Domestic violence survivors get unemployment access. Repeat DUI offenders face tougher penalties. And vape shops have a year to clear their shelves.
Governor Josh Shapiro signed six bills into law Monday, December 22, 2025, and while none were written specifically for northeastern Pennsylvania, several will have direct impact on residents across Monroe, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, Pike, and Carbon counties.
Here’s what changed and why it matters locally.
Domestic Violence Survivors Can Now Access Unemployment Faster
For years, domestic violence victims who fled dangerous jobs faced a brutal catch-22: leave work to stay safe, then wait months for the state to decide whether they qualified for unemployment benefits.
House Bill 274 fixes that.
Under the new law, survivors can provide confidential documentation — a protection order, medical records, or a statement from a counselor or shelter worker — when they first file for unemployment. No more waiting for a formal adjudication that could take months.
The bill also protects seasonal workers in construction, landscaping, and hospitality from looming benefit cuts. A calculation change that would have reduced payments starting January 2026 has been pushed back to 2029.
Northeastern Pennsylvania has significant seasonal employment in tourism and construction, making both provisions relevant to local workers.
Repeat DUI Offenders No Longer Get a Free Pass
This one responds to a May 2025 Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that upended DUI enforcement statewide.
In Commonwealth v. Shifflett, the court held that completing the ARD program — Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, commonly offered to first-time DUI offenders — couldn’t be used to enhance penalties if someone got another DUI. The ruling meant someone could complete ARD, get arrested for DUI again, and still be sentenced as a first-time offender.
Prosecutors were furious. Many threatened to stop offering ARD entirely, which would have clogged courts and eliminated a program that’s helped thousands of first-time offenders get treatment instead of jail.
House Bill 1615 creates a new offense: “DUI Following Diversion.” Anyone who drives drunk within 10 years of completing ARD will now face second-offense penalties. The law also requires PennDOT to keep ARD records for 12 years and strengthens penalties for DUI-related vehicular homicides.
Wayne County Sheriff Chris Rosler was among the law enforcement officials who publicly supported the crackdown, arguing it closes a loophole that put dangerous drivers back on the road.
“There is no such thing as a freebie when it comes to driving while intoxicated,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said.
Vape Shops Have About a Year to Comply — Or Close
House Bill 1425 creates a statewide registry of legal vaping products. If a product isn’t on the list, it can’t be sold.
The registry will be based on FDA authorization. Only 39 vape products have received FDA marketing orders — all tobacco or menthol flavored, all from four manufacturers, three of which also sell traditional cigarettes.
That means most flavored vapes currently on Pennsylvania shelves will become illegal to sell once the registry takes effect, roughly six to ten months from now. Retailers get a 120-day sell-through period after the directory is published.
Supporters say the law targets illicit Chinese-manufactured products marketed to teenagers. Sheriff Rosler, writing in the River Reporter earlier this year, called illegal vapes “seed money for fentanyl labs and weapons purchases.”
Critics, including both vaping industry groups and some public health advocates, say the law will shut down independent vape shops while benefiting big tobacco companies whose products dominate the FDA registry.
Retailers who sell unlisted products face fines starting at $500 per product, escalating to license revocation for repeat violations.
Liquor Code Gets Minor Updates
House Bill 467 makes technical changes to Pennsylvania’s liquor laws, updating definitions and regulations for breweries and retail dispensers. The changes are largely administrative, reflecting modern business practices rather than expanding what’s legal to buy or sell.
Township Vacancies Get Streamlined
House Bill 1651 addresses a niche but real problem: what happens when a township supervisor seat is vacant and the board that’s supposed to fill it is also short-staffed?
The law creates an expedited process for second-class townships to fill vacancies when the vacancy board itself has open seats, and clarifies conflict-of-interest rules for vacancy board chairs.
Most townships in northeastern Pennsylvania are second-class townships, making this procedurally relevant even if it doesn’t affect daily life.
Pennsylvania Gets a New Monument
Senate Bill 734 authorizes a commemorative bell monument at the State Capitol to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. The “America250PA Semiquincentennial Celebration Bell” will honor Pennsylvania’s role in the nation’s founding.
Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the Constitution was drafted, will be a focal point of national celebrations. The monument ensures Harrisburg has its own marker of the milestone.
What takes effect when:
- DUI changes (HB 1615): 30 days after signing
- Unemployment changes (HB 274): 60 days after signing for most provisions; domestic violence eligibility takes effect in 6 months
- Vape registry (HB 1425): Directory published approximately 6 months after signing; enforcement begins 4 months after that
- Township vacancies (HB 1651): Immediate
- Liquor code updates (HB 467): Immediate
- 250th anniversary monument (SB 734): Immediate authorization
The Pocono Review covers Monroe, Wayne, Pike, Carbon, Lackawanna, and Luzerne counties. Contact the newsroom at tips@poconoreview.com.