At the Capitol: Legislation Passed this Week

Rep. Joseph Ciresi October 3, 2025 | 2:07 PM

Dear Neighbor,

In this weekly e-newsletter, I want to share with you information I hope you will find helpful:

Bills introduced and passed in the House
Fresher School Lunches pilot program
Contractor fraud warning signs
Reminder: Town Hall on Wednesday, October 15
What to expect on Route 422 next week

This week I returned to Harrisburg.

We’re still waiting on the Republican-controlled Senate to pass the budget. Our schools, municipalities, and social services are hurting because they don’t have funding to run in the new fiscal year. I let House leadership know that we should be singularly focused on finalizing the budget, rather than moving legislation at this time.

Nonetheless, my House colleagues and I passed important bills that would help our neighbors and improve our communities:

I was very pleased when my no-nonsense legislation -- (HB 1176) making it easier and less expensive for Pennsylvanians to claim property that’s rightfully theirs -- unanimously passed the House. It is now on the way to the Senate for consideration.

We protected consumers by requiring disclosure of flood-related risk factors during the homebuying process (HB 1704); requiring companies that collect personal information electronically to take steps to protect that data from breaches (HB 997); establishing the Landslide and Sinkhole Insurance Program (HB 589); and giving consumers rights when it comes to their personal data and requiring certain businesses to protect consumer privacy and limit the collection of consumer data (HB 78).

We also protected communities by closing loopholes in our law by expanding background checks for purchases of long guns (HB 1593).

Serving up fresher school lunches with scratch cooking

At a time when obesity is rising across the country thanks in part to a national diet relying on ultra-processed foods, I consider teaching our kids the benefits of eating fresh food and encouraging the development of healthy eating habits as a fundamental part of the educational project here in Pennsylvania.

This week, I introduced legislation, HB 1890, to create a pilot program to use scratch cooking in Pennsylvania public schools.

The pilot program would have school cafeteria staff employ scratch cooking practices, which uses raw, whole ingredients, instead of pre-packaged or ultra-processed food, as the basis of school meals.

You can read more in my press release.

Beware Seniors! Signs of Contractor Fraud

It was encouraging to see strong interest in my event today at the Royersford Free Library: Popular Scams and How to Avoid Them. Unfortunately, we need to remain vigilant about the latest fraud tactics. Many contractors see Pennsylvania’s nearly 2 million senior residents as ripe for construction fraud.

Construction/contractor fraud, or home improvement fraud, includes overpayment for home construction projects, incomplete work or damaged property.

Watch out for these signs of contractor fraud: demands for upfront payment, extra billing for unrequested work, shoddy or non-existent work, altered invoices, and high-pressure sales tactics.

To protect yourself and your finances, keep these things in mind when hiring a contractor:

Get several bids on your home repair to make sure you aren’t overpaying for work.
Carefully verify contractors’ backgrounds. All contractors must display their official registration number on all contracts, estimates, proposals and advertisements distributed within the commonwealth. To verify, call toll free 1-888-520-6680.
Be wary of online ads and social media claims as scammers use fake reviews or PO boxes for their listed addresses to build trust.
Make sure the contract is in writing. Go here for a list of what must be included in the contract.
Carefully review the contract with another person. If you have questions, consult a contract attorney to review the terms with you before signing.

If you have any reason to suspect contractor fraud, report it!

Call 1-866-623-2137 (toll-free helpline).
Email: seniors@attorneygeneral.gov.
Submit a Senior Protection Complaint with the Attorney General's Office.

What to expect on Rt. 422 next week

Monday, September 29, through Friday, October 3, from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM, a periodic lane closure will be in place on westbound U.S. 422 between the Sanatoga (Evergreen Road) and Armand Hammer Boulevard interchanges.

Monday, September 29, through Friday, October 3, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, a periodic lane closure will be in place on eastbound U.S. 422 between the Armand Hammer Boulevard and Sanatoga (Evergreen Road) interchanges.

Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the work areas because backups and delays will occur. All scheduled activities are weather dependent.

Upcoming Events

Budget Town Hall, Wednesday, Oct. 15

I will join my fellow state Rep. Paul Friel, D-Chester, for a town hall with the NAACP’s Pottstown chapter at 7 p.m., Wednesday, October 15 at the TriCounty Active Adult Center, 288 Moser Road, Pottstown.

Our discussion will focus on the impact of federal budget cuts and the delayed passage of the state budget on Pennsylvania.

Audience participation is strongly encouraged.