How I Voted

Information about legislation in the 2025-26 legislative session

Rep. Danielle Friel Otten    August 21, 2026

How I Voted

As your elected representative in Harrisburg, I feel it is important to share information about the bills that come before the House, how I’ve voted on those bills, and why I voted the way I did.

On this page, you’ll find a recap of my voting record for the legislative session, with brief descriptions of each bill and brief explanations for my votes. This page does not generally include summaries of resolutions, “bridge-namer” bills, or other uncontested votes (including some bills that pass the House unanimously), although you can always find my votes on those here.

While state legislators’ votes are always public record, the reasons behind those votes are not always clear. My goal on this page is to help inform constituents about the bills that come before the House and create more transparency around the legislative process. 

To find the current status of a bill, click on the bill number, then click “History” on the bill information page. You can find scheduled session dates and more information here. If you have questions or would like more information on the bills below or any other legislative issue, please contact my office at repotten@pahouse.net.

7/12/2026

HB 2400 (Harris) – General Appropriations Bill

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 167-35)

On July 12, the House and Senate passed, and Governor Shapiro signed, the 2026-2027 state budget and its accompanying Education Code, Fiscal Code, and Tax Code bills. I voted Yes on these bills, which provide for the funding of essential programs and services and included increases for public schools, Medical Assistance, mental health programs, prescription drug assistance and other programs for seniors, and a long-overdue cost-of-living adjustment for retired teachers, police officers, firefighters and other public servants. 

For more details on what’s in this year’s budget and Education Code, please see my July 17 newsletter.

7/1/2026

HB 1239 (Hanbidge) – Homeowners Associations: Solar Access

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 103-93)

Pennsylvania homeowners have the right to choose how they source their energy. However, those homeowners governed by an HOA may be prevented from exercising this right to install solar panels onto their home. While HOAs should be able to place reasonable restrictions on solar energy systems (such as reasonable rules to ensure safety and aesthetic on community grounds), they should not be given carte blanche to ban PA families from choosing solar power. I voted Yes on HB 1239 to ensure Pennsylvania families have the freedom to choose renewable energy if they wish.

HB 2146 (Freeman) - Revising the Sunshine Act to Address a Recent PA Supreme Court Decision

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 193-9)

A functional democracy requires an engaged citizenry. To this end, the Sunshine Act was amended in 2021 to require that government entities make their upcoming meeting agendas available to the public at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. While the amendments included reasonable exceptions to this rule (such as emergency meetings), the 2025 Pennsylvania Supreme Court Case Coleman v. Parkland School District interpreted that there was an additional exception to the 24-hour requirement based on the way the amendments were written. Specifically, the PA Supreme Court found that, based on the current Sunshine Act wording, an agency may change its agenda at a meeting simply by announcing the change and passing a vote on the changed agenda. This allows government entities to essentially bypass the Sunshine Act rules with impunity.

House Bill 2146 closes this loophole to bring the 2021 Sunshine Act amendments back in line with their original intent: transparency. I voted Yes on HB 2146 to ensure that state agencies are keeping constituents informed about decisions that may affect them.

HB 2558 (Waxman) – Prohibit Non- Compete Agreements for Broadcast Workers

How I Voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 103-99)

Local journalists, anchors, meteorologists, producers, and editors are essential to keeping our communities informed. Right now, many of them are being held back by non-compete agreements that limit where they can work and for how long. Non-compete agreements in broadcast contracts restrict workers from taking jobs at competing stations or withing a certain geographic area after leaving an employer. For a local news anchor or producer, this can effectively mean being forced out of their career or uprooting their family and moving to an entirely new market just to keep working in their field.

This bill prohibits non-compete agreements in broadcast worker contracts and voids any existing agreements that restrict  a worker’s ability to move to a new employer or work within a specific geographic area. I voted Yes because at a time when local news is more important than ever and newsrooms are already under significant strain, we should be making it easier for talented journalists and broadcasters to do their jobs and serve their communities.

HB 2412 (Harris)- State-Related Universities Appropriation Act

How I Voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 155-47)

Pennsylvania’s state-related universities provide college education to hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania students, and the state funding they receive is used directly for tuition assistance to help keep costs affordable. This bill provides funding for these universities, keeping higher education accessible for Pennsylvania families, which is why I voted Yes on HB 2412.  

6/30/2026

HB 2359 (Ciresi) – Requiring Transparency in Data Center Development

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 171-31)

When a major data center is proposed in a community, residents deserve honest answers from their local officials about what it means for their neighborhood, utility bills, and environment. But a growing number of data center developers are requiring local governments to sign non-disclosure agreements. This legally prevents elected officials from openly discussing these projects with the constituents they represent.

This bill prohibits state and local government agencies from entering non-disclosure agreements related to data center development, ensuring that key decisions about the future of our communities are made with full transparency and meaningful public participation. I voted Yes because residents have a right to know what is being bult in their backyard, and their elected officials should never be barred from telling them.

HB 2455 (Mazzocco) – Giving School Administrators in Pittsburgh the Right to Collectively Bargain

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 106-96)

Philadelphia’s school’s administrators have had the right to collectively bargain since 1996, giving them a voice in their workplace conditions and a seat at the table when decisions affecting their schools are made. But Pittsburgh Public Schools, the largest school district in Allegheny County and the second largest in Pennsylvania, has never extended that same right to its administrators.

I voted Yes on this bill, which adds Pittsburgh Public Schools to the list of districts whose administrators are authorized to organize and collectively bargain.

HB 2460 (Kulik) – Hunting and Trapping Education in Schools

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 180-22)

This bill directs the Department of Education, in consultation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, to develop an age-appropriate hunting and trapping education program for students in grades six through 12. Schools could offer the program as an optional extracurricular class or incorporate it into existing outdoor courses. I voted Yes because investing in safe, responsible outdoor education in an investment in Pennsylvanians conservation future.

HB 2499 (Kosierowski) – State Workers’ Insurance Fund Investment Authority

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 173-29)

The State Workers’ Insurance Fund (SWIF) has been protecting Pennsylvania workers and businesses since 1915, providing workers’ compensation coverage to employers that might otherwise struggle in the private market. But SWIF’s ability to manage its investment portfolio is unnecessarily constrained under current law, where the fund can investment no more than 7.5 percent of its assets in equities.

This bill raises that cap to 20 percent, giving SWUF much needed flexibility to build a stronger and more balanced portfolio. I voted Yes because a financially strong SWIF means Pennsylvania workers and businesses can count on it being there when they need it most.

6/29/2026

HB 2559 (Smith-Wade-El) – State Land Conveyance Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 154-48)

This bill authorizes the transfer of several parcels of state-owned land to local government, municipalities, and nonprofits across Pennsylvania who are better positioned to put those properties to productive use. I voted Yes because getting the right land into the right hands is good management of the Commonwealths resources and a way to support communities across PA.

HB 2037 (Waxman) – Prohibiting Cryptocurrency Corruption

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 131-71)

Public officials should always prioritize public interest over financial gain. This bill would prohibit public officials elected to the Pennsylvania legislature, executive offices, or appointed by the Governor to lead an executive department and their immediate family members, from using digital assets for financial benefit or interest. I believe in transparency and accountability in our legislature, and that is why I voted Yes on this bill.

6/25/2026

HB 2198 (Vitali) – Eliminating Sales Tax Exemptions for Data Centers

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 197-5)

For years, Pennsylvania has handed blank-check sales tax breaks to data center developers with no strings attached, no requirement that they help pay for the power they use, and no transparency, protection, or consideration for the communities living next to these projects.

I believe Chair Vitali’s proposal to fully repeal the tax credit outright is the best and simplest fix. These billion-dollar corporations do not need tax breaks, and we should not be working to attract this energy-hungry and water-intensive industry to our communities.

6/24/2026

HB 2650 (Webster) – Creating Strict, Enforceable Controls on Data Center Development in Pennsylvania

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 134-68)

HB 2650, based on Gov. Shapiro's GRID legislation, would impose strict, enforceable standards on data centers seeking tax incentives. It attaches meaningful conditions around energy costs, environmental protection, and community input where currently we have none, and it shortens the duration of the tax exemption from 25 years to 10 years. It is not a substitute for repeal, but it's a meaningful improvement over the free-for-all we have today, and I support any serious effort to rein in this industry's blank check, even as I keep pushing for a more permanent fix.

HB 2621 (Shusterman) – Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 190-12)

Collecting accurate data has helped researchers, public health practitioners, and lawmakers understand how to best care for the health of women and babies. Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a maternal and child health survey used to assess maternal behaviors, experiences, and outcomes in Pennsylvania and inform programs and services statewide. The data provided by PRAMS is foundational in reducing maternal and infant mortality and part of a nationwide effort to improve maternal health.

I voted Yes on this bill, which ensures that the program has permanent access to the resources and funding they need to function and thrive.

HB 2388 (Davidson) – Rounding to the Nearest Nickle

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 187-15)

The Federal government discontinued the production of the penny in November of 2025, creating a nationwide penny shortage. To adapt to this change and address the difficulty this has caused, this legislation will allow cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest nickel.

6/23/2026

HB 426 (Pielli) – The Native Habitats at Commonwealth Facilities Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 198-4)

This bill will support native species and improve the environment by installing pollinator habitats at state office buildings. It is vital that we protect dwindling population of species in PA which is caused by habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, and light pollution.

HR 363 (Shusterman) – Directing the Joint State Government Commission to Study Private Equity in Childcare

How I voted: Yes (Resolution adopted by the House 186-16)

Childcare providers are struggling to maintain their programs due to rising costs and financial hardships. As a result, private equity firms are buying up childcare centers and increasing the fees for parents, making childcare unattainable. We need to ensure that children and their parents are provided with affordable, quality childcare. I voted Yes on this resolution, which would require a statewide study to assess the impact of private equity in childcare. The results of that study will help to inform legislative and policy decisions.

HB 1127 (Mullins) – Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 136-66)

This bill creates a compact that provides increased access to dental services, addressing the dental healthcare workforce shortage, by improving mobility among dentists and dental hygienists to work in participating states. Access to dental care is an important and necessary part of keeping Pennsylvania residents safe and healthy.

6/22/2026

HB 2632 (Rivera) – Closing EITC Reporting Gaps

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 105-97)

I voted in support of HB 2632 because I believe that if Pennsylvania taxpayers are required to make up the difference for tax breaks offered to businesses, they have a right to know who those tax breaks are helping and whether the programs incentivized by the tax breaks are serving the students they claim to serve.

Right now, Pennsylvania diverts $680 million in tax dollars every year into private school scholarships with almost no transparency and minimal public oversight. HB 2632 creates accountability for the hundreds of millions of dollars flowing through Pennsylvania's private scholarship tax credit programs. Read my full statement here.

HB 2544 (Takac) – Supporting Pennsylvania Principals

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 141-61)

Principals play a pivotal role in shaping the lives of our students from academic success to personal growth and character formation. But many are leaving this leadership position to return to teaching for better pay, benefits, and work life balance. This bill will help recruit and retain quality principals across Pennsylvania schools by creating a competitive market.

HB 138 (Krajewski) – Protecting the Rights of Children of Incarcerated Parents

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 200-2)

After a parent is incarcerated, a child faces many challenges and difficulties which impact their mental and physical health, social behavior, and educational and financial wellbeing. Incarceration, an already traumatic experience for a family, should not also severe the relationship between a parent and child.

This bill will ensure that involuntary termination of parental rights is not solely based on parental incarceration. Additionally, it will give the court authority to determine whether the rights of an incarcerated parent should be terminated based on whether the parent is actively making an effort to comply with family service plan requirement and maintaining a meaningful role in the child’s life.

HB 133 (Krajewski) – Parental Rights Reinstatement

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 191-11)

When a child has been in custody of the state for more than 15 months, DHS is required to petition for the involuntary termination of parental rights. This termination is permanent and cannot be reinstated even when parents do the work to address the issues that resulted in their loss of custody. Agencies from across the state are overwhelmed and frustrated that many children who can be placed into their clearly rehabilitated parents care are unable too.

The loss of a parent-child relationship is a consequence that lasts a lifetime. This legislation will allow the agency, child, and parent to petition for reinstatement of parental rights and establishes a hearing process to make the best decision for each family. This bill is about recognizing that families deserve a second chance.

6/17/2026

HB 2299 (Bizzarro) – Body Cameras for County Probation Officers

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 195-7)

This bill authorizes county probation or parole officers’ use of body cameras. This promotes transparency between the officers and the communities they serve while performing their duties.

HB 1967 (McAndrew) – Designating the Allegheny River Boulevard as a Scenic Byway

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-100)

This boulevard has been neglected for years despite its historical and scenic importance. This designation will help preserve this historical roadway as a scenic byway while fostering community and economic opportunity.

HB 95 (Pielli) – Disclosure of Artificially Intelligent Generated Content

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 124-78)

As AI becomes more popular and prevalent in our daily lives, it gets harder and harder to tell what content is artificially generated and what’s not. This technological advancement can have detrimental consequences when bad actors use it to spread false information and defraud Pennsylvanians. And we have been seeing the consequences of this powerful tool falling into the wrong hands with AI scams and misleading advertisements or political campaigns. This is damaging to people’s reputation, families, and livelihood.

Consumers have a right to know if what’s being advertised to them is real or if the content is AI-generated. This bill requires that if something is made by AI, it must be disclosed, creating a space where consumers have the information to make informed decisions.

HB 1944 (Friel) – Improving Campus Safety by Updating Medical Amnesty and Good Samaritan Protections

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 183- 19)

PA has two medical amnesty laws, one for alcohol and another for controlled substances, which give an individual immunity from being charged with certain offenses if they seek medical attention for another individual. Many colleges have similar policies, to ensure that students are not deterred from calling for help for fear of facing criminal charges. But after an incident at one of our state universities, we found these protections needed to be strengthened, as there are no legal protections for a good Samaritan assisting a student in trouble.

This legislation will take the proper and much needed step to ensure that every student feels confident acting during an emergency involving themselves or another student. Protecting students when they choose to do the right thing is an essential piece of keeping our school communities safe.

6/16/2026

HB 2264 (Davidson) – Establishing a Virtual Power Program

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 107-95)

Electric grid reliability is a concern due to extreme weather events, aging infrastructure, and rapid technological growth. Consequently, families and businesses are left vulnerable to frequent power issues. This bill will address the strain on our energy grid by establishing a Virtual Power Program (VPP’s): a network of small-scale home energy devices like rooftop solar panels, smart thermostats, or EV’s that are connected to function like a single power plant.

While this technology can be used to conserve energy and generate electricity to relieve grid stress, is can also be extremely expensive. Customers who opt in to use this technology are often left with the financial burden that follows. This Program will create a more affordable and sustainable alternative where customers are paid appropriately for the services they choose to provide. Keeping our grid running efficiently is essential to secure our energy future.

6/15/2026

HB 2084 (Harris) – PA Promise- Improving College Access and Affordability

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 119-83)

This bill will improve college access and affordability, reduce the financial burden on PA students and their families, and provide support to our universities. The PA Promise Program is scholarship program, funded by the PA state budget, would provide access to colleges for students, including adult learners.  I am committed to ensuring that all families and communities across the Commonwealth have access to education and are not riddled with massive financial burdens.

6/10/2026

HB 2411 (Harris) – Appropriations, Budget

How I voted: Yes (House concurred with Senate amendments 155-47)

This bill is one of nine that funds necessary state services while the budget continues to be negotiated. HB 2411 funds the State Police, the Attorney General, the Department of Revenue, and the Gaming Control Board.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 12 as Act 10A of 2026.

HB 2410 (Harris) – Appropriations, Budget

How I voted: Yes (House concurred with Senate amendments 175-21)

This bill is one of nine that funds necessary state services while the budget continues to be negotiated. HB 2410 funds the Public Utility Commission.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 12 as Act 9A of 2026.

HB 2405 (Harris) – Appropriations, Budget

How I voted: Yes (House concurred with Senate amendments188-14)

This bill is one of nine that funds necessary state services while the budget continues to be negotiated. HB 2405 funds the Office of the Small Business Advocate.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 12 as Act 4A of 2026.

HB 2429 (Cerrato) – Electric Distribution System Capacity Maps

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 110-92)

This bill requires electric utilities to publish and regularly update publicly accessible maps showing distribution-system capacity. Quickly accessible, transparent information on capacity helps energy developers identify feasible locations for new projects, including solar and EV chargers. Previously, energy developers would submit proposals without knowing whether enough capacity was available to make their project possible. As data centers and demand for electricity increases, alongside electricity prices, reducing inefficiencies in new energy development is incredibly important.

HB 2049 (Brennan) – Raising Workers’ Compensation Burial Benefits

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 190-12)

The average burial cost in Pennsylvania is $19,000, but the worker compensation burial benefit after a work death is only $7,000. This bill raises the maximum to $20,000 and will adjust it for inflation yearly. I voted yes on this bill to ensure families of workers who have died while working in our Commonwealth are adequately compensated.

