We, the undersigned lawyer-legislators of the Pennsylvania state House of Representatives, are appalled though tragically not surprised by President Trump's latest attack on the rule of law. As outlined in the Presidential Memorandum of March 22, 2025, SUBJECT: Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court, the President instructed the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to weaponize the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Rules of Professional Conduct, and any other regulations governing attorney conduct and discipline to silence the zealous advocacy of lawyers and law firms across the nation. We will not allow the Trump Administration’s attempt with this memorandum to chill legal representation that inconveniences its efforts to undermine the Constitution, gut essential programs, attack vulnerable groups and individuals, and otherwise subvert the rule of law to go unchallenged. Read more
“As I am currently working on bills to eliminate fines and limit the use of solitary confinement for youth in Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system; I am eager to participate in this prestigious fellowship,” said Kinkead, D-Allegheny. “Connecting with legislators and leading experts from around the country who are working to create a better justice system for juveniles in their own communities is a unique opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of what strategies have worked in other states and implement them here.” Read more
HARRISBURG, April 2 – State Reps. Arvind Venkat, Melissa Cerrato, Jose Giral, Bridget M. Kosierowski, Kristin Marcell, Natalie Mihalek, Jeremy Shaffer and Ryan Warner have introduced two bipartisan bills that would ensure all Food and Drug Administration-approved formulations of epinephrine – used to treat serious allergic reactions and anaphylaxis – can be administered in Pennsylvania schools and other settings as currently codified in state law. The legislative package (H.B.s 1043 and 1044 ) would replace “epinephrine auto-injector” with “epinephrine delivery system” in current statutes related to the use of epinephrine under state law. In August 2024, the FDA approved a nasal formulation of epinephrine for treatment of serious allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, necessitating an update of current state law. “A quick and decisive response often means the difference between life and death for patients suffering from an allergic reaction, and epinephrine is the definitive treatment for this serious or even life-threatening condition. By making a simple change in statutory terminology, other FDA-approved formulations of epinephrine will be recognized under Pennsylvania law and ensure that we can rapidly treat serious allergic reactions or anaphylaxis in schools and other settings across the Commonwealth,” Venkat, D-Allegheny, said. “I’m so grateful to all my legislative partners for their collaboration Read more
Newly listed grant opportunities Read more
HARRISBURG, March 31 – State Rep. Aerion A. Abney, D-Allegheny, today introduced a bill that would require landlords to share, upon request, utility bills with tenants. The legislation ( H.B. 1034 ) would only apply to tenants who pay their landlords directly for utilities and whose fees are not determined by unit usage meters. “When paying landlords directly for utilities, tenants deserve the assurance that what they’re asked to pay is the same amount reflected on the actual utility bill,” Abney said. “My legislation would create more access and transparency and would minimize landlord tenant disputes over utility costs.” Residents in Abney’s district have been affected by this issue, which a similar law in Maryland has already addressed. Abney’s bill was referred to the Pennsylvania House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee. Read more
ALIQUIPPA, March 27 – A food service grant of $22,252 from the Pennsylvania Department of Education will allow Aliquippa Junior/Senior High School to purchase a new electric tilt skillet for the school cafeteria, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the PA House Majority Caucus, said the new equipment will mean greater efficiency, lower costs, and quicker service for students. “Electric tilt skillets are an excellent investment for school cafeterias because they allow workers to cook large batches of food more efficiently,” Matzie said. “That lowers school utility bills, saves taxpayer dollars and helps staff serve students more quickly. It’s good to see these dollars coming back to Aliquippa schools for a practical food service upgrade.” The funding – part of a package of $332,000 in Food Service Equipment grants awarded to 12 schools statewide – comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The grant funding is available to schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program. More information about the funding is available here: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/newsroom/shapiro-administration-awards-funding-to-12-schools.html . Read more
Legislation would strengthen genetic data protections for Pennsylvanians Read more
