“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