Hamm Initiative Supporting Emergency Responders Now Law

November 12, 2026

HARRISBURG - An initiative authored by Rep. Joe Hamm (R-Lycoming/Sullivan) that would support emergency responders and the patients they serve by cutting through regulatory red tape has been signed into law by the governor.

"Our Commonwealth is blessed with tens of thousands of emergency responders who do everything they can to save those important to us," Hamm said. "They take middle-of-the-night calls, willingly put themselves in harm's way, brave harsh and dangerous weather conditions, and put their lives on the line to provide the best possible care to their patients.

"In other words, they do the hard work. The least we can do is ensure overregulation doesn't get in the way of their life-saving mission," he added.

Hamm is the prime sponsor of House Bill 996, which extends an exception of Department of Health regulations regarding staffing on basic life support ambulances. Specifically, the exception allows an ambulance to transport a patient with a minimum of one emergency medical services vehicle operator (EMSVO) and one EMS provider licensed at the EMT level or above.

The language of his bill was amended into House Bill 453, which passed the House on October 21 and was signed into law the next day. It is now known as Act 66 of 2026.

"This is a common-sense effort that recognizes 9-1-1 calls are potentially life or death situations," Hamm said. "I appreciated this bill becoming law so our first responders can continue caring for people who need it."

Hamm also authored the prior law authorizing the exception in Act 72 of 2022. Under that law, the staffing exception was set to end on April 29, 2027. Act 66 extended the deadline to April 29, 2032. Rep. Hamm plans to introduce legislation in the upcoming 2027-2028 Session to make the extension permanent.