HARRISBURG, July 16 — Reps. Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny, and Abby Major, R-Armstrong/Westmoreland, have introduced a bipartisan bill to legalize recreational cannabis for adult use in Pennsylvania. House Bill 20 would establish a stable, well-regulated cannabis market that prioritizes public safety and public health, protects children from exposure, promotes social justice and fosters economic opportunity. “By failing to legalize, Pennsylvania is sending millions in needed revenue to other states and failing to address generations of injustice done in communities as a result of the criminalization of recreational cannabis,” Kinkead said. “This bipartisan legislation was crafted with considerable input from stakeholders at every level and reflects the strong support for legalization among Pennsylvanians.” Kinkead said the bill would boost local economies and create more than 30,000 new jobs, while also creating a much-needed new revenue stream for the state. “Representative Kinkead and I have worked diligently to craft a piece of legislation that we believe both parties can get behind using lessons learned from the other 24 states that have already done so,” Major said. “Anyone who believes in personal liberty and fiscal responsibility for Pennsylvania should support the legalization of adult-use cannabis.” Key features of the bill include: Independent regulation Read more
HARRISBURG, July 14 – State Rep. Dr. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny, issued the below statement on the potential loss of health insurance for nearly a half-million people if federal Medicaid cuts impact premium tax credits currently subsidizing people who get their health insurance from Pennie and the Affordable Care Act. “As an emergency physician, I have seen what happens when people lose health insurance and fall into medical debt when they become ill. Patients fear seeking necessary health care and present later in illness and sicker than they should. I have unfortunately even seen patients die from fears of medical debt hanging over them. No one chooses to have medical debt -- it happens unexpectedly when one becomes ill at the worst time imaginable. No one thinks this is a positive feature of our health care system. “I have spoken out about the threat to Medicaid from the federal reconciliation bill. But there is a more immediate threat to the health of all Pennsylvanians from this legislation. “Nearly half a million Pennsylvanians get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act through the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange, or PENNIE. These are middle- and working-class folks who can afford health insurance because of enhanced premium tax credits from the federal government reducing their costs. This benefits all of us as when more people are insured, those costs do not get shifted onto those with Read more
“This is really about making sure veterans know where to turn for resources they’ve earned while serving our country,” state Rep. Dan Deasy said. “Whether they need help accessing benefits, support for their families, or just a connection to local resources, this will point them in the right direction. It might seem like a small change, but it can make a big difference for someone who needs it.” Read more
HARRISBURG, July 7 – After unanimously passing through the Pennsylvania General Assembly, legislation that would allow family of members of the Pennsylvania National Guard to claim additional education benefits each time the Guard member reenlists or renews their service commitment has been signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro, the bill’s co-prime sponsors, state Reps. Arvind Venkat and Craig Williams, announced. Act 32 of 2025 (formerly H.B. 865) amends the state’s Military Family Education Program, also known as the Pennsylvania GI Bill, to clarify that the program’s education assistance is a renewable benefit each time a Guard member reenlists or renews their service obligation for an additional six-year term. “The work of our military members comes with many sacrifices, including some taken on by their families as their loved one leaves to serve,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny. “Now that it is clear the education benefit is renewable with each enlistment, the Military Family Education Program will now be able to give back an even greater amount to these resilient families while also boosting retention within the Guard.” “Every reenlistment is a sacrifice. Not just for the service member, but for their entire family,” said Williams, R-Delaware/Chester. “As a Marine Colonel and combat veteran, I know what that continued commitment requires. House Bill 865 reflects our promise to Read more
HARRISBURG, July 7 – On the heels of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s announcement that Pennsylvania has officially joined interstate compacts to expand access to physicians, nurses and physical therapists, the state House today unanimously passed legislation introduced by Reps. Arvind Venkat and Kristin Marcell that would enable Pennsylvania to enter a similar compact for audiologists and speech-language pathologists. Venkat, D-Allegheny, said he introduced H.B. 80 to address the growing shortage of professionals in these fields. “Thousands of Pennsylvanians of all ages require treatment for hearing, speech and language-related disorders, but increasing demand for these services has led to a shortage of professionals that can make it difficult to access these services,” Venkat said. “Today, we move a step closer to closing those gaps with the House’s passage of my legislation, with Representative Marcell, that would enable Pennsylvania to join Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact. “Joining the compact would allow audiologists and speech-language pathologists licensed through the ASLP-IC in 36 states and one territory, including our neighboring states of Delaware, Maryland, Ohio and West Virginia, to practice here in the Commonwealth. It’s an important way we can ease the shortage of these health care professionals in our state and ensure that patients get the services they need.” Read more