HB 1262 (Briggs) – Requiring Electronic Filing of Campaign Finance Reports

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 105-97)

This bill requires campaign finance reports to be published electronically, as opposed to the current outdated, costly, inefficient paper-filing system. This saves taxpayer money and makes campaign finance information much easier to access and search through. This ultimately makes our elections much more transparent.

HB 2550 (Mazzocco) – Small Business Healthcare Premiums Contribution Tax Credit

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 200-2)

This bill creates a tax credit for small businesses (with 50 or fewer employees) that contribute to their employees’ health insurance premiums. It is only for plans purchased via Pennie. This ensures employees are provided with adequate coverage, and that small businesses can afford to pay for them.

6/9/2026

HB 1678 (Fiedler) – Digital Advertising Tax

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 139-63)

The digital advertising industry is currently not subject to taxation, meaning Pennsylvania is missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue that could be going towards state services. This bill extends the gross receipts tax to every company providing digital advertising services. Essentially, big digital corporations like Google, Meta, and Microsoft, will pay a tax on the ad space they sell. The retailer paying for the ad does not pay any tax. The revenue will go towards a new property tax rent rebate for seniors. I voted yes on this bill because massive corporations making billions in profits should be required to pay their fair share for the business they conduct in our state.

HB 836 (O’Mara) – Preserving Access to Reproductive Efforts Non-Traditional (PARENT) Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 147-55)

This bill prohibits Commonwealth agencies from creating policies that interfere with access to medically accepted treatments designed to assist in promoting pregnancy, “assisted reproductive technology”. This includes treatments like IVF. 11% of women and 9$ of men struggle with fertility, and these treatments are constantly under political threat. I voted yes on this bill because I want to protect Pennsylvanians’ right to family planning and fertility treatments.

HB 497 (Webster) – Stopping Foreign Interference in Elections

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 146-56)

Current law prohibits foreign citizens and organizations from spending on elections in the United States. However, domestic companies that are partially or fully owned by foreign individuals and entities can still participate. HB 497 bans these substantially foreign owned corporations from influencing our elections.

HB 37 (Conklin) – Helping Counties Provide Quicker Election Results

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 103-99)

HB 37 allows county boards of elections to pre-canvass absentee and mail-in ballots seven days before election day. Pre-canvassing is inspecting ballots and beginning to count up votes. No vote counts will be published until after election day. This bill simply speeds up the process to provide us with quicker election results and gives counties more time to do the labor-intensive, tedious work, without prematurely influencing election numbers.

6/8/2026

HB 2446 (Haddock) – Fire Company Transformational Grant Program

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 105-96)

This bill establishes a Fire Company Transformational Grant Program, which can use up to $30 million annually to award grants of $100 thousand to $2.5 million. It will be funded through the Property Tax Relief Fund. This allows fire companies to undergo transformative modernization efforts to better serve their communities and save lives.

HB 2391 (Conklin) – Housing Affordability Initiative: Lower Investment Costs for Real Estate Investors

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 117-84)

HB 2391 will deter “house flipping”, where real estate investors buy properties and sell them for a higher price, inflating home values, and instead encourage long-term real estate investment.  It allows mortgage lenders to offer investors the option of better terms if they accept prepayment penalties, while not allowing prepayment penalties for households. This protects mortgages for resident-owned homes.

HB 2300 (Cepeda-Freytiz) – Real Time Sales Tax Remittance

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 153-48)

This bill requires businesses falling behind on sales tax remittance to adopt a software program that automates the process. The Dept. of Revenue covers the cost for the first year of participation, and businesses can choose to continue use afterwards.  This bill ensures businesses are compliant with state laws and helps struggling businesses to quickly catch up on payments. The pilot program was very successful: it ensured 100% compliance, and 3 out of 4 participants chose to continue using the software at their own expense.

HB 2145 (Scott) – Protecting Pennsylvanians by Banning PFAS in Certain Products

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 188-13)

PFAS are long-lasting chemicals that are found in many, many consumer products and frequently end up in our water, food, and bloodstreams. They’ve been linked to many negative health effects, including cancer, reduced immune function, increased cholesterol, developmental harms, and decreased fertility. HB 2145 bans PFAS in cosmetics, dental floss, children’s products, and menstrual products.

HB 2109 (Khan) – The Golden Girls Law

How I voted: No (Bill passed the House 123-78)

This bill would prohibit limits on the number of unrelated people that can live together. In solidarity with other members of the Chester County delegation, I voted no on this bill to protect local zoning authority. Municipalities have enacted these limits for a wide variety of reasons---parking, noise complaints, overcrowding, maintaining neighborhood characteristics---and the state government should not universally prohibit them.

HB 916 (Giral) – Childhood Blood Tests for Lead Poisoning

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 157-44)

Childhood lead poisoning, even at low levels, can interfere with children’s learning, hearing, growth, and development. At high levels, it can cause death. Despite limited testing, it is clear lead poisoning is a widespread problem: in 2023, 35% of Pennsylvania children were tested and 3,200 children were found to have elevated levels of lead in their blood.

Currently, only children at-risk of lead position are required to be tested for lead poisoning. This bill ensures all children are tested at age one and age two and requires that health insurance policies cover these blood tests. Children should be tested so they can receive adequate care, and so families can remove sources of lead.

6/3/2026

HB 2314 (Ciresi) – AI Public Education Campaign

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 198-3)

AI is a constantly evolving technology, one capable of being very helpful, but also very harmful. For this reason, it is important that the public is educated about its proper use. The campaign would address various topics, including identifying AI-generated content, avoiding AI-enabled scams, understanding responsible behavior when engaging with AI chatbots, protecting personal data when using AI, awareness of bias and misinformation ingrained in AI programs, and protecting children from AI misuse.  

HB 2117 (Hill-Evans) – Ensuring Lifesaving Asthma Medication is Available for Students

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 192-9)

1 in 13 children in Pennsylvania suffer from asthma. Currently, students rely on a student having their own prescribed inhaler on hand. But students can forget them, lose them, or let them expire. This bill would authorize Pennsylvania schools to maintain a supply of short-acting asthma medications and permit a licensed healthcare practitioner or trained school employee to administer them to students in respiratory distress with the permission of a legal guardian. This is an easy way to ensure our kids are healthier and safer at school.

6/2/2026

HB 2365 (Kulik) – Mentored Youth Trapping Licensing

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 105-96)

This bill allows Pennsylvania youth to attain a trapping license through an approved hunter or fur-taker education program. These programs provide important mentoring relationships and promote responsible wildlife management.

HB 2120 (Venkat) – Transparency and Protections for Homeowners Entering Shared Appreciation Agreements

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 190-11)

Shared appreciation agreements allow homeowners to receive a lump sum of money by selling a percentage of their home equity. These contracts are complex and often limit homeowner control over renovations, renting, or obtaining other financing.

These agreements are currently unregulated. HB 2120 ensures that these agreements are regulated under Pennsylvania’s residential mortgage protection laws. I voted for this bill to ensure homeowners understand what kind of agreements they are entering, and that they are protected like any other consumer.

6/1/2026

HB 1127 (Mullins) – Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 136-66)

This bill would authorize our Commonwealth to join the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, allowing dentists and hygienists who hold a license in another state to practice in Pennsylvania. This will help address the shortage in dental healthcare workers. 48 of our 67 counties have a critical shortage of dental practitioners, according to the Pennsylvania Dental Association, and rural communities are among the most affected.

HB 2274 (Sappey) – Speed Limit on Dirt Roads

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 121-80)

Roads without a designated speed limit of 55 miles per hour, and this bill will lower that limit to 35 miles per hour on dirt and gravel roads. Municipalities also have the option of designating individual roads lower.

Not only is the current speed limit dangerous, driving that fast on these roads can significantly erode them and kick up dust, making them more dangerous for the next driver, and more costly to maintain.

Some townships have chosen to use fracking water and other contaminated liquids as dust suppressants, which have polluting effects on our soil and groundwater. They can also contain toxic and radioactive chemicals. While this practice was banned, loopholes have allowed this practice to continue. Preventing roads from being eroded in the first place is one of many ways that this issue should be addressed.

HB 2254 (Frankel) - Ryan’s Law, Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 174-21)

Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act, passed in 2016, allows terminally ill patients in a healthcare facility to use medical marijuana when administered by a caregiver. This helps to relieve painful symptoms towards the end of life. However, the adoption of this law is inconsistent across healthcare facilities. HB 2254 will require facilities to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in non-smokeable, non-vapeable forms, as long as their care provider does not believe it will interfere with their treatment.

This bill is written carefully: there is no second-hand smoke effect on other patients, medical marijuana must be safely stored, psychiatric and addiction facilities are exempt from the bill, and the patient must present a valid ID showing they are allowed to use medical marijuana. I voted for this bill because I believe it will help ease symptoms for patients at the end of their lives, while doing so carefully and with respect for the health of all patients. 

HB 2186 (Inglis) - Removing Barriers to the Creation of Accessory Dwelling Units

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 139-62)

PA faces a housing shortage and a ever-increasing rent crisis. From 2017 to 2023, Pennsylvania ranked 44th among the 50 states on rate of housing built. Housing costs are rising at a faster rate than incomes, and 48.5% of Pennsylvania renters and 20.3% of homeowners are spending more than the recommended 30% of their income.

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are smaller, independent living spaces built on the same lot as a single-family home. ADUs represent a potential source of affordable housing, but many municipalities have forbidden or heavily regulated them. HB 2186 removes those barriers to promote the construction of affordable housing.

HB 1814 (Steele) – Bell-to-Bell Phone Ban

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 126-75)

This bill requires K-12 schools to prohibit student use of mobile devices on school property during the school day. There are exceptions for medical needs, IEP/504 accommodations, and translation support for English learners. I voted for this bill because parents and teachers are concerned about the distractions that phones cause in the classroom, significantly hindering learning. A phone-free school day encourages an escape from addictive social media and cyberbullying, and a return to in-person socializing with classmates. Social learning and academic learning are important pieces of every child’s education, and this phone ban ensures students receive a full education.

HB 1045 (Kazeem) – School Professional Seizure Recognition and First Aid Training

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 130-71)

Currently, school nurses and professional employees can choose to complete seizure response training. HB 1045 requires it. This bill is a no-brainer to ensure the health and safety of our students, especially those with epilepsy.

5/6/2026

HB 2302 (Takac) – State Licensing of Water Well Drillers

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 114-87)

3 million Pennsylvanians use private wells as their primary source of drinking water, but PA is one of only two states that does not enforce industry standards for well siting and construction, and one of three that does not have licensing requirements for well drillers. HB 2302 would establish a licensing requirement for water, geotechnical, and geothermal drillers. This ensures PA wells are constructed by certified professionals, that they use groundwater sustainably, and that well water is safe to drink.

5/5/2026

HR 350 (Fiedler) – Urging Congress to fund LIHEAP

How I voted: Yes (Resolution adopted in the House 179-22)

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, is a crucial, life-saving program. In the 24-25 cycle, the federal government allocated PA $229 million for LIHEAP, which in turn helped 302,000 households. It helps keep the heat on in winter, the A/C in summer, the stove running, and the lights on.

At the time, there was great uncertainty over the future of LIHEAP funding. In April 2025, President Trump laid off all federal LIHEAP staff and proposed zero funding for in the 2026 budget. I voted for this resolution to urge Congress to keep LIHEAP funded and continue aiding Pennsylvania families.

Congress ultimately funded LIHEAP with $4 billion for 2026, a $20 million increase from the previous year.

HB 1485 (Ciresi) – State Death Benefits for Public Works

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 196-5)

This bill provides death benefits to surviving family members of coroners and public works employees who die in the line of duty. Coroners and public works employees are often working in situations that put their lives at risk. They are often arriving at emergency scenes, assessing damage, controlling traffic, and assisting in rescue missions. They build and repair critical infrastructure and prevent hazardous conditions. Just as are law enforcement officers and emergency responders receive death benefits, our critical state employees should as well.

5/4/2026

HB 2076 (Venkat) – Geothermal Energy Development Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 118-83)

Recent improvements in geothermal technology mean that PA might be able to use this clean, renewable energy source. (Previously, it was limited to areas with hot subsurfaces, like volcanoes and hot springs.) In preparation for this new technology, it’s important that Pennsylvania establishes clear regulations. HB 2076 requires the PA Dept. of Energy to create a permitting process (including considerations for environmental and community impact), establishes subsurface ownership rights for geothermal resources, and allows unused oil and gas wells to be repurposed for geothermal technologies.

This technology presents an exciting new source of clean, renewable energy. Geothermal power plants release 99% less carbon dioxide and 97% less sulfur compounds than fossil fuel plants. Clean, renewable energy means energy independence, a higher supply of energy, cheaper electric bills, and good-paying jobs for Pennsylvania.

HB 1752 (Curry) – Keystone Exam Alternative Feasibility Study

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 191-10)

HB 1752 requires the PA Dept. of Education to conduct a study evaluating whether the ACT, SAT, or Smarter Balanced assessments could replace the Keystone exams for high schoolers. It will assess whether these exams align with PA’s core academic standards. High schoolers face plenty of stress, and repeated exams on similar material would be a waste of their energy and the state’s money.

HB 1077 (Cepeda-Freytiz) – Providing Glasses to Help Our Students Succeed

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 150-51)

HB 1077 establishes the Commission on Children's Vision, which will work with vision care professionals to create a statewide plan to provide follow-up vision exams and glasses to all children that need it, at little to no cost. Vision care is necessary health care that helps our children succeed in life, and in school.

HB 558 (Isaacson) – Capping Rental Application Fees

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 148-53)

HB 558 limits landlords to charging application fees reasonably related to the actual administrative expenses involved in processing rental applications. Application fees are just one of many barriers for low-income renters to find suitable, affordable housing. Limiting them in this way helps prospective renters, while ensuring the property owner takes no unfair financial burden.

HB 2347 (Fiedler) – Accelerating Pennsylvania's Energy Production

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 106-95)

This bill aims to increase PA’s clean energy production. It changes PEDA to PEFA, the Pennsylvania Energy Financing Authority, and enables PEFA to apply for federal dollars to finance clean energy projects. It updates language from 1982, providing PEFA with authority to handle modern forms of renewable energy. This set of updates is one of many ways Pennsylvania can work to promote clean, renewable energy, which in turn promotes our energy independence, as well as cheaper energy costs.

HR 66 (Pielli) – Study on Wild Native Terrestrial Invertebrate Management

How I voted: Yes (Resolution adopted in the House 112-89)

HR 66 directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to work with taxonomists and biologists to conduct a study on wild native terrestrial invertebrate management. They will recommend how current laws should be updated to better conserve these species. These insects and pollinators are crucial to the health of our ecosystems and the sustainability of our food supply. Human activity, including habitat degradation, chemical pollution, and light pollution, threaten these species. Given the current lack of knowledge regarding their status and the precise effects of human activity, this research is necessary for the state’s environmental policies.

4/29/2026

HB 41 (Conklin) – Playoff Reform for the PIAA

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 178-23)

Playing sports is a huge part of a child’s life. It teaches them sportsmanship, teamwork, creates friendships, and so much more. But we should never compromise on the safety of our children when it comes to sports and competition.

Non-boundary schools (private, charter, parochial) can recruit to athletes without geographical limits, giving them as unfair size, strength, or speed advantage of over boundary public schools in playoffs. This creates both unsafe conditions and uneven competition. This bill lets PIAA create separate playoff systems for boundary vs. non- boundary schools to level the playing field and make high school sports safer and fairer.

HB 2218 (Steele) – Increasing Student Success with More School Counselor Support

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 106-95)

School counselors play a tremendous role in students’ lives, providing them with the necessary tools and support to thrive. But counselors are frequently pulled away from their core responsibilities and required to fill gaps in the school such as covering classrooms. This legislation supports counselors by ensuring they are using their training and expertise, by requiring each school to establish a counseling plan.

HB 830 (O’Mara) – Parental Notification of Bullying

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 136-65)

We should never compromise on a child’s safety, and that includes protecting them from bullying. Parents play a critical role in helping their kids navigate difficult or emotionally complex situations. But too often many parents are unaware that their child has been involved in a bullying incident until it’s too late.

This bill requires schools to develop a comprehensive plan to address bullying, including requiring schools to notify parents and legal guardians when their child is involved in or experiencing bullying. Parents deserve the right to know what is happening with their child so they can step in a provide the right support.

HB 72 (Borowski) – Protecting Tenants in Cases of Violence

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 118-83)

Leaving an abusive relationship is often the most dangerous time for a victim of domestic violence. Individuals leaving a violent relationship must consider where they’ll go, how to care for their children, and whether the abuser will retaliate. Housing should be the least of their worries. According to the National Coalitions Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner. These are our neighbors, coworkers, and family members and they deserve every opportunity for assistance while leaving a dangerous relationship.

