sorry.

Ferry.

Here.

Here.

Fontana.

Here.

Here. Pennycook. Here. Here. Picozzi. Proxy. Robinson. Proxy. Tartaglione. Proxy. Ward. Proxy. Laughlin. Here. Here.

Second.

Sure will. Good morning, everyone, and thank you, Chairman Lachlan and Chairman Fontana and members of the Senate Law and Justice Committee for considering Bill 1035, which is also known as Ryan's Law. I will now read a statement from Jim Bartell. Ryan's Law is named after Ryan Bartell, Jim's son, and a young father who died of stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Dear Chairman and members of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, Thank you for considering Senate Bill 1035. At its core, the bill is about dignity at the end of life. It about whether we allow terminally ill patients to remain awake present and comfortable during their final days or whether we force them into unnecessary suffering because of outdated fears and misconceptions. During Ryan Bartel's final weeks, he was heavily sedated with fentanyl and morphine, Not because those drugs worked well, but because they were the only options allowed in his hospital. When Ryan was finally able to access medical cannabis, his pain was managed without sedation. He could speak. He could laugh. He can say goodbye to his wife and his son. That difference matters. This bill would ensure that families in Pennsylvania are not denied that compassionate care. Ryan's Law does not require hospitals or health care facilities to prescribe, store, dispense, or administer medical cannabis. Smoking and vaping are expressly prohibited. Responsibility for obtaining, storing, administering, and removing medical economists rests solely with the patient or the patient's caregiver. The bill establishes clear safety protocols and includes a federal safe harbor provision allowing facilities to suspend compliance immediately if any federal agency initiates enforcement action. And importantly concerns about Medicare and Medicaid funding while understandable are not supported by evidence The Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services have stated that they do not regulate medical economists' use under state law and are not aware of any provider that has lost funding for permitting it. In fact, RiseVal has been in effect in California since 2022, passed unanimously, and implemented without issue. Terminally ill patients already have legal access to medical economists in Pennsylvania. And what this bill does is ensure continued care so that a patient does not lose access to the one medicine that helps them simply because they are admitted to a hospital, hospice, or skilled nursing facility. At the end of life, time is the one thing patients do not have. Ryan's Law gives them comfort, clarity, and choice when it matters most. I respectfully urge you to support this measure and affirm that compassion has a place in our health care system. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Jim Martell, founder and president, Ryan Law Foundation. Thank you very much, Chairman Lachlan, Chairman Fontana, and members of the committee. I urge a yes vote on Senate Bill 1035 Thanks I would like to recognize Senator

I just want to thank Senator King for bringing it forward. It's an important bill, I think. We passed this medical marijuana some years ago. This is the compassion. I mean, I can remember standing on the floor of the Senate and people standing up and clapping when we did it. Probably the only time I can remember that happening. This is part of the reason. The compassion part, I think, is part of it. And so I just want to thank you for bringing it forward.

I got just a couple things to add as well, Senator Kane. I had back surgery in 2002, and my third shift nurse stole my opioids. And I can tell you that I spent eight hours in excruciating pain for a separate reason than this, obviously. But it makes me very compassionate to the people that either can't take opioids for their pain or for whatever reason choose not to, and this is an alternate path for them to seek some relief. I think it's egregious that Pennsylvania passed a medical program that is guided by the Department of Health, and this wasn't included in that legislation initially. It's either medical or it isn't, right? So thank you for bringing this bill to this committee. I fully support it, and I hope everyone on the committee gives it a yes vote. So thank you.