HARRISBURG, March 26 – State Reps. Arvind Venkat and Andrew Kuzma have introduced a bipartisan bill that would update the membership of the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy . The legislation ( H.B. 980 ) would add a second pharmacist working in hospitals and health systems and a pharmacy technician to the board, increasing professional representation from five to seven. “Adding these medical specialists to the state pharmacy board strengthens its pool of knowledge and widens its scope of perspectives. This translates into the implementation of more informed, inclusive and insightful oversight of pharmacy practice in Pennsylvania,” Venkat, D-Allegheny, said. “Thank you to Rep. Kuzma for partnering with me on this legislation that would give pharmacists across the Commonwealth more tools and resources to meet the needs of patients.” “By adding professional representation to the board, a wider variety of viewpoints can be weighed when making decisions and implementing policies,” Kuzma, R-Allegheny/Washington, added. “I’m pleased to join with Rep. Venkat on this matter. We are committed to bipartisan efforts to improve the lives of Pennsylvanians.” House Bill 980 amends the Pharmacy Act of 1961 and has been referred to the PA House Professional Licensure Committee. Read more
HARRISBURG, March 25 – State Rep. Aerion Abney’s bill that excludes a portion of a person’s potential revenue when determining their financial eligibility for senior prescription programs was ceremonially signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro at the state Capitol today. Act 118 of 2024 , formerly H.B. 2378, went into effect October 2024 and does not count the total dollar amount, including face value and interest earned, of redeemed savings bonds as part of older Pennsylvanians’ income when they apply for either the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly or PACE Needs Enhancement Tier, otherwise known as PACE and PACENET. “Older Pennsylvanians need to stay connected to the medications they need to maintain and improve their health and well-being. Excluding savings bond earnings also allows them to get the most out of such a proactive investment by keeping more money in their pockets,” said Abney, D-Allegheny. “I want to thank Governor Shapiro, my colleagues in the House and Senate, and all other stakeholders for helping to support PA’s seniors through my legislation.” PACE is funded entirely by the Pennsylvania Lottery and has helped more than 1.6 million Pennsylvania seniors pay for more than 360 million prescriptions. PACE and PACENET serve more than 250,000 older Pennsylvanians. Act 118 of 2024 is Abney’s first bill as a state representative to become law. Read more
“This bill is a no-brainer,” state Rep. Dan Deasy said. “The information we want veterans to see is important to them for all sorts of reasons like access to vet programs on health care, mental health treatment, tax benefits, eligibility for benefits under the state and federal government, just to name a few. They’ve earned the right to have access to all of this and we simply want to make sure they see it.” Read more
Pittsburgh state House member Lindsay Powell on Monday launched a bipartisan pro-housing caucus in Harrisburg, with aims of lowering home costs by creating more residential units across the state. Read more
HARRISBURG, March 25 – State Reps. Lindsay Powell and Tim Twardzik joined a bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers at the state Capitol Monday to launch the Pennsylvania Housing Caucus. Powell said the caucus has three main initiatives for housing in PA: Producing more housing to meet demand by alleviating zoning burdens, ensuring permits do not slow down development, investing in new and affordable housing options, and enabling state funding for land banks and land trusts. Preserving existing housing by increasing repair funding for senior homeowners, offering flexible loans for small landlords, and keeping existing subsidies with properties. Protecting Pennsylvanians’ access to housing by preventing institutional investors from purchasing houses on the market and increasing funds and resources for eviction assistance and first-time homeowners. “Without stable housing, everything else, no matter how well designed, rests on a shaky foundation. That foundation, in many parts of the Commonwealth, is showing cracks, cracks that too many of our neighbors are falling through,” Powell, D-Allegheny, said. “Let’s do what Pennsylvanians sent us here to do – let’s listen, let’s compromise and, most importantly, let’s act.” “Housing is not a partisan issue – it’s a fundamental need. This caucus is committed to finding real solutions that work for all Read more
HARRISBURG, March 24 – State Reps. Arvind Venkat, Paul Friel, Bridget M. Kosierowski and Tom Mehaffie have introduced a bipartisan bill that would hold health insurance companies accountable if they systematically fail to reimburse Pennsylvanians receiving medically necessary care. The legislation ( H.B. 966 ) would require health insurers to issue a public report on the frequency of rejected claims that are overturned on appeal and pay escalating fines if more than 50% of their claim denials are overturned on appeal. “A denial rate of over 50% suggests a disturbing pattern of systematically denying coverage for medically necessary care. Not only that, these entities are assuming Commonwealth residents will be deterred by the mountain of red tape necessary to file an appeal,” Venkat, D-Allegheny, said. “Collaborating with bipartisan colleagues on this legislation means more than holding insurers accountable. As an emergency physician, it’s my duty to help patients across the state receive coverage for which they have already paid to maintain and improve their health and well-being.” “An increasing number of people are aware that they can challenge denied health care claims through their insurer and, if necessary, the Insurance Department. However, the appeals process can be lengthy and complex, leading many to forgo it due to the administrative burden involved,” Friel, D-Chester, added. “The potential for Read more