This bill gives tenants who are victims of violence the option to terminate a lease early and change locks or means of entry to their housing unit. This legislation creates a safer and fairer process for victims and could very well save lives.

4/28/2026

HB 2103 (Waxman) – Preventing White Nationalist Housing Developments

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 101-100)

An organization, Return to the Land, is attempting to build a housing development in Arkansas for only individuals with traditional views and Europeans Ancestry. This is, simply put, a white only community. Furthermore, this group revealed that they plan for expansions into two Appalachian regions that would cover part of Pennsylvania.

This bill prevents Return to the Land and other groups from developing discriminatory housing by closing a potential legal loophole that allows private groups to have exclusionary housing. This blatantly discriminatory and racist housing has no place in our Commonwealth, which is why I voted Yes on this bill.

HB 1970 (Neilson) – Allowing for Electronic Driver’s Licenses and ID Cards

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 186-15)

As technology keeps changing, it’s essential that PA keeps up. Today, approximately 91% of Americans own a smartphone and it has become a fundamental part of daily life. This bill will give Pennsylvania’s the option to go paperless by using electronic driver’s licenses and ID cards. There will be strict security, privacy, and authentication requirements to prevent fraud and theft of users’ data. I voted Yes on this bill because it is time for our Commonwealth to take steps in adopting modern technology that makes Pennsylvanians lives easier.

4/27/2026

SB 375 (Brown) – AEDs at Interscholastic Athletic Events

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 141-59)

In many youth athletes, sudden cardias arrest is often caused by underlying, undiagnosed cardiac abnormalities. When these conditions are identified, young athletes may be restricted from participating in competitive sports to prevent serious incidents. However, if such abnormalities are missed an the proper precaution are not in place sudden cardiac arrest could occur. Tragically, sudden cardiac events are often fatal, but the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), when combined with CPR, increases the chances of survival by nearly 50 percent.

This bill requires a school entity or a public school to have an AED present at all PIAA interscholastic events, along with establishing a sudden cardiac event emergency action plan for all athletics events. It also requires CPR training requirements and training in the use of AEDs, all essential life saving measures. The purchase of these AEDs by schools would be considered an eligible school safety expense. This was a very easy Yes vote for me.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on May 13 as Act 17 of 2026

HB 2246 (Webster) – Water Usage Reporting Requirements for Data Centers

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 116-84)

Hyperscale data centers use a tremendous amount of water, up to 1.8 billion gallons of water per year, or 5 million gallons per day. This has huge consequences for our Commonwealth’s water resources and communities that rely on them.

This bill extends water withdrawal oversight for hyperscale data centers across the entire state, creating consistent standards for businesses and making sure all of PA’s waterways are protected. It will ensure that data centers are using our shared water resources transparently and responsibly. I want to also make clear that there are alternate cooling methods available for these facilities that do not require as much water.

I am a Yes vote on this bill and a proud co-sponsor. We must make sure our residents, communities, and environment are not disproportionately affected by data centers.

HB 2176 (Prokopiak) – Social Media Literacy

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 115-85)

According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, nearly 95% of teenagers age 13 to 17 use social media. Children and adolescents who spend more than 3 hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental health problems including experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. 

With the rapid evolution of technology, social media is getting more sophisticated, populated, immersive, and AI driven, making it harder and in some cases more dangerous for children to navigate. This bill will equip students with the necessary information to verify sources and identify misleading content. Protecting our children online is an essential part of safeguarding our Commonwealth, and that is why I was Yes vote on this bill.

HB 2042 (Briggs) – Safety in Youth Sports

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 121-79)

We should never compromise on the safety of our children, and that includes protecting them from serious brain injuries when they play the sport they love. Pennsylvania’s original Safety in Youth Sports Act, passed in 2011, established important standards for managing concussions in student athletes, including requiring coaches to remove players suspected of a concussion from play immediately and mandating medical clearance before returning to the field.

However, youth sports go beyond schools and millions of kids participate in recreational leagues, club sports, and other non-scholastic athletics activities that were not covered under the original law. This bill closes that gap and expands these protections and requirements to non-scholastic and recreational sports.

I voted Yes because every child deserves the same protection regardless of where they play sports and no parent should have to worry that their child’s brain injury will be ignored or mismanaged.

HB 1104 (Krueger) – Capping the Fees for Obtaining Electronic Medical Records

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 133-67)

Patients have relied on the Pennsylvania Medical Records Act to obtain a paper copy of their medical records, and now, as technology has developed, medical records are primarily stored electronically. Obtaining medical paper records proved costly, burdening many Pennsylvanians. This bill will cap the costs of obtaining medical records, which is why I voted Yes.  

HB 2411 (Harris) – State Gaming Fund Appropriations

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-98)

Pennsylvania’s gaming industry generates significant revenue for the Commonwealth, but that revenue only benefits Pennsylvanians if there is strong, well-funded oversight in place. This bill funds the agencies responsible for regulating gaming activity in PA for the upcoming fiscal year and the funding comes entirely from gaming industry revenue accounts. I voted Yes because proper oversight of gaming is essential.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law, with Senate amendments, on June 12 as Act 10A of 2026

HB 2410 (Harris) – Public Utility Commission Appropriation Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 170-30)

Every time a Pennsylvanian turns on a light, pays a water bill, or makes a phone call, they are relying on services overseen by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. The PUC is responsible for regulating the electric, natural gas, water, telecommunications, and other utility services that our families and businesses depend on. This bill provides the PUC with the funding it needs to operate and carry out that critical oversight role for the upcoming fiscal year, and that why I voted Yes.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law, with Senate amendments, on June 12 as Act 9A of 2026.

HB 2409 (Harris) – Philadelphia Parking Appropriations Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 130-70)

Safe, well-regulated transportation is essential for any thriving city, and Philadelphia is no exception. The Philadelphia Parking Authority oversees parking, taxis, and limousine services across the city, ensuring both residents and visitors have access to safe, accountable transportation options. This bill funds the Philadelphia Parking Authority for the upcoming fiscal year, using money collected from the industry, that is why I voted Yes.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 12 as Act 8A of 2026.

HB 2408 (Harris) – State Employees’ Retirement Board Appropriation Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 176-24)

Pennsylvania’s state employees serve the Commonwealth every day, often in demanding and critical roles. The State Employees’ Retirement Board (SERS) administers the pension and retirement benefits those employees have earned over their careers. This bill funds the SERS Board for the upcoming fiscal year. I voted Yes because the people who serve the Commonwealth deserve a retirement system that is well managed and funded.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 12 as Act 7A of 2026.

HB 2407 (Harris) – Public School Employees’ Retirement Board Appropriation Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 174-26)

Pennsylvania's teachers and public school employees dedicate their careers to our children, and they deserve the retirement security they were promised. The Public School Employees' Retirement Board (PSERS) administers pension and retirement benefits for hundreds of thousands of current and former school employees across the Commonwealth.

This bill funds the PSERS Board for the upcoming fiscal year so it can continue managing those retirement benefits reliably and efficiently, that is why I votes Yes.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 12 as Act 6A of 2026.

HB 2406 (Harris) – Office of the Consumer Advocate Appropriation Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 180-20)

The Office of the Consumer Advocate represents everyday Pennsylvanians before the Public Utility Commission to fight for fair utility rates and protect consumers from being taken advantage of. This bill funds the Office of the Consumer Advocate for the upcoming fiscal year so it can continue standing up for Pennsylvania families on electric, gas, water, and other utility matters.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 12 as Act 5A of 2026.

HB 2405 (Harris) – Office of the Small Business Advocate Appropriation Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 182-18)

The Office of the Small Business Advocate represents the interests of small businesses before the Public Utility Commission and other state agencies. This bill funds the Office of the Small Business Advocate for the upcoming fiscal year, ensuring small business owners across the Commonwealth have someone in their corner fighting for fair rates and reasonable regulations.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law, with Senate amendments, on June 12 as Act 4A of 2026.

HB 2404 (Harris) – Workers Compensation Administration Fund Appropriation Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 169-31)

The Worker's Compensation Administration Fund supports the Department of Labor and Industry in administering Pennsylvania's workers' compensation program, ensuring injured workers get the benefits they are owed. This bill funds that program for the upcoming fiscal year from the industry-supported fund

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 12 as Act 3A of 2026.

HB 2403 (Harris) – Professional Licensure Augmentation Account Appropriation Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 180-20)

The Department of State's Professional Licensure Augmentation Account funds the processing and oversight of professional licenses across the Commonwealth.

This bill ensures that account is fully funded for the upcoming fiscal year so that licensing applications are processed efficiently and professional standards are upheld.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 12 as Act 2A of 2026.

4/15/2026

HB 2333 (Madsen) – The Chapter 14 Sunset: Navigating A Return a Ratepayer Protections

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 107-94)

When a family is going through a difficult time, the last thing they should worry about is losing heat in the winter or having their lights shut off. Chapter 14 of the PUC code, the law that has outlined utility billing, collection, and terminations for the past 20 years, expired last session. While its sunset created uncertainty, we now have the opportunity to put together something better.

This bill establishes a new set of rules for utility billing that puts people first. It ensures that Pennsylvanians struggling to pay their bills have access to reasonable and affordable payment plans, stronger protections against shutoff services, and a fair process for reconnection. Rather than prop up a rigid system that could leave families in the dark, this legislation gives customers a real chance to get back on track, which is why I voted Yes.

HB 1706 (Daley) – Mental Health Awareness - Students

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 107-94)

20% of students have seriously considered committing suicide, 75% stated they dealt with anxiety, 43% had problems at home, 32% felt dejected, and nearly 65% stated that that while they believe they needed professional help, they were not comfortable speaking to their family or friends. For student athletes the person they may feel the most comfortable speaking to is their coach, but coaches are not typically trained to deal with such issues.

This bill would help provide students and coaches with the resources and training they need and deserve to effectively and sensitively navigate mental health situations. Protecting students’ health, both mentally and physically, is my priority and is why I voted Yes on this bill.

HB 1522 (Cepeda- Freytiz) – Natural Gas Safety Recommendations Resulting from the R.M. Palmer Chocolate Factory Explosion

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 107-94)

Natural gas leaks pose a serious risk, including explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. Installing detectors is a proactive measure to safeguard residents, workers, and first responders.  This legislation requires the installation and maintenance of fuel gas detectors in certain buildings and outlines responsibilities for building owners. Keeping our communities safe in the home and workplace is why I voted Yes on this bill.

HB 586 (Friel) – Keeping Farms and Communities Safe by Managing Residual Food Processing Waste and Certification for FPR Haulers and Brokers

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 172-29)

Pennsylvania families and farmers deserve to know that the land and water around them are safe, and right now there is a gap in our environmental protections that puts both at risk.

Food processing residuals, or FPR, are the waste left over from commercial food manufacturing. Examples of FPR include vegetable peeling, raw meat scraps, and liquid waste that may contain blood, hair, fat, and feathers. Under current PA law, this waste can be legally spread on farmland as a way to increase the amount of organic matter. However, there is no oversight, no testing, no tracking of where it comes from, and no real complaint process for residents whose wells or property have been affected. Furthermore, many surrounding states have heavily restricted or banned this practice, turning Pennsylvania into a dumping ground for out-of-state companies looking to dispose of their commercial waste cheaply.

This bill changes that. It updates the FPR management manual, establishes real oversight and tracking of FPR, requires testing, creates a certification process for haulers and brokers, and gives residents a proper complaint system when FPR causes harm to their homes or livelihoods. I am a proud cosponsor of this legislation because it protects Pennsylvania farms and Pennsylvania families.

4/14/2026

HB 1558 (Conklin) – Providing Baby Diaper Changing Stations in Restrooms

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-99)

The dynamics of every family are different, and child rearing responsibilities are as well. We need to create infrastructure that reflects this and one step is adding baby diaper changing stations to men’s restrooms. Most of these change stations are only available in women’s restrooms, creating a barrier between people who use the men’s restroom and their responsibilities to a child. This includes married dads, single dads, stay-at-home dads, two dad families, grandfathers, uncles, and male babysitters, all of whom cannot change their child’s diaper in public.

This bill will require baby diaper changing stations in all public restrooms going forwards, helping everyone get access to the space they need to safely and hygienically change their baby’s diaper in public.

HB 1139 (Warren) – Water Bottle Refilling Station in Commonwealth Buildings

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-99)

Discarded plastic water bottles generate an estimated 25 million tons of waste each year. They pollute our natural resources, poison animals, and clog our waterways. This bill requires that all Commonwealth buildings going forward are equipped with water bottle refill stations. These refill stations are a small but important step in protecting our environment, which is why I voted Yes.

4/13/2026

HB 2151 (Donahue) – Community Standards for Data Center Developments

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 124-77)

As the proliferation of data centers continues, communities across our state are finding themselves unprepared to deal with the noise, industrial equipment, backup diesel generators, and other disruptions these massive facilities will cause to nearby homes, schools, and neighborhoods.  The problem is not just the facilities themselves, it’s that most municipalities don’t have the resources or the expertise to develop the zoning ordinances needed to regulate them properly. Without clear local rules in place, communities have little recourse when a data center moves in next door and begins negatively impacting quality of life.

This bill directs the Department of Community and Economic Development to develop a model ordinance that municipalities across Pennsylvania can use as a starting point to regulate data centers in their communities. The model ordinance would include provisions for sound barriers, setback distance building standards, equipment modifications, and other measures to reduce disruptions for nearby residents. This tool is not a mandate, it is a tool which municipalities can use, adapt, or build off of based on their community’s needs.

Technological progress and economic development are good things, but not when they come at the expense of our Commonwealth and its families, small businesses, communities, and environmental resources. That is why I voted Yes on this bill.

HB 2150 (Mullins) – Data Centers: Accountability and Transparency

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 133-68)

When a data center moves into a Pennsylvania community, residents and local officials deserve to know the impacts it could have on the community. Information such as how much electricity it will consume, how much water it will use, and what impact it will have on local resources and the environment are important for us to know, particularly if a data center is near our home. Right now, that information simply isn’t available in any consistent or transparent way.

Data centers are among the most energy and water intensive facilities that can be built in a community. They require enormous amounts of electricity to power thousands of computer servers and massive volumes of water to keep that equipment cool. As more of these facilities are proposed and built across our Commonwealth, the strain on our electric grids, local water supplies, and environment will only grow.

This bill requires data center developers and operators to disclose the nature of their operations and report their annual energy and water usage to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Based on that reporting, DCNR would prepare an impact report and make recommendations to the General Assembly on how to address any environmental concerns these facilities pose.  I voted Yes because PA residents and policymakers deserve a clear view into how data centers are affecting our infrastructure, or resources, and our communities.

3/25/2026

HB 1800 (Kenyatta) – Marriage Equality

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 127-72)

The right to marry and love who you wish is important and sacred. Unfortunately, this right has historically been withheld from some based on who they love. Since Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, the United States has recognized the right of gay couples to marry nationwide. Unfortunately, current Pennsylvania law contains unconstitutional provisions which recognize marriage as only between and man and a woman. This contradicts federal and state recognition of same-sex marriage and is entirely antiquated. As legislators, it is important that we amend outdated laws in order to serve and represent our constituents. I voted Yes on this bill to remove outdated language in our statutes which do not align with our laws or modern understanding of marriage.

SB 1218 (Picozzi) – Pennsylvania 250 Permit

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 176-23)

With the World Cup coming to Philadelphia, breweries, restaurants, and other businesses are seeking to provide additional operating hours. Senate Bill 1218 provides optional permits that Philadelphia businesses could apply for to extend operating hours under a liquor license. I voted Yes in favor of this bill to allow our businesses to accommodate fans enjoying the World Cup in our Commonwealth.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on March 27 as Act 8 of 2026.

HB 1718 (Rusnock) – Flood Insurance Disclosure

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 142-57)

For homeowners, flooding can come without warning and carry with it enormous costs. However, oftentimes homeowners can be taken by surprise to find that their homeowner’s insurance does not cover flooding. House Bill 1718 rectifies this by requiring homeowner’s insurers to provide clear disclosures to policyholders, informing them that most homeowner’s insurance does not cover flooding and pointing them to flood insurance resources. Providing information regarding flood risk helps new homeowners make more informed decisions, which is why I voted Yes on this bill.

HB 200 (O’Mara) – The Family Care Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 107-92)

Caring for our loved ones is often marked with uncertainty. Whether it’s a new child being welcomed into the family or an illness striking suddenly, families are often faced with lifestyle changes to accommodate. Navigating workplace leave to care for a family member can prove difficult and sometimes results in individuals being forced to choose between their job and their families’ wellbeing.

House Bill 200 ensures that Pennsylvanians will not have to make such a choice by requiring employers to provide paid family and medical leave to employees in our Commonwealth. Given that nearly 66% of our workforce lack access to paid family and medical leave, this legislation would be monumental in helping Pennsylvanians navigate real-life situations without the threat of unemployment. The bill also contains provisions to support our small businesses in offering this benefit. I voted Yes on this bill to support working families in our Commonwealth.