State Rep. Dan Frankel, chair of the Pennsylvania House Health Committee, and Rep. Aerion A. Abney, chair of the Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation, issued a joint statement in response to UPMC’s apparent efforts to prevent nurses at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital from voting in a union election, and UPMC’s failure to engage with local legislators seeking to safeguard a fair election process. Read more
“I introduced this bill to help ensure easier interactions between law enforcement and drivers with a communication impairment,” said state Rep. Brandon Markosek. “By recognizing a designation on the driver’s license of an individual with a communication impairment, an officer can appropriately adjust and communicate effectively with the driver.” Read more
“Occupational therapists assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help people with disabilities or developmental delays build or regain the skills they need for daily living and independence,” said state Rep. Brandon Markosek. “Joining the compact will help reduce barriers to care, especially in rural and underserved communities, while giving providers the ability to practice across state lines without jumping through redundant licensing hoops.” Read more
HARRISBURG, July 1 – State Reps. Carol Kazeem and Heather Boyd, both D-Delaware, and Andre Carroll, D-Phila., of the relaunched bipartisan House PA Youth & Public Safety Caucus on Monday announced a public safety initiative in Harrisburg. Read more
“Too often, veterans miss out on benefits they’ve earned simply because they don’t know what’s available,” Deasy said. “This bill is a commonsense way to make sure that every eligible veteran sees the support that they’ve earned through serving our country, right where they work. I’m proud to see this bill headed to Governor Shapiro’s desk.” Read more
“These boats don’t just sit and rot. They leak fuel, block access, and sometimes even break loose and cause accidents,” state Rep. Anita Kulik said. “Local officials have been asking for clear authority to deal with this, and this bill finally delivers it. I’m glad to see it heading to the governor’s desk and hope to see it signed into law soon so communities can start putting it to use.” Read more
HARRISBURG, June 30 – The House today approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Dan Goughnour, D-Allegheny, to make it easier to rehabilitate and preserve certain historic properties in Pennsylvania. House Bill 1572 would alleviate some of the construction and rehabilitation costs of property preservation by increasing a tax credit available for each project under the state’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit . The tax-credit program provides tax credits to qualified taxpayers who are restoring a qualified historic structure into an income-producing property. Goughnour said that last session, the General Assembly took an important step in protecting the Commonwealth’s rich history by increasing the total tax credits issued per year from $5 million per year to $20 million. However, each qualifying project can only receive a credit of $500,000, and his legislation would increase the per-project cap on the credit to $1.5 million. “Most projects far exceed $500,000 in cost,” Goughnour said. “For instance, of all the projects approved in 2023, only one cost less than $10 million, and the largest totaled $110 million. So, increasing the credit will make preserving these properties more attractive.” The $500,000 credit limit has remained unchanged since 2019. Under the program, no more than 25 percent of the expenditures incurred during the restoration of the Read more
“Let doctors treat patients, and let families care for their kids,” state Rep. Dan Frankel said. “This bill simply allows families to focus on what the research says and what’s best for their child – not whether their county is red or blue.” Read more
HARRISBURG, June 27 – In the wake of major changes to a federal vaccine advisory panel that could threaten Pennsylvanians’ access to life-saving immunizations, state Reps. Arvind Venkat, Bridget Kosierowski and Tarik Khan, all health professionals, are preparing to introduce legislation that would require private insurers and Medicaid to cover FDA-approved vaccines that have been recommended by certain medical organizations. Venkat said the legislation is needed to ensure that critical immunization protections remain available to Pennsylvanians. “As a physician, I know that vaccines are among the most powerful tools we have in our arsenal for preventing disease. The administration of scheduled childhood vaccines and recommended vaccines to adults has protected all Pennsylvanians for decades,” said Venkat. “Unfortunately, recent developments at the federal level – including the firing of all members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and their replacement with at least several known anti-vaccine activists – is a warning sign. “If ACIP fails to continue recommending certain FDA-approved vaccines, insurers will no longer have to cover them, and critical immunizations that protect children and vulnerable Pennsylvanians from deadly diseases would disappear. Beyond the human toll, long-term health care Read more
HARRISBURG, June 26 – To take on the ongoing housing crisis across the state, the Pennsylvania House has passed state Rep. Lindsay Powell’s bill that would establish a new grant program to support improvements to housing stock. House Bill 1650 , introduced by Powell, D-Allegheny, and co-prime sponsored by state Reps. Brandon Markosek, D-Allegheny, and Tim Twardzik, R-Schuylkill, would establish the Pennsylvania Home Preservation Grant Program, a Department of Community and Economic Development-administered program to help local governments improve the existing housing stock in their communities. “Having a safe, healthy home is vital in allowing residents to establish a sense of stability,” Powell said . “This bill would enable people to stay in their homes, while also tackling the housing crisis and allowing our communities to prosper.” The program would address the long waitlists for home repairs by focusing on critical cases, a key success of the Commonwealth’s previous Whole Home Repairs Program, which was funded through one-time federal American Rescue Plan dollars. Over 18,000 homeowners ended up on waitlists for home repairs under the prior program. The bill was considered by the House Housing & Community Development Committee, which reported it out of committee earlier this week in a bipartisan manner. “As chairman and co-prime of the bill, I moved Read more