HARRISBURG, March 19 – Republican and Democratic chairs of the House Health Committee Kathy Rapp and Dan Frankel joined forces Wednesday to celebrate the passage of legislation aimed at reducing health care disparities in rural areas by providing grants to health care facilities for the payment of health care workers’ education debt. “Our rural health care providers are in crisis, facing persistent shortages that make it harder for Pennsylvanians to get the care they need,” said Rapp, R-Crawford/Forest/Warren. “This bill is a common-sense solution that benefits both medical professionals and the communities they serve. By easing the financial burden on providers, we can encourage more of them to bring their skills to rural areas, ensuring better access to quality care.” The bill, H.B. 157 , sponsored by Rapp and Frankel, received unanimous approval by the committee on Feb 5, 2025. “When hospitals and clinics in rural areas can’t hire enough health care workers, entire communities suffer,” said Frankel, D-Allegheny. "Patients shouldn’t have to drive long distances just to see a doctor or receive emergency care. This bill prioritizes the people who make health care possible – our frontline providers – so they can continue serving the communities that need them most.” Eligibility for the Rural Health Care Grant Program Under the proposal, Read more
HARRISBURG, March 19 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today adopted a resolution introduced by state Rep. Rob Matzie honoring the work of the commonwealth’s natural gas utility workers. Matzie, who is chairman of the House majority caucus, said he introduced H.R. 85 – designating March 18, 2025, as “Natural Gas Utility Worker Appreciation Day” in Pennsylvania – to recognize these employees for the labor-intensive, often-hazardous work they perform and the essential role they play on behalf of residents and businesses. “Natural gas utility workers are first responders, technicians, heavy equipment operators, construction workers, safety investigators and troubleshooters all rolled into one,” Matzie said. “They go out in all hours and all weather – often to work amidst noise, fumes and other hazardous conditions – to safely maintain our vast natural gas infrastructure. “They keep our houses warm, our showers hot, our gas stoves cooking and our gas-powered businesses running smoothly. Thanks to their efforts, we have a safe, abundant supply of cleaner energy and the peace of mind that goes with knowing that there are dedicated, safety-minded workers on the job 24/7. I’m grateful for the work they do.” Natural Gas Utility Workers Day is recognized nationally on March 18 because this is the anniversary of the New London, Texas, Read more
Newly listed state grant programs Read more
HARRISBURG, March 18 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today adopted a resolution introduced by state Rep. Rob Matzie to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis. Matzie, who is chairman of the House majority caucus, said he introduced H.R. 31 – designating March 9-15, 2025, as “Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week” in Pennsylvania – to shed greater light on this central nervous system disease that affects nearly 1 million Americans. “This issue is personal to me because my father lived with MS,” Matzie said. “Early diagnosis is critical, even though we don’t yet have a cure, because timely treatment can delay the progression of the disease and improve long-term outcomes.” Matzie said MS occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath that coats and protects the nerve fibers in the central nervous system, leaving inflammation and scarring that disrupts the transmission of nerve signals. Symptoms vary from person to person but commonly include abnormal fatigue and weakness, vision problems, balance and coordination problems, muscle spasms, numbness or tingling, bladder and bowel problems, difficulty walking and cognitive and mood changes. Most people are diagnosed between ages 20 and 50, although the disease can occur in young children and older adults. Women are about three times more likely than men Read more
Bills proposed to protect children in the juvenile justice system, save taxpayer dollars Read more
“When a loved one passes away, we celebrate and honor their life,” state Rep. Dan Deasy said. “These celebrations are different for everyone but oftentimes, they are catered events with food and drink. They also may happen within days of the loved one’s passing and timing can be unexpected. Off-premise catering permits allow liquor licenses the flexibility in catering off-site locations.” Read more
Lawmakers cast strong bipartisan vote for Mayes, McClinton bill Read more
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