HB 1191 (Matzie) – Rail Safety

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 120-79)

Three years ago, a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, less than one mile from Pennsylvania border. The resulting fires and contamination has continued to negatively impact residents and the environment to this day. House Bill 1191 sets additional standards for railroad companies to help prevent disasters from occurring. The bill would set a maximum length for trains, ensure safe staffing levels, and direct the PUC to create a reporting system for the transportation of hazardous materials and waste across the Commonwealth, among other safety measures. It is crucial that we protect Pennsylvanians from preventable disasters such as that which occurred in East Palestine, which is why I voted Yes on this bill.

3/24/2026

HB 1257 (Probst) – Expanding the Disabled Veterans’ Real Estate Tax Exemption Program

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 193-6)

Outdated eligibility guidelines for our state’s disabled veteran real estate tax exemption have barred some of those who have served our country from accessing important property tax relief. Specifically, current PA law stipulates that a veteran must have incurred injury during combat to receive the exemption. House Bill 1257 amends the program to ensure that all veterans who are 100% disabled are eligible, regardless of whether their service was in combat. The bill also extends eligibility to surviving spouses of eligible veterans. It is important that we adapt our state programs to ensure that we are supporting our veterans, and this bill does just that, which is why I voted Yes.

HB 2189 (Dawkins) – Increasing the Minimum Wage

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 104-95)

Pennsylvania’s minimum wage has remained untouched since the federal floor was raised to $7.25 an hour in 2009. Since then, the buying power of the dollar has only decreased as prices have continued to rise. Meanwhile, every state neighboring Pennsylvania has a higher minimum wage (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia). This bill would raise the PA minimum wage to $15 by 2029 and would increase the tipped minimum wage to 60% of the state floor. Raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage is long overdue, which is why I voted Yes on this bill.

HB 1834 (Matzie) – Data Centers and Consumers

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 104-95)

Commercial data centers have been consuming an unprecedented amount of energy from our grid, with some hyperscale campuses consuming as much energy as a small city. Such data centers require considerable investment to connect to the grid (such as new transmission lines and infrastructure upgrades). These costs have already begun showing up on utility bills for Pennsylvanians. It is crucial that Pennsylvania families do not bear the costs of data center projects backed by wealthy corporations.

House Bill 1834 fixes this issue by directing the PUC to put a framework in place which would ensure that corporations pay the costs associated with connecting a data center to the grid. HB 1834 also requires data centers to contribute to LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) and sets clean energy requirements. It is unacceptable that PA families and seniors would be asked to foot the bill so that corporations can rake in record profits. I voted Yes on HB 1834 to reduce utility bills for Pennsylvanians and ensure that wealthy corporations pay their fair share.

3/23/2026

HB 1260 (Rusnock) – Expanding Solar Energy Through E-Commerce Growth

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 101-98)

As demand for energy has soared across the commonwealth and the PJM grid region, so have energy prices. As utility bills rise and supply struggles to keep up with demand, meeting this challenge will require us to find new avenues to expand renewable energy production.

Warehouses and distribution centers provide considerable space for solar energy infrastructure. HB 1260 requires new large-scale warehouses and distribution centers to be built solar-ready. The bill also authorizes tax exemptions for current warehouses and distribution centers that make retrofits to be solar-ready. By leveraging existing roof space on warehouses and distribution centers, we can help to increase energy production and tackle rising energy costs.

HB 1042 (Nelson) – Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 149-50)

Reducing recidivism is crucial to strengthening public safety. Correctional education programs provide an opportunity for inmates to earn credits towards parole by completing vocational and educational credits. Individuals enrolled in such programs have been shown to recidivate less and are proven to be more hirable after incarceration.

Importantly, credits do not guarantee parole, rather, they provide incarcerated individuals with an opportunity for earlier parole consideration. This program also responsibly manages taxpayer funds, as reducing the number of re-offenders saves taxpayer dollars that otherwise would roll into our prison system. Ensuring that nonviolent, first-time offenders are given pathways to reintegrate reduces crime and addresses barriers to post-release employment, which is why I voted in support of this bill.

2/4/2026

HB 1936 (Bellmon) – Juvenile Criminal Justice System Reform: Total Secure Detention Time

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 111-87)

Our juvenile criminal justice system promotes rehabilitation and public safety. However, a lack of staff and space has left children spending an average of approximately one month on a waitlist for state-operated facilities. This time is not counted towards their sentence.

It is important that our juvenile criminal justice system works efficiently and effectively for both children and the community. House Bill 1936 would require a court to take into consideration the total time a child is securely detained when determining the duration of detention. It would also require a review hearing to consider pre-program detention alternatives if a child were not transferred to a treatment program within seven business days after court-ordered placement. Children should not be spending weeks in detention without access to the treatment they need. This bill would combat this issue, which is why I voted Yes to support its passage.

HB 1923 (Haddock) – Meat Packing and Food Processing Protection Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 122-76)

Our meat packing and food processing workforces keep Pennsylvanians fed and our economy growing, but workers in these industries are regularly exposed to hazardous conditions. According to the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration (OSHA), from 2015 to 2023, across 29 OSHA-covered states, an average of 27 meat packers a day suffered amputation or other hospitalization due to work. Yet these workers are left without common-sense protections to help mitigate risks.

House Bill 1923 creates training requirements for the meat packing and food processing industries and requires health and safety committees to be established at facilities across the state, with mechanisms to ensure that workers are able to take an active role in reducing work-related risks. Unsafe conditions and poor training contribute to the danger that these essential workers are placed in every day. This bill puts additional guardrails in place to support workers in a vital Pennsylvania industry.

HB 490 (Waxman) – Increased Protections for Journalists

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 100-98)

A free and independent press is vital to our country. Currently, Pennsylvania’s Title 42 offers legal safeguards to journalists which protect them from disclosing confidential sources. Such protections maintain the credibility of the press and promote the public’s right to know sensitive information that could otherwise be left unreported due to privacy concerns.

While current law forms the bedrock of our free press, we should expand protections to cover other pieces of information that journalists use in their jobs. House Bill 490 does so by amending Title 42 to protect all records, information, and documents created or acquired by journalists in their professional duties. I voted Yes on this bill because it reinforces the free press protections that uphold our democracy.

HB 460 (Daley) – Age-Appropriate Curriculums on Child Abuse

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 105-93)

House Bill 460 protects our most vulnerable community members by requiring school districts to educate students, teachers, and parents on child abuse awareness and prevention. Research indicates that school-based prevention programs help children better protect themselves. Additionally, helping teachers and parents to recognize signs of child abuse can help prevent tragedies before they occur.

Modeled after Texas’s “Jenna’s Law”, this bill would mandate that schools offer these programs beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. The bill directs the Department of Education to compile and post online recommended guidelines regarding child abuse awareness and prevention. I voted Yes on this bill to continue the work to fight child abuse in all its forms.

HB 144 (Krajewski) – Expanding Diversion for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 153-45)

Diversion initiatives are programs that hold youth accountable without the threat of confinement by instead directing them to resources outside the juvenile justice system. Such programs have been shown to reduce recidivism for youth while also costing less than processing them through the criminal justice system. It also allows youth to age out of less serious delinquent behaviors without permanent marks on their criminal record. Examples of such programs can include (but are not limited to) jobs skills training and mental health initiatives.

When it comes to less serious offenses, the data is clear: diversion programs result in better outcomes for both young people and society at large. Diversion programs are already used in our Commonwealth, but they are applied inconsistently. House Bill 144 requires that diversion programs be offered for youth who commit first- or second-time non-violent crimes. I voted Yes because giving young folks a path to improve their mental health and their future prospects is more beneficial to all of us than sending more young people into the criminal justice system for minor crimes without a pattern of offensive behavior.

 

2025

12/17/2025

HB 1957 (Friel Otten) – Reproductive Rights Amendment

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

For fifty years, Roe v. Wade assured Americans of their reproductive freedom. In 2021, Dobbs v. Jackson, overturned that precedent, leaving abortion restrictions up to the states to decide. Abortion is now entirely banned in 13 states, and heavily restricted in at least 7 others. This bill proposes an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution to enshrine reproductive freedom and the right to privacy. It states that “every individual has the fundamental right to exercise personal reproductive liberty and make and effectuate decisions regarding their own reproduction without discrimination.” This means individuals are free to choose or refuse abortion, contraceptives, and fertility care. It states that the Commonwealth may regulate abortion care after fetal viability (likelihood of fetal survival) except when necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant individual.

I voted yes on this bill because I believe the state should not interfere with personal reproductive decisions. Bodily autonomy is crucial to promoting Americans’ liberty, health, happiness, and economic prosperity.

HB 1663 (Hanbidge) – Statewide Children’s Literacy Program

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 116-87)

This bill partners state government with non-profits to mail children under the age of five a free, age-appropriate book each month. The state matches 50% of funds from non-profit organizations, and parents can choose whether to register their child. I voted yes because it will help prepare our students for kindergarten and because every child deserves access to reading materials, to promote their literacy, expand their empathy, and grow their imagination.

HB 505 (Donahue) – Modernize Energy Efficiency

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

This bill modernizes Act 129 to promote energy efficiency and save consumers money. Act 129, passed in 2008, asks electric utilities to implement energy efficiency plans, including consumer rebates for buying energy efficient appliances and heating systems. Efficient systems lower electric bills and ensure our electric grid is reliable and sustainable. This bill simply updates Act 129 to include new technologies, better assist low-income households, and update dollar amounts to modern levels (it’s been stuck at 2% of 2006 revenue for two decades.)

HB 150 (Krajewski) – Updating Pennsylvania’s Medical Release Program

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 111-92)

Very ill people are among the most expensive to incarcerate and often pose little to no danger to the public. Medical care for incarcerated people costs the state $400 million annually in taxpayer dollars. Our current system is failing: since 2010, only 54 incarcerated individuals have successfully petitioned for medical release, and since 2016, 11 people died in our prisons waiting for a judge to hear their petition. Many more have died from preventable medical reasons without ever filing for a petition.

This bill updates Pennsylvania’s medical release process, which authorizes a court to modify a prison term for in cases involving life-threatening illnesses and serious health issues. All release petitions are subject to criteria considering public safety and the wishes of crime victims.

HR 382 (Bellmon) – Urging Congress to Lower Health Insurance Costs

How I voted: Yes (Resolution adopted by the House 123-80)

Congress’ Expanded Premium Tax Credits expanded eligibility for individuals to purchase health insurance if they weren’t offered through an employer. They enabled many more Pennsylvanians to buy health insurance through Pennie, including a record of 500,000 in 2025. These EPTCs are set to expire on Dec. 31, 2025, which will, on average, double health insurance costs for Pennie customers. This bill urges Congress to extend the EPTCs to protect Pennsylvanian’s access to lifesaving health coverage.

12/16/2025

HB 1881 (Venkat) – Protecting Pennsylvanians’ Access to Vaccines through Pharmacists

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 106-97)

Many Pennsylvanians rely on pharmacies to receive vaccinations. Pharmacists’ authority to administer vaccines depends heavily on federal CDC recommendations. The recent political turmoil in CDC personnel and decision-making, it is crucial for Pennsylvania to protect pharmacists’ vaccine authority. This bill will guarantee that pharmacists’ vaccine authority can also come from the recommendations of PA health authorities. This protects Pennsylvanian’s access to crucial preventative healthcare.

HB 1825 (Madden) – Strengthening Protections Against Workplace Discrimination

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 110-93)

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act bans discrimination in workplace, but it has not gone far enough. In 2023, PA had the fifth-highest rate of workplace discrimination in the country, and studies estimate up to 90% of discrimination goes unreported. This bill ensures employers have written policies and procedures for the prevention of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. It also establishes the Human Relations Training Fund, which ensures financial penalties collected from violations of the PA Human Relations Act are used to prevent future violations, through training, education, and outreach.

HB 1768 (Burgos) – Keystone Fresh Farm to School Nutrition Act

How I voted: (Bill passed the House 194-9)

This bill aims to support schools’ purchasing of local food through three grant programs: the Local Food Purchasing Incentive Grant Program, the Keystone Assistance Grant Program, and the Keystone Producer Grant Program. Local food purchasing incentive programs like these have been proven to sustain small family farms and stimulate the agricultural industry and local economy. It also will also promote healthy, fresh ingredients in school meals.

HB 458 (Hill-Evans) – Post-Conviction Review for Veterans with PTSD or TBI

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

This bill will allow incarcerated veterans diagnosed with PTSD or TBI after imprisonment to present their diagnosis as a mitigating factor in the crime and apply for post-conviction relief. Mitigating factors do not excuse the crime but can lessen the sentence or charge. PTSD and TBI (traumatic brain injuries) can affect an individual’s personality and increase high-risk behavior.

I voted yes for this bill because it corrects an unfair contradiction in our current system: veterans can present PTSD and TSI as mitigating factors during their sentencing, but not during a post-conviction review. Many veterans are not diagnosed until after their imprisonment. Veterans incarcerated before 1980 could never have been diagnosed, as PTSD was not recognized as a mental illness until then.

HB 135 (Krajewski) – Filing Requirements for Cooperative Entrepreneurs

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 194-9)

This bill lowers the required number of workers to file as a Cooperative Corporation from five to three. Worker Cooperatives are democratically managed and owned by its employees, helping to build their wealth. Currently, in Pennsylvania, five or more employees are required in order to file as a Cooperative, but often, they start very small with only a few founders. I voted Yes for this bill because it makes starting these businesses a little easier.

11/19/2025

HB 1713 (Freeman) – Environmental Liability Exemption for Land Banks

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 190-13)

Vacant, abandoned, and contaminated properties are harmful to communities across Pennsylvania. Land banks are government entities specifically created to take on these difficult properties and turn them around. But under current law, when a land bank acquires one of these “brownfield” sites, such as a former gas station, dry cleaners, junkyard, manufacturing facility, etc., it can become a “responsible person” under Pennsylvania’s environmental remediation law. This exposes it to potential enforcement action from the DEP simply for taking the property on. HB 1713 gives land banks protections from this kind of liability, removing a significant financial and legal barrier that slows down community revitalization efforts, which is why I voted Yes.

11/18/2025

HB 1233 (Siegel) – Stewardship Program for Lithium-Ion Batteries

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 111-91)

Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere – we use them in household essentials like our phones, laptops, lawn mowers and snowblowers. Improper disposal of these batteries, (such as tossing them in the trash) can have serious consequences, such as causing fires in recycling facilities and costing millions of dollars in damage. Lithium-ion battery fires are much more severe than your usual house fire, making them difficult and dangerous to extinguish.

This bill creates a statewide stewardship program requiring battery manufacturers to develop and fund a safe take back and disposal program for lithium-ion batteries, approved by the Department of Environmental Protection. It also provides for public education so that Pennsylvanians know how and where to safely dispose of these batteries. I voted Yes because keeping lithium-ion batteries out of our trash and landfills is a step to protect our communities, our first responders, and our environment.

HB 1811 (Steele) – Removing the Price Per Acre Cap for Counties of the First through Fifth Classes

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 167-35)

Under current law, the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission is capped at $400 per acre when purchasing land. This amount made sense years ago but is completely disconnected from today’s real estate market in many parts of our Commonwealth. This effectively shuts the PGC out of land deals in certain counties, slowing the growth of state game lands and leaving important habitats unprotected. PGC does more than just support hunters and anglers, but it also preserves open space, protects wildlife habitat, safeguards water quality, and gives Pennsylvanians access to green spaces close to home.

I voted Yes on HB 1811 because it removes the $400 per care cap for counties of only the first through fifth class, allowing the PGC to compete fairly for land. This bill protects Pennsylvanians natural resources and expands public access to green spaces.

HB 1871 (Conklin) – Modernizing Security Options for Businesses

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 107-95)

This bill creates the Commercial and Industrial Products and Property Protection Act, establishing clear parameters for the installation and use of security systems. In our Commonwealth, regulatory ambiguity has prevented or slowed down many businesses from installing electrified perimeter security systems, leaving their employees and property unnecessarily vulnerable to theft and vandalism.

I voted Yes because Pennsylvania businesses work hard to protect their employees, their products, and their property. They deserve to use the best tools when doing so, including electrified perimeter security systems.

11/17/2025

HB 1995 (Dawkins) – Amending the Unemployment Compensation Law

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 121-81)

When Pennsylvania’s lose their jobs, unemployment compensation is often the only thing standing between their family and financial crisis. Currently, Pennsylvania’s unemployment compensation system includes a solvency trigger that automatically reduces weekly benefit amounts. With Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate reaching 4% in the summer of 2025 (the highest it has been since 2022) and the cost of necessities continuing to rise, now is the worst possible time to cut benefits for workers who are already struggling.

I voted Yes because this bill extends the solvency trigger date my two years, preventing an automatic reduction in benefits. This gives the General Assembly time to address the underlying issue without harming Pennsylvania workers in the meantime. Working families deserve stability and protection during a period of rising unemployment and rising costs.

