Bill > HB526

This bill amends Pennsylvania's existing Freedom to Breastfeed Act by updating and expanding protections for breastfeeding mothers. The bill provides a clear definition of breastfeeding as the process of feeding human milk to a child, either directly from the breast or by expressing and bottle-feeding milk, and establishes that mothers can breastfeed their children in any location where they are legally allowed to be, regardless of whether the breast is covered. The legislation explicitly states that breastfeeding cannot be considered indecent exposure, open lewdness, obscenity, sexual conduct, or a public nuisance. Additionally, the bill creates a private right of action, allowing individuals whose breastfeeding rights have been denied or restricted to sue in court within two years of a violation. Potential remedies include injunctive relief, statutory damages of $1,000 per violation, recovery of attorney fees, and other equitable relief. The bill reflects a policy stance that breastfeeding is an important act of nurturing that should be protected in the interests of maternal and child health and family values. The legislation will take effect 60 days after its passage and represents a continuation of the existing Freedom to Breastfeed Act with some expanded protections and clarifications.