Pennsylvania House Advances Gas Safety Bill After Deadly Factory Blast

Pennsylvania lawmakers have approved legislation requiring natural gas alarms following a deadly factory explosion, as part of a broader push to strengthen gas safety standards.

(P&GJ) — The Pennsylvania House has passed legislation requiring natural gas alarms in buildings that use gas, part of a broader effort to strengthen safety standards following a fatal explosion at the R.M. Palmer chocolate factory in 2023.

House Bill 1522 would mandate installation of natural gas alarms in businesses, residences and other facilities, addressing risks tied to gas leaks identified in the investigation into the West Reading explosion. The incident killed seven people and injured 10 others.

The measure is the third in a package of bills introduced in response to the explosion, which investigators found was caused by a natural gas leak.

“Three years after this tragedy and one year after the investigation concluded, we have now passed the final bill addressing its cause,” said state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, D-Berks. “There is an empty space in our community left by the seven lives we lost. Their families deserve action to ensure no other community has to endure the same loss.”

The broader legislative package also includes House Bill 1525, which would require operators of steam pipelines in public rights-of-way to register those lines with the Pennsylvania One Call system, and House Bill 1526, which directs the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to work with gas pipeline operators on programs addressing risks to aging plastic pipelines.

All three bills passed the House with bipartisan support and have been sent to the state Senate for consideration.