HARRISBURG, June 24 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury today introduced legislation that would require all Pennsylvania newborns to be tested for Gaucher disease – an inherited genetic disorder with far-reaching health consequences. Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said H.B. 1652 would ensure diagnosis at the earliest possible time, when treatment can help alleviate some symptoms of the disease. “Currently, there is no cure for Gaucher disease, which causes fatty substances to accumulate and enlarge the liver and spleen,” Salisbury said. “People born with the disorder can develop a litany of problems, from organ, blood and bone disorders to gynecological and obstetric problems, to even some cancers. “The good news is that timely detection and treatment can alleviate some of the symptoms and help people achieve better outcomes. My bill would ensure that Gaucher testing is included among the diseases for which Pennsylvania newborns are screened. It’s a simple step that can make a huge difference in the life of someone born with this disease.” Gaucher disease is a genetic condition in which a person is missing an enzyme that breaks down lipids – fatty compounds in the body that serve various important functions. This can result in symptoms including a large liver and spleen, low number of red blood cells, easy bruising, bone pain, bone fractures and lung disease. In rare cases, the Read more
Steele’s resolution requires the Joint State Government Commission to study the efficacy of burying electric and other utility lines in Pennsylvania. This resolution follows the powerful April storms in Allegheny County, which left some residents without power for over two weeks. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 20 – State Rep. Dan Goughnour, D-Allegheny, lauded the significant investment that Japan’s Nippon Steel will make in the Mon Valley under its newly finalized pact with U.S. Steel which will keep the company’s footprint in Pittsburgh. “Good-paying local jobs are the backbone of our area,” Goughnour said. “This deal ensures that those jobs are secure and that the local economy will continue to benefit from the company’s investment in steel-making in the Mon Valley.” The deal finalizing Nippon’s $14.9 billion takeover of U.S. Steel calls for Nippon to invest $11 billion in U.S. Steel facilities through 2028. It also gives the U.S. president power to veto major business decisions. Most U.S. Steel employees will also receive a $5,000 closing bonus from Nippon. Nippon has also committed to keeping U.S. Steel headquartered in Pittsburgh, maintaining production totals that meet domestic demand, and appointing American citizens to high-ranking management positions and a majority of board seats. Read more
BRADDOCK, June 18 – New housing opportunities are coming to the 34 th Legislative District, thanks to $1 million in new funding from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury announced today. Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said the funding awarded through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund will support half a dozen projects to fund construction of affordable housing in Wilkinsburg, strengthen home repair and neighborhood revitalization programs and support services that empower people to break the cycle of homelessness. “Safe, affordable housing means stability to raise a family, access to a network of community support, the ability to pursue job opportunities and so much more,” Salisbury said. “It means having a sense of security and permanence. This new funding will help put more people on that path by supporting projects to expand housing options, help existing homeowners stay in their homes and help people dealing with the threat of chronic homelessness.” Salisbury said the funding includes: $300,000 to Wilkinsburg Community Development Corp. for the Strong Neighborhoods HARP Program, which supports home repairs and neighborhood preservation projects, funds projects to acquire and rehabilitate vacant properties and empowers residents to remain in their homes. $250,000 to Wilkinsburg Land Bank for Phase 3 of the “60 Read more
AMBRIDGE, June 12 – New grants totaling $925,000 from the Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency will help more Beaver County residents find secure, permanent housing and provide existing homeowners the resources they need to stay safe in their homes, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said eight grants – funded by Marcellus Shale Impact Fees and Realty Transfer Taxes – will support Beaver County and local nonprofit programs to bolster housing opportunities and resources for homeowners. “Safe, reliable housing isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity and a critical connection to job opportunities, a stable family environment, and access to the network of support that goes with being part of a community,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding will help more people break free of the chronic risk of homelessness, help new prospective homeowners become more financially savvy and allow homeowners to make needed modifications and repairs so they can stay safe at home.” Matzie said the funding includes: $200,000 to Housing Opportunities of Beaver County to rehabilitate one duplex and one single-family home in Aliquippa, creating four affordable housing units and training underserved young adults in construction. $150,000 to The Salvation Army to help people served by homeless prevention Read more
Please use the form below to sign up for email updates. By completing this form you are acknowledging your request to receive periodic email updates.
By completing this form, you are verifying your request to opt in for email updates...
Thank you. Your email signup has been sent. You should start getting emails within 24 hours.