HB 1980 (Takac) – Continuing Medical Education in Nutrition

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 131-71)

This bill requires Pennsylvania physicians to complete one hour of continuing medical education in nutrition per two-year licensing period. That single hour comes out of the 100 hours of CME physicians are already required to complete, so it does not add to their overall burden. I voted Yes because what we eat has a direct impact on our health, yet many physicians receive very little nutrition education in medical school and may go their entire careers without further training in this rapidly evolving field. Meanwhile, patients are bombarded with nutrition tips and diets from the internet, which can be overwhelming and confusing. Therefore, doctors should be equipped to give guidance based on the latest evidence backed science.

11/12/2025

HB 1421 (Harris) – Funding for State- aided Universities

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 131-71)

This bill provides funding for state aided universities, ensuring they have the resources to continue serving Pennsylvania students. I voted Yes because maintaining consistent, reliable funding for these institutions is essential to keeping higher education accessible and preventing cost burdens from falling entirely on the student or their families.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on November 9 as Act 11A of 2025.

10/29/2025

HB 1828 (Venkat) – Protecting Vaccine Access in Pennsylvania

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 104-99)

Vaccines have saved an estimated 154 million lives worldwide over the last 50 years. They are one of the most effective and proven public health tools we have. Recent changes to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have raised serious concerns about whether they will continue recommending existing FDA-approved vaccines. Under the Affordable Care Act, ACIP recommendations are tied directly to insurance coverage requirements. This means that is ACIP stops recommending a vaccine, insurers can stop covering it, leaving Pennsylvanians to pay out of pocket or simply go without.

This bill ensures that Pennsylvania does not leave its residents exposed to uncertainty and huge burdens like parents spending thousands to vaccinate their kids and seniors paying hundreds for a covid vaccine. It requires private insurers and Medicaid to cover vaccines that are FDA-approved and recommended by the professional societies representing pediatricians, obstetricians and gynecologist, internists, and primary care physicians regardless of what happens at the federal level.

I voted Yes because Pennsylvanians should not lose access to proven, life-saving vaccines due to political interference in public health.

10/28/2025

HB 1882 (Munroe) – Enlarging Reverse Mortgage Font Size and Requiring Branch Managers to be Licensed as a Mortgage Originator

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 104-99)

This bill requires reverse mortgage contracts to be printed in at least 16-point font, consistent with Americans with Disabilities Act recommendations, so that seniors can actually read what they are signing. It also requires branch managers at mortgage lending institutions to be licensed as mortgage originators, ensuring the people overseeing these transactions have proper training and accountability. I voted Yes because senior citizens deserve to make fully informed financial decisions.

HB 1063 (Malagari) – Prohibiting Grinch Bots

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 169-34)

This bill makes it unlawful to use automated software to circumvent online purchasing limits for the purpose of bulk resale. This software is known as “Grinch Bots”, and they scoop up products in bulk the moment they go on sale, before any real consumer has a chance, and then resell it. I voted Yes because Pennsylvanian consumers deserve a fair marketplace.

10/27/2025

HB 1512 (Mullins) – Right to Repair Electronics

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 110-93)

This bill requires manufacturers of electronics and appliances containing embedded software to make the parts, tools, firmware access, and repair information available to consumers and independent repair shops. This helps extend the life of electronics, reduces e-waste in landfills, saves consumers money, creates jobs in local repair businesses, and builds a more sustainable economy, which is why I voted Yes.

10/8/2025

HB 1874 (Powell) – Flexibility for Redevelopment Authorities in TRIDs

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 143-60)

The Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID) helps transform struggling neighborhoods into thriving communities by creating jobs, expanding the local tax base, attracting private investment, and improving public transit. It works by using the increased tax revenue generated withing a designated district and using it to fund transit-oriented development projects. But under current law, when a TRID district ends, the redevelopment authorities (the ones who planned and executed these projects) lose that funding stream, meaning they are unable to keep doing their work in and around the community.

This bill closes that current gap by allowing redevelopment authorities to receive a percentage of the increased tax revenue generated by properties in a former TRID district after the district ends.

HB 1702 (Goughnour) – Modernizing PA Liquor Code to Allow Premixed Cocktail on Tap

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 150-53)

Under current law, Pennsylvania businesses with a liquor license cannot store a premised cocktail for more than 24 hours, forcing them to discard significant amounts of products. A product, premixed cocktail ingredients stored in sealed kegs, with alcohol added by the licenses, offers a solution to this. This bill simply defines premixed keg cocktails an makes them available to licenses and their customers.

HB 1701 (Fiedler) – Creating a School Facilities Inventory within the PA Department of Education

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 103-100)

Our students deserve to learn in an environment that is safe and adequate, yet there are documented examples of crumbling, inadequate school buildings across the state. Pennsylvania has no comprehensive statewide picture of just how serious the problem is or where the greatest needs exist.

I voted Yes on this bill because it creates a School Facilities Inventory within the Pennsylvania Department of Education. They are charged with maintaining a public inventory of school facility conditions, ensuring schools regularly complete building conditions assessments, helping districts identify infrastructure needs, and coordinating facility planning across the state. Evry child deserves a safe, adequate place to learn, and we cannot deliver on that promise without first knowing the full scope of what needs to be done.

HB 664 (Webster) – Road Salt Management

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 104-99)

Every winter, PennDOT alone applies over 800,000 tons of salt to Pennsylvania’s roads, and that does not count what municipalities, businesses, and private property owners use. While keeping roads safe in winter is essential, the environmental cost of this much salt is staggering. It takes just one teaspoon of salt to permanently contaminate five gallons of freshwater, and salt is irreversibly changing the chemistry of stream and waterways across the state, harming fish, wildlife, and ecosystems that depend on fresh water.

This damage also does not stop at the environment. Road salt corrodes vehicles and infrastructure, costing an estimated $5 billion in damage annually across the United States. The good news is that smarter, more sustainable approaches do exist.

This bill directs PennDOT and the Department of Environmental Protection to work together to develop best management practices for road salt use in Pennsylvania.  I voted Yes because we can keep our roads safe in winter without permanently damaging our waterways and racking up billions in infrastructure costs.

SB 160 (Martin) – General Appropriations Act of 2025

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 105-98)

This bill provides the funding necessary to keep Pennsylvania’s Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches operating, supporting public schools, etc. I voted Yes because we need to guarantee Pennsylvania residents, schools, and public institutions the resources they need to function.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on November 12 as Act 1A of 2025

SB 315 (Culver) – Career and Technical Education Equipment Grant Funding Fix

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 105-98)

Under the current system, career and technical education schools (CTE) receive their equipment grant allocations based on calculations made near the ends of the school years, after they have already had to make purchasing decisions. This bill aligns the Career and Technical Education Equipment Grant calculations with the same timeline already used for Basic Educations, Special Education and other CTE funding, using established data. I voted Yes on this bill, because it means CTE schools will know what funding they have before they need to spend it, allowing for smarter planning and better use of every dollar.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on November 12 as Act 47 of 2025

10/7/2025

SB 467 (Pisciottano) – Project 70 Restrictions

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

Project 70 is Pennsylvania’s landmark open space and recreation land conservation program, which placed permanent restrictions on certain publicly owned lands to preserve them for recreational and conservation purposes. But occasionally, those restrictions need to be adjusted to reflect changing circumstances.

This bill authorizes the release of Project 70 restrictions on certain lands owned by the PA turnpike commissions. I voted Yes because protecting open space and recreational land is a commitment worth keeping, and this bill upholds that commitment while giving the community the flexibility it needs.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on February 11 as Act 6 of 2026

HB 441 (Pielli) – Protect Our Native Species

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

Pennsylvania is home to nearly 100 species of imperiled land-dwelling insect species, many of them vital pollinators like the monarch butterfly. Without pollinators, flowers and food crops cannot reproduce, making their survival a matter of ecological and agricultural importance. Despite this, no state agency currently has the authority to monitor or protect terrestrial insects in Pennsylvania.

I voted Yes, because this bill adds terrestrial insects to the species covered under Pennsylvania’s Wild Resource Conservation Act, giving state agencies the authority to monitor populations and taking steps to protect native insects and pollinators before their numbers decline further. This is not just an environmental issue, it is an agricultural issue, an economic issue, and a reflection of our Constitutional commitment to preserving the natural values of our Commonwealth.

HB 145 (Krajewski) – UC for Striking Workers

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 106-97)

The right to strike is a federally protected right, one of the most powerful tools workers have when negotiating for fair wages, safe conditions and decent contract. But in Pennsylvania, workers who exercise that right face an immediate financial penalty because they are specifically barred from collecting unemployment compensation, while employers are fully protected in hiring temporary replacement workers. This bill removes the existing prohibition on UC benefits for workers whose unemployment results from a labor dispute, treating strike workers the same as any other eligible unemployed person under Pennsylvania law.

10/6/2025

HB 1418 (Merski) – Updating Personal Watercraft Safety Requirements In Pennsylvania

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 190-13)

More Pennsylvanians are enjoying our waterways on a variety of personal watercraft including electric powered devices like efoils and jet boards that did not exist when our boating safety laws were last updated. This bill modernizes Pennsylvania’s boating safety requirements around registration, safety education certificates, and life jacket rules to better align with federal regulations and reflect the realities of today’s watercraft market.

10/1/2025

HB 1866 (Steele) – Ban on Machine Gun Conversion Devices

How I voted: Yes (Bill did not pass the House 102-101)

People have the ability to convert a handgun into a machine gun using a small, cheaply made device known as a “switch”. These devices, which can allow a pistol to fire up to 1,200 rounds per minute, are already banned under federal law, but that has not been enough to stop their proliferation on our streets. There is a similar device called a bump stock which has been used in mass shootings.

This bill would have banned all machine gun conversion devices in Pennsylvania, including switches, bum stock, and similar devices, closing the loophole that allows dangerous individuals to effectively possess weapons that fire at the rate of a machine gun. I voted yes because machine guns are outlawed for a reason. They are uniquely and extraordinarily lethal. No loophole should allow someone to turn an ordinary handgun into one. I am disappointed this bill did not pass and will continue to support efforts to get it done.

HB 1608 (Neilson) – Design Build Best Value Procurement

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 191-12)

Pennsylvania’s infrastructure needs are enormous, and the cost of repairing and replacing roads, bridges, and other public works. Design Build Best Value procurement evaluates proposals on a combination of cost, innovation, and project approach that also minimizes risk, producing cost savings, and allows projects to be completed faster. I voted Yes because this bill allows PennDOT and the Turnpike commission to use DBBV as an alternative procurement method for eligible projects.

HB 1331 (Harris) – Capitol Budget

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 185-18)

This bill authorizes and itemizes the public improvement projects the state will undertake including transportation assistance, redevelopment, flood control, and PA Fish and Boat Commission. I voted Yes because it is important to invest in Pennsylvania’s infrastructure, public facilities, and natural resources.

HB 997 (Solomon) – Protecting Pennsylvanians Personal Information

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 112-91)

High profile data breaches have exposed the sensitive personal information of millions of Americans including credit card numbers and social security numbers. This bill addresses this by requiring any company or organization handling personal information to take reasonable steps to secure that data and to compensate consumers if a breach occurs. It also gives Pennsylvania consumers a private right of action.

I voted yes because Pennsylvanians should not bear the cost of a company’s failure to protect their personal information and deserve legal compensation when that failure harms them.

HB 722 (Daley) – Alkaline Hydrolysis

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 152-51)

This bill simply updates Pennsylvania’s definition of cremation to include alkaline hydrolysis, giving families a legal, eco-friendly alternative when making end of life decisions for their loved ones. I voted yes because Pennsylvania families should have the freedom to honor their loved ones in ways that align with their values.

HB 102 (Kulik) – Harassment of a Sports Official

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 137-66)

Referees, umpires, and other sports officials make the youth and community sports experiences that thousands of Pennsylvanian families enjoy each year. Their job is stressful and fast paced, and in nearly half of cases, officials report having felt unsafe or feared for their safety because of the behavior of coaches, parents, players, or administrators. Under current Pennsylvania law there are protections for sport officials from assault but not harassment.

I voted Yes because this bill creates a separate offense of harassment of a sports official, protecting thee from threats, intimidation, and harassment that arise from simply doing their jobs. Protecting our sports officials means protecting the integrity and availability of the sports programs our communities depend on.   

HB 78 (Neilson) – Protecting Consumer Information and Privacy

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 127-76)

Consumers have a right to know how their information is being used, a right to correct errors in their data, and a right to opt out of having it sold or shared. This bill establishes those rights in Pennsylvania law. It requires certain businesses to protect consumer privacy, limit the date they collect, and give consumers meaningful control over their personal information. I voted Yes because Pennsylvanians deserve a law that puts them back in control of their own information.

9/30/25

HB 1651 (Freeman) – Expedited Process to Fill Local Government Vacancies

How I voted: (Bill passed the House 189-14)

This bill amends the Second Class Township Code to fill township supervisor vacancies faster. This helps township government return to running smoothly.

It states that if a majority of seats on a township’s board of supervisors are vacant, the Court of Common Pleas shall convene a vacancy board consisting of the remaining supervisors or fifteen registered electors, who will appoint replacements.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on December 22 as Act 59 of 2025.

HB 1593 (Warren) – Background Checks for Long Guns

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 104-99)

Long guns account for 4% of gun violence, but Pennsylvania law does not require background checks to purchase long guns. This bill removes that exception. Background checks are one step to ensure that guns are in safe, responsible hands, and the more gun purchases they apply to, the less likely gun violence is to follow.

HB 1099 (Cephas) – Prohibiting Undetectable Firearms

How I voted: Yes (Bill did not pass the House 102-101)

3D-printed firearms represent a serious threat to public safety. They are undetectable by traditional security measures, don’t require background checks, and without serial numbers, are nearly impossible to trace. Across 20 major cities, 3D-printed gun recoveries have increased nearly 1,000% over the past five years. This bill will ban the manufacturing, sale, and possession of undetectable firearms, including 3D-printed firearms.

HB 1859 (O’Mara) – Extreme Risk Protection Orders

How I voted: (Bill did not pass the House 102-101)

In 2023, 60% of gun deaths in Pennsylvania were suicides. This bill provides for Extreme Risk Protection Orders, a mechanism for family members, loved ones, and law enforcement to ask a Judge to hold a hearing to temporarily disarm someone in crisis. 22 other states have Extreme Risk Laws. A 2019 Indiana Family found that 1 life was saved for every 10 firearms removed. A 1999-2013 Connecticut study found that 1 life was saved for every 17-23 firearms removed. I voted Yes on this bill because it is yet another step we can take to prevent gun deaths in our state.

9/29/25

HB 1667 (Takac) – Rural Jobs and Investment Tax Credit Program Extension

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 182-21)

This bill fixes a technicality to ensure the extension of the Rural Jobs and Investment Tax Credit program, which stimulates business and job creation in rural communities. It was reauthorized in the Tax Reform Code for another five-year cycle, but cannot actually award credits to businesses until a bill like this is signed into law.

HB 1212 (Abney) – PA Dads Matter Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 198-5)

This bill directs the Department of Health to conduct a public awareness campaign about the importance of including fathers to improve outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Research has shown that fatherhood engagement improves health outcomes for mothers and babies. Fathers’ support increases mothers’ likelihood to begin prenatal care in the fire trimester, reduces maternal depression, and encourages healthy maternal nutrition. They can also help increase childhood development and educational attainment.  On a larger scale, we can shift societal attitudes and encourage fathers to take an active role in their child’s life.

HB 1108 (Nelson) – Easing the Childcare Cliff

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 198-5)

In many cases, parents have to decline jobs, promotions, and raises, or work less hours, because they will lose their child care if they earn a little above the government’s limit. This fundamentally contradicts the purpose of these childcare payments, to help families work their way out of poverty and reach financial stability. This bill aims to smooth out that transition by requiring increasing copayments, instead of a sudden loss of eligibility.

HB 589 (Kinkead) – Protecting Pennsylvanians from Landslides

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 152-51)

Currently, when landslides or mudslides occur due to mining practices, they’re covered under insurance programs. But when they’re caused naturally, Pennsylvanians are left vulnerable to financial fallout and the physical devastation of their communities. Climate change has caused shifting weather patterns and more intense storms, which increases the likelihood of these disasters. This bill establishes the Landslide and Sinkhole Insurance Program to provide state-run insurance.

HB 97 (Kulik) – Pet Custody in Divorce Cases

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 121-82)

Currently, Pennsylvania law provides no special provisions for pets, they are treated as any other inanimate property. This bill establishes factors that a judge must consider when deciding pet custody, including ability to financially and emotionally support the animal, who typically takes care of the animal, and when the animal was acquired. The bill also allows parties to enter an enforceable agreement outside of a divorce decree. I voted Yes for this bill because divorce proceedings should consider the importance of pets in our lives and their own health and safety.

