# Pennsylvania SB 981: An Act amending the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known as the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act, further providing for legislative intent, for def . . .initions, for license required, for State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors, for powers and functions of board, for qualifications for license, for procedures for licensing, for reciprocity, for endorsement of out-of-State licenses and for reinstatement of license; providing for restrictions on use of title "Licensed Recreational Therapist"; and further providing for penalties, for license renewal and records and fees and for unlawful practice.

Pennsylvania SB 981, An Act amending the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known as the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act, further providing for legislative intent, for def . . .initions, for license required, for State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors, for powers and functions of board, for qualifications for license, for procedures for licensing, for reciprocity, for endorsement of out-of-State licenses and for reinstatement of license; providing for restrictions on use of title "Licensed Recreational Therapist"; and further providing for penalties, for license renewal and records and fees and for unlawful practice., is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Lynda Schlegel Culver (Republican); status in committee, last action 2025-08-25 (Referred to Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/PA-SB981-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Pennsylvania SB 981
- State: Pennsylvania
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: An Act amending the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known as the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act, further providing for legislative intent, for def . . .initions, for license required, for State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors, for powers and functions of board, for qualifications for license, for procedures for licensing, for reciprocity, for endorsement of out-of-State licenses and for reinstatement of license; providing for restrictions on use of title "Licensed Recreational Therapist"; and further providing for penalties, for license renewal and records and fees and for unlawful practice.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-08-25
- Last action: 2025-08-25, Referred to Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure
- Sponsor: Lynda Schlegel Culver (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 18
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Lynda Schlegel Culver (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Amanda M. Cappelletti (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Carolyn T. Comitta (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Christine M. Tartaglione (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: David G. Argall (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Devlin J. Robinson (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Eddie Day Pashinski (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Elder A. Vogel Jr. (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Greg Scott (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: James Andrew Malone (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jay Costa (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joe Picozzi (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Judith L. Schwank (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Nikil Saval (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharif Street (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Tim Briggs (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tracy Pennycuick (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Wayne D. Fontana (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (1)

- 2025-08-25: Referred to Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure (Senate)

## Bill text

- PN 1124, 2025-08-25: [HTML](https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/HTM/2025/0/SB0981/PN1124), [PDF](https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/DOC/2025/0/SB0981/PN1124), [PDF](https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/PDF/2025/0/SB0981/PN1124)

## Related bills

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- SB 1260: An Act providing for licensure of electrical contractors, electricians, residential electricians, apprentice electricians and probationary electricians; establ… (signed)
- SB 908: An Act amending the act of August 15, 1961 (P.L.987, No.442), known as the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act, further providing for definitions, for specificati… (signed)
- SB 806: An Act providing for unfair methods of competition and for enforcement and penalties. (signed)
- SB 804: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for medical devices; in Commonwealth services, further provid… (signed)
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## Sources
- [PN 1124 (HTML)](https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/HTM/2025/0/SB0981/PN1124)
- [PN 1124 (PDF)](https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/DOC/2025/0/SB0981/PN1124)
- [PN 1124 (PDF)](https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/PDF/2025/0/SB0981/PN1124)

## Related
- [SB 1334: An Act amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Me…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/PA-SB1334-2025-2026)
- [SB 1260: An Act providing for licensure of electrical contractors, electricians, residen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/PA-SB1260-2025-2026)
- [SB 908: An Act amending the act of August 15, 1961 (P.L.987, No.442), known as the Penn…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/PA-SB908-2025-2026)
- [SB 806: An Act providing for unfair methods of competition and for enforcement and pena…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/PA-SB806-2025-2026)
- [SB 804: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/PA-SB804-2025-2026)
- [SB 782: An Act amending Titles 24 (Education) and 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylv…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/PA-SB782-2025-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/PA-SB981-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).