8/11/25

HB 1788 (Dougherty) – Public Transit Funding and Repairs

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 108-95)

This bill is one of many repeated attempts to keep our public transit running. It would fund SEPTA, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), other public transit programs, and road and bridge maintenance. It also includes a compromise, as Senate Republicans demanded, to establish minimum system performance criteria for SEPTA and PRT. I voted yes on this bill because Pennsylvanians all across the state rely on public transit to get to work, buy groceries, visit the doctor, and go about their daily lives. Our public transportation only operates when there is adequate state funding, and it is our responsibility to work with members across the aisle to ensure it stays in operation.

7/14/25

HB 1330 (Harris) – General Appropriations

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 105-97)

This bill is a General Appropriations budget bill. It provides for a $526 million increase to the Ready-to-Learn Block Grant to keep up with the state’s constitutional responsibilities to better fund our schools. It also seeks to mitigate the impact of federal budget cuts toward human services by increasing our own human services budget by $4.5 billion. I voted Yes on this bill in an effort to continue moving the budget forward and negotiating with the Senate, while the budget was three weeks overdue.

HB 1573 (Shusterman) – Juvenile Justice Data Inventory

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-100)

This bill is part of a package aimed at improving the safety of our juvenile justice system. It establishes a data inventory to collect information on the current state of our juvenile justice system, including programs, facilities, and services.

HB 1466 (Cephas) – Reverse Mortgage Counseling

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 167-35)

Many Pennsylvania seniors decide to enter reverse mortgages, where homeowners aged 62+ can borrow on the equity of their home in exchange for a lump sum, fixed monthly payments, or a line of credit. This allows them to access their assets without selling their home, which can be very helpful in challenging times. However, interest and fees increase their debt each month (which they must pay back when they die or sell their home) and decrease their home equity in the long-run. This bill requires an appointment with a financial counselor before an applicant can begin a reverse mortgage process. I voted Yes for this bill because it protects consumers and ensures they are properly informed before entering into risky financial agreements.

HB 938 (Briggs) – Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Shared Governance

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 106-96)

PASSHE provides higher education through 10 state-owned public universities. This bill acts upon PASSHE’s guiding principle of shared governance, which refers to collaborative, decision-making between all stakeholders---the governing boards, administrators, faculty, and students. This bill acts upon their commission’s recommendation to elect a faculty liaison to their Board of Governors, which was missing previously, despite being an equally important voice.

7/9/25

HB 1697 (Burns) – Taxpayer Prevention Against Fraud Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 136-67)

This bill allows the state attorney general to seek return of any government money obtained by submitting false information, modeled after the federal False Claims Act. I voted Yes on this bill because it protects taxpayer dollars from being spent on fraudulent requests. It also empowers whistleblowers to expose fraud by bringing civil actions on behalf of the Commonwealth.

HB 1600 (Mehaffie) – Keystone STARS

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 176-27)

The Keystone STARS program ranks Pennsylvania’s child care centers, and this bill will update the program in a few ways. It will factor in credit for years of experience and encourage child care providers to advertise their STAR Status. I voted Yes on this bill because it helps educate parents to make the best possible decision for their children’s care.

HB 1591 (Neilson) – Allowing Private Parking Lots to Collect Unpaid Parking Fees

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 193-10)

This bill allows private parking lots to have limited access to PennDOT’s license plate records for a fee, so that they know where to send the parking invoice if a vehicle owner fails to pay. It limits the discoverable information to only the name and mailing address of the vehicle owner. I voted Yes for this bill because it allows gateless parking lots to operate and hold their customers accountable, while still protecting private data.

HB 1577 (Shusterman) – Safe Practices in Juvenile Justice

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 108-95)

This bill is part of a package aimed at improving the safety of our juvenile justice system. It ensures safe practices are in place when children face restrictive procedures in custody, such as restraints. I voted Yes for this bill because our children deserve to be treated humanely.

HB 1576 (Shusterman) – Juvenile Justice Services Reimbursement

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 106-97)

This bill is part of a package aimed at improving the safety of our juvenile justice system. It requires the Department of Human Services to reimburse counties for 50% of certain costs, including medical treatments, the appointment of a guardian ad litem or counsel, and transportation, provided to delinquent children. I voted Yes for this bill because state dollars can help ensure these crucial services are provided to keep our children safe and represented by adequate defense.

HB 1646 (Carroll) – Keeping the Board of Barber Examiners Operating Smoothly

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 115-88)

This bill amends the Barbers’ License Law to change the quorum from 6 members to a majority of current members. Recently, the State Board of Barber Examiners has struggled to meet that 6 member quorum, as there have been vacancies in the usual 11 member board. Without quorum met, the Board cannot conduct its business, including approving applications for barber licenses, updating regulations, and taking disciplinary action.

7/8/25

HB 1668 (Bellmon) – Allowing Philadelphia to Establish a Tax Abatement for Fire Sprinkler Systems

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 107-96)

This bill permits cities to establish a property tax relief program to incentivize the retrofitting of automatic fire sprinkler systems in residential high-rises. In Philadelphia, for example, because only those high-rises built after 1991 are required to have fire sprinklers, it is estimated that as many as 26,000 residents are living without fire sprinkler systems. I voted Yes for this bill to ensure Pennsylvanians are living in safe, up-to-standard buildings.

HB 1299 (Ciresi) – Click-to-Cancel and Consumer Protections for Recurring Subscriptions

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 181-22)

This bill requires companies to provide notification before each automatic subscription renewal, to be transparent about the terms of the renewal, and allow subscribers to cancel their subscription exclusively online. I voted Yes for this bill because it makes consumers aware of what they may be paying for unknowingly and makes easy to manage those subscriptions.

HB 1093 (Madsen) – Correctly Enforcing Pennsylvania’s Seat Belt Law for Minors

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 151-52)

Currently, all drivers under 18 and all vehicle occupants between 8 and 18 must buckle up, and all occupants under 8 must be secured in car seats and booster seats. However, law enforcement has been misinterpreting the awkwardly worded law to only apply when both the driver and occupants are under 18 and unbuckled at the same time. This bill clarifies the requirements as they were originally meant.

7/7/25

HB 1575 (Freeman) – Factory or Mill Building Economic Revitalization Tax Credit

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 114-89)

This bill establishes a tax incentive program to encourage the reuse and redevelopment of vacant factory and mill buildings. I voted Yes for this bill because it repurposes otherwise unused buildings to promote economic development in the form of local businesses and homes.

HB 1412 (Shusterman) – Protecting Children When Custody Orders are Modified

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

Currently, parents can file a petition to change a custody order if they believe it’s not in the best interest of the child, but they do not need to demonstrate a significant change in circumstances. This allows parties to use these petitions to harass one another. This bill requires that such a request demonstrates a material change (which can include abuse), while still allowing courts to modify orders without a circumstantial change if they believe it really is in the best interest of the child.

HB 1358 (Green) – Protecting the Safety of Hotel Workers

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 109-94)

Hotel workers, many of whom are women, often face sexual, verbal, and physical harassment. This bill requires hotel employers to provide their employees with “panic button” devices while working alone in guest rooms to summon security personnel. I voted Yes for this bill because all workers deserve to feel safe, especially in the hospitality industry, where harassment is a common experience.

HB 1319 (Harkins) – Revising the Mechanics’ Lien Law of 1963

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 116-87)

In R.A. Greig Equipment Company v. Mark Erie Hospitality, LLC, the Superior Court found that construction equipment and unpaid rental feels did not qualify as “materials” because they weren’t part of the completed structure. This bill clarifies the Mechanics Lien Law to say that the subject of a lien does not need to be built into the final structure: materials and equipment still count.

7/1/25

HB 1599 (Rabb) – Amending Section 2 of Title 66

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 159-43)

PJM operates our electric grid, holding lots of power over our electric bills and the reliability of our electricity supply. PJM’s members, including utility companies, vote for new policies in a two-tiered system. Lower-level committees vote in private to determine which policies are considered by the upper-level. This means decisions affecting utility bills, public health, daily life, business operations, and the environment are made in secret. HB 1599 requires electric utilities to disclose to the PA Public Utility Commission any recorded vote they make in PJM and an explanation of how that vote is in the public interest.

I voted Yes for this bill because it inserts transparency and accountability into an imbalanced system, where company profits can trump consumers’ basic needs. It’s a positive step towards ensuring utility decisions are actually made in the public interest.

HB 1574 (Davis) – Redevelopment Authority Loan

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 160-42)

This bill would establish a low-interest, long-term loan program for county development authorities to redevelop blighted properties. The money would be returned to the fund for future redevelopment authorities to use. I voted Yes because this bill combats blight and encourages the creation of new, good quality housing.

HB 1532 (Freeman) – Expanding the Use and Scope of Specific Plans

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-100)

Municipalities’ “specific plans” establish detailed standards for how land can be used, within their larger comprehensive plans. When a developer proposes a project in consistency with that specific plan, it goes through a streamlined approval process. Currently, specific plans are only allowed in multi-municipal comprehensive plans and are limited to non-residential uses. This bill expands their use to include individual municipalities and residential development. I voted Yes for this bill because it helps municipalities plan their communities and promotes new housing creation.

HB 1234 (La'Tasha Mayes) – Expanding Maternal Blood Pressure Monitoring Coverage

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 147-55)

This bill expands Medicaid and CHIP programs to cover blood pressure monitors for home-use during pregnancy and postpartum. Hypertension affects 5-10% of pregnancies, and when unaddressed, it can result in complications including preeclampsia, eclampsia, preterm delivery, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and death. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading case of maternal, neonatal, and fetal morbidity. Early identification and intervention of hypertension is crucial to saving lives, and that is why I voted yes for this bill.

HB 956 (Kenyatta) – Protections for Municipal Workers

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 122-80)

Currently, certain public servants are covered by increased protections against assault, though many municipal workers are not covered. This bill adds municipal employees to this group of protected individuals. I voted yes for this bill because all of our public servants deserve to feel safe while working.

Currently, certain public servants are covered by increased protections against assault due to the heightened risk they face while working, but many municipal workers are not included. This bill adds municipal employees to this group of protected individuals. I voted yes for this bill because all of our public servants deserve to feel safe while on the job.

HB 129 (Borowski) – Updating Negative Options to Protect PA Consumers

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 159-43)

Many of our digital services, like streaming and food delivery, can automatically subscribe you to their program. This bill requires these service companies to provide the option to “opt into” the program, rather than “opt out”, making agreements clearer for consumers and saving them from unwanted payments they may have never realized they signed up for.

6/30/25

HB 1431 (Steele) – Sunday Hunting

How I voted: Yes (House concurred with Senate amendments 142-61)

This bill allows Sunday hunting, and allows it on private land if written permission is received from the landowner. It also allows deer urine to be used to attract wildlife and updates trespassing laws and punishment. I voted Yes for this bill because it modernizes a centuries-old law banning hunting on Sundays and allows for more flexible hunting schedules.  

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on July 9 as Act 36 of 2025.

HB 799 (Deasy) – Posting of Veterans Beenfits/Resources

How I voted: Yes (House concurred with Senate amendments 181-22)

This bill requires employers to display information regarding veterans’ benefits and support. These benefits are dispersed across multiple agencies, often making it difficult for veterans to identify what they have earned. I voted Yes on this bill because it is an easy step to take towards helping more veterans access their due benefits.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on July 7 as Act 31 of 2025.

SB 95 (Phillips-Hill) – Permit EMS Providers to Leave a Dose of Naloxone with a Caregiver of a Patient who Overdosed

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 126-77)

In many opioid overdose cases, a revived EMS patient may refuse to go to a medical treatment center. After EMS departs, they may obtain more opioids. To prevent death from a second overdose, it is crucial EMS be allowed to leave an extra package of naloxone with an on-scene caregiver.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on July 7 as Act 34 of 2025.

HB 1572 (Goughnor) – Increase the Historic Preservation Tax Credit Per-Project Cap

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 141-62)

The historic preservation tax credit helps alleviate the high funding costs associated with rehabilitation projects. The current credit cap is $500,000, but many qualifying projects’ costs are far above this amount. Only one approved project in 2023 cost less than $10 million. This bill will raise the per-project cap to $1.5 million, and I voted Yes to help promote the preservation of, and education about, our many historic locations.

HB 1553 (Sanchez) – Protecting Your Accounts

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

This bill creates consumer protections against overdraft and nonsufficient funds fees. It caps fees exceeding $15, or the actual cost of processing the transaction, whichever is lower. It also prohibits banks from charging more than three nonsufficient funds fees in a day, from imposing any other fees on an overdraft, and from charging a fee when the transaction is declined. I voted Yes on this bill because it prevents exorbitant fees from burdening consumers and small business.

HB 640 (Williams) – Updating Annual Reporting Requirements for the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

How I voted: Yes (House concurred with Senate amendments 183-20)

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs manage substance use disorder prevention and treatment programs. Given the Department’s changing responsibilities and initiatives, this bill updates its reporting requirements to include evaluations of grant programs, performance indicators used to measure outcomes, and distributed funds. The Senate amended the bill to defer the sunset date for two judicial surcharges to 2027, as they provide $60 million in funding to judicial operations. I voted Yes for this bill because more comprehensive data allows the state to continue improving its response to the opioid crisis.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 30 as Act 14 of 2025.

HR 142 (Kazeem) – Juvenile Detention Facilities Reform

How I voted: Yes (Resolution adopted by the House 109-94)

This resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study and make recommendations regarding the best practices for the operation of juvenile detention centers. It is part of a legislation package by Rep. Kazeem aiming to reform the juvenile detention system to prevent the abuse of children within it. I voted Yes for this bill because collecting data on the system is the crucial first step towards adequately reforming it.

6/26/25

HB 1340 (Harris) – Gaming Control Appropriation Act of 2025

How I voted: Yes (House concurred with Senate amendments 178-24)

This bill provides appropriations for the Attorney General, Dep. Of Revenue, State Police, and Gaming Control Board’s budgets to regulate gambling, in alignment with the Governor’s Proposed 25-26 budget.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 27 as Act 9A of 2025.

HB 1650 (Powell) – PA Home Preservation Program

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 122-80)

After the success of a similar program through the American Rescues Plan, this bill established the PA Home Preservation Program, which will fund health and safety home repairs. Almost 60% of PA homes were built before 1970, and many homeowners struggle to keep up with maintenance, leading to unhealthy living conditions. I voted Yes because these repair funds will help keep Pennsylvanians in their homes, while ensuring they are safe to live in.

HB 1100 (Parker) – Accessibility to Menstrual Hygiene Products

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 138-64)

In the U.S., 2 in 5 adults and 1 in 4 students struggle to afford period products. They may use unsanitary alternatives like cloth, paper towels, or socks, which can lead to infections and toxic shock syndrome. It can also force individuals to miss work or school. Period poverty disproportionately impacts people of color as well. This bill authorizes the Dept. of Human Services and Dept. of Health to apply for a waiver if the USDA makes one available for SNAP and WIC participants. I voted Yes for this bill because menstrual hygiene is a necessity, and we should do everything we can to ensure its universal accessibility.

6/25/25

HB 1610 (Fiedler) – Combined Reporting

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 104-99)

This bill requires multi-state corporations to use combined reporting to determine their taxes. They will pay the Corporate Net Income Tax Rate according to the share of their sales in Pennsylvania. Currently, multi-state corporations can avoid paying some, and many times all, of their Corporate Net Income Tax Rate. When they pay less than their fair share, the burden becomes greater for Pennsylvania businesses and individual taxpayers.

HB 1534 (Hanbidge) – Correcting an Omission to Ensure Child and Dependent Care Tax Credits are Available to All Qualifying Families

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 128-75)

Currently, our state Child and Dependent Care Tax credits depend on federal credits, in that families receive an amount equal to 100% of their federal credit. However, this leaves out families that cannot receive federal credits due to their use of a dependent care FSA. This bill expands eligibility for these families, so that state qualification does not depend only on federal qualification.

HB 1445 (Warren) – Removing Barriers to Health Care Coverage in School Settings

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

This bill prohibits insurers from denying healthcare that would otherwise be covered simply because the service was received in a school setting. This includes things like telemedicine appointments, speech therapy, behavioral health, and mental health services. In-school services mean parents don’t have to leave work to take their kid to an appointment and that less of the school day is missed. Many families may have poor internet connection and rely on the school signal for telemedicine. I voted Yes for this bill because the setting of the healthcare shouldn’t determine whether it is covered, especially when schools are helping to fill in gaps for so many families.

HB 506 (McNeill) – Investing in Pennsylvania’s Families by Strengthening the Child Care Workforce

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 113-90)

One major cause of childcare crisis is the shortage of childcare workers. Often, these jobs are left unfilled because they come with low wages that could not be used to support a family. This bill would use funding to support the childcare workforce through recruitment and retention bonuses for providers in the Child Care Works program, providing an average of an $1,000 annual increase per teacher.  I voted Yes for this bill because childcare is crucial to a functioning economy, where parents can continue their careers and children are learning early and kept safe.

6/24/25

HB 1347 (Cepeda-Freytiz) – Tourism Improvement Districts

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 149-54)

This bill establishes a formalized Tourism Improvement District process in Pennsylvania, authorizing counties to establish TIDs in their communities. TIDs aim to boost business in a specified area by subsidizing events and employing marketing initiatives. TIDs are not funded by taxes or allocated on the budget, they are funded through hotel fees.

HB 1318 (Ciresi) – Fairness in County Borough Association Dues

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 185-18)

Currently, there is a $100 maximum cap on county borough association membership dues, which has not been enough to sustain their work. County borough associations function as meeting forums for local government officials to discuss countywide issues and hear from state leaders. By removing the cap, we can make these associations more feasible to run, helping our representatives govern more collaboratively.

HB 994 (Krueger) – Prohibiting Wildlife Trafficking in Pennsylvania

How I voted: (Bill passed the House 127-76)

This bill prohibits the purchase, sale, and possession with the intent to sell of at-risk animal parts or products. Many threatened and endangered species face extinction due to demand for their parts. Even animal parts from other continents end up trafficked here in Pennsylvania, and it’s our responsibility to follow the many other states who have enacted trafficking regulations.

HB 583 (Curry) – Restoring Medicaid Dental Coverage

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 154-49)

This bill restores dental coverage within PA’s Medicaid program (also called Medical Assistance). I voted Yes for this bill because dental care is just as important as any other form health care, and all healthcare intersects. Current PA dental coverage is incredibly inconsistent: covering discovery appointments but not follow-up procedures, only one set of dentures even when they no longer fit, and tooth extractions but not cavity fillings. People should not have to make healthcare decisions based on what’s covered, but based on what they need to be their healthiest selves.

HR 254 (Steele) – Study on Underground Electric Lines

How I voted: Yes (Resolution adopted by the House 120-83)

Climate change has contributed to more frequent and more extreme weather events in our state, often causing power outages. This resolution directs the Joint State Commission to conduct a study on the cost, viability, geographic limitations, and land usage issues involved with the installation of underground electrical lines. This will help our state government explore options to modernize our energy infrastructure.

                                                                                                             

6/23/25

HB 1498 (Rabb) – Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 181-22)

When someone dies without a will or estate program, their property is divided among their heirs in shared ownership, or tenancy in common. This kind of shared ownership can be full of disagreements, leading courts to force the sale of the inherited property. These court-mandated sales are typically done through auction, often at much lower than market value, depriving the owners of their due value.

This bill seeks to make this process fairer in several ways. First, it allows co-owners who want to sell the property the ability to sell it to the other co-owners who want to keep it. It also strengthens partition law, where physically dividing the property (if possible) is the preferred solution. Finally, it replaces the auctions with an open-market sale procedure. I voted Yes for this bill because it supports the right of co-owners to sell their share of the property, while also protecting the other co-owners from forced sales, so that they can preserve their family’s inheritance.

HB 1425 (McNeill) – Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) Directory

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 180-23)

This bill creates a directory of legal Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), similar to Pennsylvania’s successful Tobacco Product Directory, that lists all brands that comply with FDA and Commonwealth regulations. The FDA does not publicly disclose which products are approved, pending, or denied, making it difficult for states to enforce the law. This bill places burden on the vapor manufacturers to certify that they’ve received authorization each year. I voted Yes for this bill because it helps keep illicit products off the shelves and protects minors from accessing addictive flavored vapor products.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on December 22 as Act 57 of 2025.

HB 1282 (Davis) – Notice of Changes to FEMA Flood Maps

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 132-71)

This bill requires municipalities to contact residents if their flood plain status has changed. As our landscapes and construction constantly change, flooding maps do as well, and FEMA sends this information to municipalities. I voted Yes because when property owners are informed of their floodplain status, they can make better decisions about buying flood insurance and ways to prevent flood damage.

HB 1216 (Fiedler) – Pay the Price You See - Junk Fee Transparency

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 108-95)

Often, when buying concert tickets, plane tickets, and hotels, the final cost can be very different from the listed cost. Recently, businesses have been increasing their use of junk fees, unexpected, mandatory fees that can add up to 30% more than originally advertised. This bill requires the disclosure of all mandatory fees to be includes in the advertised, displayed price of any good or service.

HB 1095 (Smith-Wade-El) – Fair Housing Access: Sealing Eviction Records to Protect Tenants & Communities

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 105-98)

Records of eviction filings, whether or not someone was actually evicted, can follow a person for years, preventing individuals from finding work and housing. They may end up unhoused or forced to live in unsafe housing. Additionally, many domestic violence survivors experience economic abuse and an unjust eviction record as a result. Others may return to living with abusive partners for lack of any other living options.

This bill limits access to eviction records in certain cases, such as no-fault evictions. In cases where a judge determined the tenant to be at fault, the records remain publicly accessible for seven years, as they are for bankruptcies and foreclosures. I voted Yes for this bill because it protects tenants from long-term housing and job insecurity.

HB 1048 (Cerrato) – Maintenance of Private Lateral Lines and Municipal Water and Sewer Systems

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 113-90)

Private lateral water and sewer lines connect properties to the main lines of the water and sewer system. Repair and maintenance of these lines is costly, and they typically fall on homeowners. This bill authorizes municipalities to use public funds to maintain, replace, and repair them. I voted Yes for this bill because these homeowners are still using public systems and should be able to receive public assistance like anyone else when their utilities fail.

HB 553 (Davidson) –

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 189-14)

This bill provides for Commonwealth properties in four townships. In Harrisburg, Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority will use the extra land to enhance bus service. I voted Yes for this bill so that our local governments and state authorities have land to carry out their duties effectively.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 30 as Act 12 of 2025.

HB 350 (Sanchez) – Uniform Parentage Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 112-91)

Currently, guidelines for establishing legal child-parent relationships are inconsistent across counties. This bill aims to create statewide guidelines for the determination of legal parentage, particularly for children born through assisted reproduction and for LGBTQ parents. I voted Yes for this bill because it ensures families will not be torn apart or punished for using assisted reproductive technologies, like IVF or surrogates. Regardless of how they were born or their parents’ marital status and gender, all children should receive the same protection under the law.

HB 205 (McNeill) – Prohibiting Early Termination Fees of Leased Vehicles for Medical Reasons

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 132-71)

When someone loses the ability to drive for medical reasons, and had a leased vehicle, the family is stuck with paying off the remaining balance or giving in to an expensive termination fee. This bill will allow individuals to terminate vehicle leases early for free if a medical professional determines they are unfit to drive. I voted Yes for this bill because these individuals are already facing expensive medical bills and a sudden limit to their freedom. Paying off bills for a vehicle you are no longer allowed to legally drive is unfair.

6/17/25

HB 1364 (Neilson) – Governor’s Plan to Fund Transit in All 67 Counties

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 107-96)

This bill would put 6.15% of Sales and Use Tax towards the Public Transportation Trust Fund (an increase of 1.75% from the current amount. This will increase funding for transportation agencies in all 67 counties, by a statewide total of $292.2 million. The money should come from a projected 2% growth in Sales Tax revenue. It also authorizes the bonding of $500 million for road and bridge projects and establishes the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission to create a long-term plan for addressing our transportation needs.

I voted Yes for this bill because it’s time we address the public transportation crisis in our Commonwealth. Transit authorities are constantly facing drastic cuts and having to rely on emergency funds to function. So many Pennsylvanians rely on public transit to go about their daily lives, whether it’s getting to work and school, or making it to doctor’s appointments and job interviews. They deserve a reliable, consistently-funded system that meets their needs.

6/11/25

HB 375 (Ciresi) – Signage Requirements for Subdivision and Land Development

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 108-95)

This bill requires posted, legible signage for subdivision and land development projects, with specific size requirements. I voted Yes for this bill because residents deserve to be informed of the development within their community. 

HB 1431 (Steele) – Sunday Hunting

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 131-72)

This bill allows Sunday hunting, and allows it on private land if written permission is received from the landowner. It also allows deer urine to be used to attract wildlife and updates trespassing laws and punishment. I voted Yes for this bill because it modernizes a centuries-old law banning hunting on Sundays and allows for more flexible hunting schedules. 

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on July 9 as Act 36 of 2025.

HB 1549 (Dawkins) – Minimum Wage

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

This bill raises minimum wage to $15 in first-class counties, and then gradual yearly increases in all other counties. For Chester County, it would be $12 in 2026, $13 in 2027, $15 in 2028, and then increase yearly based on inflation. In Pennsylvania, counties are grouped by “classes” based on population (most populated first, least populated eighth). The bill also sets minimum wage for tipped employees at 60% of their county class.

I voted Yes for this bill because our nation and Commonwealth are well overdue for a minimum wage increase. Pennsylvania’s has been stuck for 15 years at $7.25 an hour, despite constant increases to the cost of living. Everyone deserves to earn a living wage that supports themselves and their families.

HB 967 (Isaacson) – Capping Fees on Ticket Resellers

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 108-95)

This bill caps the fees ticket resellers can charge at 5%. I voted Yes for this bill because unexpected ticket fees have gotten out of hand. Pennsylvanians deserve to enjoy sports, concerts, and theatre for reasonable prices. Art and entertainment are a necessary part of our lives.

HB 681 (Friel Otten) – BMI Children’s Privacy Bill

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 158-45)

School BMI screenings often have students measured in front of their peers, leading to body shaming and bullying. According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Policy Lab, students labeled as “overweight” are at greater risk of experiencing school-based bullying, being isolated and marginalized by their friends, and are more likely to develop disordered eating behaviors and feelings of despair, worry, low self-esteem, and anxiety. This bill will eliminate BMI calculations from school height and weight measurements and allow parents to opt their children out of these screenings. I introduced and voted Yes for this bill because BMI screenings have been proven ineffective at addressing childhood obesity, and instead result in harmful consequences to kids’ mental and social health.

Language keeping BMI calculations confidential and allowing parents to opt their kids out of these screenings was added to the Public School Code as part of the 2026-27 budget. This was signed into law by Governor Shapiro on July 12 as Act 20 of 2026.

HR 231 (Benham) – LGBTQ+ Pride Month

How I voted: Yes (Resolution adopted by the House 120-83)

This resolution recognizes June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Pennsylvania. I voted Yes because Pride Month celebrates the progress and reminds us of the struggles of LGBTQ activists throughout our history, and promotes a visible platform for the continued fight for equality.

6/10/25

HB 1511 (Briggs) – Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 169-34)

In Pennsylvania, more than a quarter of homicides go unsolved. A little less than two-thirds of other major crimes, like robbery and burglary, go unsolved. This bill establishes the VICTIM grant program under the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Local law enforcement can apply for these grants, which can be used to hire investigators, upgrade evidence analysis technology, etc., to help solve more violent crimes. It also has reporting requirements to help evaluate the success of these grants.

I voted Yes for this bill because it will provide justice for more victims, especially those in disadvantaged communities that might not otherwise have the funds to solve these crimes. It will help keep violent criminals off our streets, promote community trust in law enforcement, and deter further crime.

HB 1460 (Borowski) – Protecting Pennsylvania Health Services and Facilities

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 121-82)

This bill would require Attorney General oversight of healthcare transactions over $10 million. It prohibits transactions deemed against the public interest, which includes decisions that reduce competition, quality of care, or rural and low-income access to healthcare. Healthcare providers must notify the Attorney General, who can offer public hearings.

I voted Yes because hospital consolidations and closures are becoming increasingly frequent in PA, often leading to healthcare deserts and discontinued services. All Pennsylvanians deserve access to quality care and for their interests to be considered.

HB 1428 (Webster) – Pension System Membership Guidance

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 143-60)

The Public School Employees' Retirement System manages pensions for state employees, including government workers, teachers, and board members of state affiliated committees. More and more exceptions are being made, especially for non-public employees from state-related organizations. This bill clarifies that only public employees of the Commonwealth are eligible for PSERS, as it was originally intended. It does not remove or penalize any already enrolled employees.

HB 1326 (Friel) – Increasing Efficiency and Transparency in School Transportation

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 201-2)

This bill requires schools to collect data on student transportation, mainly mileage reporting and student usage, to better inform future efforts to modernize the system. I voted Yes for this bill because it is a first step to making school transportation safer, more efficient, and more accessible, especially for disabled and homeless students.

HB 1250 (Hanbidge) – Protecting Residents of Manufactured Home Communities

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 144-59)

This bill aims to protect residents of manufactured home communities from being priced out of their homes. Manufactured home communities provide affordable housing to an estimated 55,000 households in PA. These residents own their home but not the land underneath, renting that land instead. This makes them vulnerable to financial exploitation and drastic rent increases, especially when private equity acquires a homesite.

This bill provides for resident associations and requires justification for rent increases. I voted Yes for this bill to protect these important sources of affordable housing, and the residents living in them.

HB 1189 (Bizzarro) – Unclaimed Property

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

This bill raises the threshold for the PA Treasury to automatically return unclaimed property from $500 to $10,000. If the State Treasury identifies the owner and the value is $10,000, they must automatically return it to the owner, even if they haven’t filed a claim. It also approves access to the $156 million in federal Solar for All funds, already awarded to Pennsylvania by the EPA.

I voted Yes for this bill, because so many Pennsylvanians don’t even realize they have unclaimed property—in fact, the state is sitting on over $4.5 million. Even if they don’t file a claim, the money is still theirs, and they deserve to receive it. I also think it’s time for the Pennsylvania legislature to use the solar energy funds it has already been rewarded.

HB 1088 (Steele) – Expanding Maternal Blood Pressure Monitoring Coverage

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 143-60)

This bill requires all health insurance plans to cover blood pressure monitors for home-use during pregnancy and postpartum. Hypertension affects 5-10% of pregnancies, and when unaddressed, it can result in complications including preeclampsia, eclampsia, preterm delivery, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and death. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading case of maternal, neonatal, and fetal morbidity. Early identification and intervention of hypertension is crucial to saving lives, and that is why I voted yes for this bill.

6/9/25

HB 1339 (Harris) – Appropriations for the Public Utility Commission

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 148-54)

This bill appropriates $96 million in state funds and $8 million in federal funds to the Public Utility Commission for the 25-26 fiscal year, a slight increase from the last. It was part of 14 bills that constituted the first part of the 25-26 budget. I voted Yes for this bill because the Public Utility Commission handles the crucial utilities we use to keep our lives, homes, and businesses running.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 27 as Act 8A of 2025.

HB 846 (Dawkins) – Prohibiting Split Rates & Providing for Custom Fabrication on Public Works Projects

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 126-76)

The prevailing wage law requires contractors bidding on public construction projects to pay their workers the local prevailing wage, a specific minimum wage set by the government for these projects. Most public construction projects are awarded based on the lowest bid, and this law prevents contractors from gaining an advantage by paying their workers less.

I voted Yes for this bill because it closes loopholes in the law, ensuring workers are paid fairly. It prohibits “split rates”, where contractors pay the same worker two different rates for the same job on the same day. It also ensures that custom fabrication, done away from the main job site, still receives the prevailing wage.

HB 464 (Davidson) – Extending Civil Statute of Limitations for Childhood Sexual Assault Survivors

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 138-64)

In 2019, the General Assembly passed HB 962 (Act 87 of 2019), which eliminated the statute of limitations for filing criminal charges for childhood sexual assault. This law also extended the statute of limitations for civil suits until the victim turns 55. However, it left out survivors whose claims expired before this law passed. This bill would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to establish a two-year window for survivors whose statute of limitations has expired to file civil suits, closing that gap.

HB 462 (Davidson) – Extending Civil Statute of Limitations for Childhood Sexual Assault Survivors

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 122-80)

This bill is part of a package with HB 464.  It would waive sovereign and governmental immunity to permit victims of childhood sexual abuse to seek justice against the Commonwealth or local agencies and its employees.

HB 191 (Brennan) – Requiring AEDs at School Athletic Events

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 169-33)

The chance of survival after cardiac arrest decreases by 10% every minute CPR and AED use are delayed. I voted yes for this bill because immediate intervention, through the use of an AED, is simply life-saving. This bill requires AEDs at school athletic events and at least one inside the school building, and for all schools (public and nonpublic) to improve their cardiac emergency response plans. It also requires that school nurses, coaches, marching band directors, P.E. teachers, and athletic trainers all receive CPR and AED instruction in CPR and AED.

6/4/25

HB 1420 (Harris) – Appropriations for the Office of the consumer Advocate 

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 157-45)

This bill provides for $7.25 million to be given to the Office of the Consumer Advocate to fund its operation for the next year.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 27 as Act 10A of 2025.

HB 1340 (Harris) – Gaming Control Appropriation Act of 2025

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-100)

This bill makes appropriations for the Attorney General, Dep. Of Revenue, State Police, and Gaming Control Board’s budgets to regulate gambling, in alignment with the Governor’s Proposed 25-26 budget.

After Senate amendments and House concurrence, Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 27 as Act 9A of 2025.

HB 1338 (Harris) – Appropriations for the Philadelphia Parking Authority

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 154-48)

This bill makes $2.2 million in appropriations from the Philadelphia Taxicab and Limousine Regulatory Fund to the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 27 as Act 7A of 2025.

HB 1337 (Harris) – Appropriations for SERS

How I voted: (Bill passed the House 157-45)

This bill makes appropriations from the State Employees’ Retirement Fund and SERS Defined Contribution Fund to provide for expenses of the State Employee’s Retirement Board.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 27 as Act 6A of 2025.

HB 1336 (Harris) – Appropriations for PSERS

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 157-45)

This bill makes appropriations from the Public School Employees’ Retirement Fund and PSERS Defined Contribution Fund to provide for expenses of the Public School  Employee’s Retirement Board.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 27 as Act 5A of 2025.

HB 1335 (Harris) – Appropriations for the Office of the Small Business Advocate

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 168-34)

This bill makes appropriations for the Office of the Small Business Advocate to fund its operations for the next year.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 27 as Act 4A of 2025.

HB 1334 (Harris) – Appropriations for the Workers Compensation System

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 160-42)

This bill makes appropriations from the Workmen’s Compensations Administration Fund to the Dept. of Labor and Industry and Dept. of Community and Economic Development. This money will be used for enforce the Workers’ Compensation Act and the PA Occupational Disease Act.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 27 as Act 3A of 2025.

HB 1333 (Harris) – Appropriations for Professional Licensing

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 155-47)

This bill makes appropriations from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account and other related accounts to the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs to conduct the next year of operations regarding professional licensure.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on June 27 as Act 2A of 2025.

HB 1332 (Harris) – Capital Budget Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 184-18)

This bill provides for the capital budget for the next year and raises the limit on spending for redevelopment assistance projects.

Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on November 19 as Act 48 of 2025.

HB 1089 (Steele) – Safer Asphalt Sealants

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-100)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemicals found in coal, crude oil, and gasoline. They are commonly used in high amounts in asphalt sealants, and consequently have been found in stormwater runoff, which lands in local waterways, aquifers, and drinking water reservoirs. PAHs are persistent compounds, meaning they take a particularly long time to break down. Many PAHs have been found to have harmful health effects, and many are considered carcinogenic by the EPA and International Agency for Research on Cancer.

This bill would prohibit the supply, selling, and application of PAG-based asphalt sealants. There are many alternative sealants that provide the same efficacy and appearance for the same price. I voted Yes for this bill because there is no reason to use harmful substances for such ubiquitous infrastructure when safer alternatives are available.

HB 704 (Mullins) – Neurodegenerative Research Program

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 197-5)

This bill establishes the Neurodegenerative Disease Research Program, which will allocate grants to fund research on ALS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurological diseases. Over 282,000 Pennsylvanians have Alzheimer’s disease, 11.5% of adults over 65. Neurodegenerative diseases devastate patients and families emotionally and financially. I voted yes for this bill because these patients and families deserve hope. They deserve attention, funding, and state support. As home to one of the oldest populations in the U.S. and a robust biomedical industry, Pennsylvania should step up as a leader in innovating treatments and cures.

HB 668 (O’Mara) – Joining the National Counseling Compact

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 186-16)

This bill adds Pennsylvania to the National Counseling Compact, which enables mental health counselors’ licenses to be mutually recognized across states, permitting out-of-state counselors to work in Pennsylvania. This is particularly helpful in providing continuity of care for clients who relocate, such as military families. I voted Yes for this bill because it will address the shortage of mental health providers and expand access to mental health services. We are dealing with a nationwide and statewide mental health crisis, and this is one of many small steps we can take to address it.

HB 554 (Abney) – Joining the Social Work Licensure Compact

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 187-15)

This bill adds Pennsylvania to the Social Work Licensure Compact, which enables social workers’ licenses to be mutually recognized across states, permitting out-of-state social workers to work in Pennsylvania. This is particularly helpful in providing continuity of care for clients who relocate, such as military families. It also expands the use of telehealth services. I voted Yes for this bill because it will address the shortage of mental health providers and expand access to mental health services. We are dealing with a nationwide and statewide mental health crisis, and this is one of many small steps we can take to address it.

HB 463 (Matzie) – Banning Speculative Ticketing

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 191-11)

“Speculative ticket” allows unofficial sellers to list tickets for sale even though they do not currently possess those tickets. They are assuming they will be able to secure them, but often cannot do so. Some of these sellers may refund the customer, but many simply never provide the tickets, leaving consumers having lost hundreds of dollars. This bill simply bans the practice of speculative ticketing: to sell a ticket, you must actually possess it. I voted Yes for this bill to protect consumers from fraud.

HB 1500 (Isaacson) – Cyber Charter School Funding Reform

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 104-98)

This bill aims to reform various issues regarding the funding of cyber charter schools. Charters (including cyber charters) are funded by school districts, which are in turn funded by taxpayer dollars. I voted Yes for this bill because taxpayer dollars must be used responsibly.

Currently, for the same cyber charter school, different districts may pay different amounts based on local expenses. This bill standardizes the tuition rate at $8,000 statewide and standardizes the special education rate as well. The bill also places a limit on cyber charter fund balances, so that their funding actually goes towards students’ education, rather than sitting unused. Finally, the bill holds cyber charters accountable to the same financial reporting requirements as school districts, establishing transparency, as taxpayers deserve. Ultimately, this bill will ensure that cyber charters are given funding equal to their need, because public schools should not suffer from redirecting an undue amount of their funding.

6/3/25

HB 1140 (Krueger) – Contraceptive Access for All Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 116-87)

This bill requires health insurance policies, Medicaid, and CHOP to fully cover contraceptive drugs, devices, services, and products, regardless of whether a provider is in-network or out-of-network. I voted Yes for this bill because contraceptives are crucial healthcare and should not involve financial barriers. Contraception prevents unwanted pregnancies that can endanger women’s health and economic security. Contraceptives are also used as medication for endometriosis, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and other gynecological conditions.

HB 1096 (Pashinski) – PA Food Bucks Program for SNAP Recipients

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 164-39)

According to the NIH, “Food insecurity and the lack of access to affordable, nutritious food are associated with poor dietary quality and an increased risk of diet-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.” Food insecure individuals struggle to afford fresh produce, which is often more expensive than packaged foods. Carb-based foods can also be stretched longer than perishable produce, making them the go-to choice for food-insecure families. I voted yes for this bill because a program like SNAP, whose goal is to improve health outcomes for food-secure families, should help make fresh produce more affordable. PA can fill in the gap.

Nutrition incentive programs, which provide small financial benefits for the purchase of fresh, healthy foods, have proven effective at increasing their purchase rate. For example, the USDA’s Health Incentives Pilot resulted in participants consuming 26% more fruits and vegetables, and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program resulted in participants consuming more fruits and vegetables than the average American adult.

This bill would establish the Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program, which would provide a minimum benefit of 40 cents on the dollar for the purchase of targeted healthy foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, for SNAP participants.

HB 858 (Solomon) – Eliminating Blight and Revitalizing Communities

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 132-71)

One of the current barriers in addressing the prevalence of blighted and abandoned properties is the inability to identify the owner of said property. This bill would allow the chief assessor of a county to maintain a list of properties in their communities, and municipalities to collect owner information when a property is cited for the violation of a municipal ordinance/code.

Blighted and abandoned properties decrease surrounding property value and business development. I voted Yes for this bill because it provides code enforcement with the tools they need to keep communities safe and healthy.

HB 853 (Webster) – Consistency in Local and County Tax Collections

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

Tax delinquency occurs when taxes go unpaid, and the “user pay” concept enshrined in current law states that a delinquent taxpayer must “foot the bill” for the extra labor required to recover the unpaid tax. The law states a municipal tax collector may impose incurred costs and other penalties on the delinquent taxpayer. However, it does not allow county tax collectors to impose penalties through delinquent county per capita, poll, and occupation taxes. This bill would permit counties to do so in the same manner that municipalities do. I voted yes for this bill because it ensures cost is placed on the delinquent taxpayer, rather than pulling from county funds.

HB 852 (Webster) – Modernizing the Local Tax Enabling Act to Address Delinquent Tax Collection

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

Alongside HB 853, HB 852 would allow tax penalties to be collected from delinquent businesses, in addition to delinquent individuals. It also eliminates the requirement for local tax collectors to notify taxpayers of their delinquency through certified mail—they can choose to send one notice via certified mail or three notices by first class mail. Local tax collectors have called this requirement unnecessary and costly, as the taxpayer already receives multiple notices before the collections process. I voted yes for this bill because it reduces the cost burden of local tax collectors, ultimately freeing up funds for other local government functions and initiatives.  

HB 282 (Briggs) – Reentry Bill

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 153-50)

This bill authorizes the PA Dept. of Corrections to establish a Medicaid reentry program for incarcerated individuals scheduled for release, available to counties that choose to opt-in. The program must provide recipients access to substance use disorder treatment and case management services. A large percentage of incarcerated individuals struggle with substance abuse, which often contribute to their incarceration. Providing these individuals with the healthcare they need will reduce recidivism and help them recover and rejoin society.

6/2/25

HB 1058 (Shusterman) – Repealing the Lottery Profit Margin

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 188-15)

This bill repeals the profit margin requirement of the Pennsylvania Lottery. (The Senate later amended it to require a 10% profit, lower than the previous 20% requirement.) This profit is used to fund government programs. However, by repealing the profit margin, the PA lottery can offer more higher payout games, which will attract more players, and ultimately earn the lottery more profit. Our lottery profits go towards programs for aging Pennsylvanians, including property tax and rent rebates, free transportation, low-cost prescription drugs through PACE and PACENET, etc. This House Appropriations Committee estimates this will bring in $102 million in next two years. I voted Yes for this bill because it provides the lottery with the flexibility to modernize its games and become more competitive, which will ultimately increase benefits for seniors.

After Senate amendments and House concurrence, Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on July 21 as Act 37 of 2025.

HB 960 (Hill-Evans) – Reinstatement of CDL after Lifetime Ban

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 115-88)

This bill will create a pathway for rehabilitated individuals who were formerly subject to a lifetime commercial driver’s license (CDL) disqualification to regain their licenses. It allows individuals to apply for CDL reinstatement after 10 years, given they’ve completed a rehabilitation program, driver improvement course, and any other court requirements. Those who used a commercial vehicle to commit violent or drug-related felonies, human trafficking, or 3+ DUIs are permanently ineligible.

I voted Yes for this bill because trucking and commercial driving play a crucial role in our economy. The industry is facing a critical shortage, and this bill could help to fill those gaps.

5/14/25

HB 359 (Powell) – Expanding Eligible Projects for Tax Increment Financing Districts

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)         

Tax Increment Financing districts have been one of Pennsylvania’s most effective tools for revitalizing struggling communities. TIF districts help create jobs, increase property values, and drive economic growth in areas that would otherwise struggle to attract investment. This bill updates the Tax Increment Financing Act to allow municipalities put use TIF funds for anti-displacement activities. I voted Yes because community revitalization means making sure the people who live there get to share in the benefits.

HB 393 (Pielli) – Allowing All Second Class Townships to Increase Funding for Fire and Emergency Services

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 120-83)

Our firefighters and EMS workers put their lives on the line every day to protect Pennsylvania communities and too many of them are doing it without the funding, staffing, and equipment they need. Funding shortfalls means longer response times and stretched think crews, which all has real consequences for the families counting on them in their most vulnerable moments. We took a step in the right direction last session by allowing certain second class townships in second class counties to institute annual taxes dedicated to fire and emergency services funding.

I voted Yes on this bill because it extends that same taxing authorities to all second class townships, giving every qualifying community the ability to increase dedicated funding for the fire companies and emergency services that protect their residents.

HB 500 (Inglis) – Lightning Plan: Improve the EDGE Tax Credit

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 108-95)

In 2022, Pennsylvania created the EDGE Tax Credit Program to attract next generation investment in energy, fuel, and dairy development. But in the years of its existence, not a single entity has actually qualified for credit under EDGE, because its design has prevented it from working.

This bill creates a new Reliable Energy Investment Tax Credit to support baseload power development and grid capacity, which would help to lower energy costs and stabilize the grid. It revises the Dairy Production Tax Credit to support a wider range of farm investments, benefiting rural communities and bringing down grocery costs. It expands the Regional Clean Hydrogen Tax Credit to support Pennsylvania’s hydrogen hubs and the jobs they’re projected to create. It updates the Semiconductor and Biomedical Manufacturing Tax Credits to ensure early-stage businesses can participate. And it creates a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel Tax Credit to support a growing clean energy sector tied to Pennsylvania’s natural gas and agricultural industries.

HB 937 (Hanbidge) – Reduced Photocopying’s Fees for Next of Kin

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 103-100)

When a family loses a loved one unexpectedly, they need answers through autopsy reports, toxicology reports, and coroner’s reports which cost hundred of dollars under a 2018 law change. For a grieving family already facing funeral costs and financial strain, those fees can be an insurmountable barrier to the closure they deserve. This bill returns the fee schedule to the reasonable rates that existed before 2018, each a hundred dollars or less. While it does not eliminate the fees entirely, it does reduce an excessive financial burden placed on families at their most vulnerable, which is why I voted Yes.

5/13/25

HB 1396 (McClinton) – Amending the Pennsylvania Election Code

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

Free, fair, and accessible elections are the foundation of our democracy and Pennsylvania’s election infrastructure needs to be modernized to meet current needs. Within the current national atmosphere, voting access and tights may be at risk.  This comprehensive election reform bill makes meaningful updates to how Pennsylvanian’s register to vote, cast their ballots, and have those ballots counted.

This bill establishes in-person early voting, giving Pennsylvanians more flexibility in when and how they cast their ballots. It provides ballot drop boxes, updates mail-in and absentee voting procedures, authorizes electronic poll books to streamline the voting process and strengthens post-election audit requirements to ensure accuracy and public confidence in results. It also updates voter registration processes, improves the SURE system, and strengthens penalties for election interference and fraud.

Together, these reforms make voting more accessible and secure while also ensuring the overall process is more transparent and accountable, which is why I voted Yes.

HB 1263 (Mullins) – Keystone Saves Retirement Accounts

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

A financially secure retirement should be the reward for a lifetime of hard work, but for more than two million Pennsylvania workers who have no access to a retirement savings plan through their employer, that security is unattainable. This program, Keystone Saves, Addresses this by creating a voluntary, state facilitated IRA program that allows workers to have a percentage of their pay automatically deposited into a retirement account through payroll deduction. I voted Yes because all Pennsylvania workers deserve the opportunity to build and protect their future.

HB 721 (Donahue) – Strengthening the Construction Workplace Misclassification Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 113-90)

Pennsylvania’s construction industry supports tens of thousands of jobs and contributes more than $38 billion to our state’s economy. We have a responsibility to protect the people working hard in this industry from contractors who misclassify employees as independent contractors. This misclassification means they lose access to unemployment compensation, workers compensation, sick pay, and OSHA protections.

This bill strengthens Pennsylvania’s existing Construction Workplace Misclassification Act by increasing penalties on contractors who misclassify workers.  

HB 79 (Venkat) – Pennsylvania Medical Debt Relief Program

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 187-16)

Medical debt is a uniquely American crisis and Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents bear a disproportionate share of its weight. This bill establishes the Pennsylvania Medical Debt Relief Program, targeting relief to low-income Pennsylvanians who are drowning in medical debt. It also establishes new protections for all Pennsylvanians and benefits healthcare providers, particularly in rural areas who carry unpayable debt. I voted Yes because all residents of our Commonwealth deserve to get the medical care they need.

HB 67 (Borowski) – Allowing Pennsylvanians to Dry Their Clothes Outside

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 128-75)

This bill gives residents of communities the right to use a clothesline of drying rack in their backyard for outdoor laundry drying, and act that many homeowner associations have banned for people living in condominiums, cooperatives, and planned communities. I voted Yes because drying clothes outside is one of the easiest ways a household can reduce its utility bills and environmental footprint.

5/12/25

HB 1062 (Markosek) – Blighted Property Database

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 125-78)

Blighted properties are widespread and damaging yet there is no statewide database of these categories, which often leaves municipalities in the dark to navigate these situations. This bill helps change that by creating a statewide Property Maintenance Code Violations Registry, managed by the Department of Community and Economic Development, and populated with property maintenance code violations reports filed by municipalities across Pennsylvania. I voted Yes because this tool gives local governments and state agencies the information they need to identify patterns of blight, target remediation efforts, and hold repeated offenders accountable.

HB 818 (Bizzaro) – First Time Homebuyers Savings Account

How I voted: (Bill passed the House 183-20)

Homeownership is one of the most powerful tools families have for building long-term financial stability, and right now this feels out of reach. Since the 2009 financial crisis, the share of first-time home buyers in the national market has fallen from 45% to 32%, worsened by mortgage rates and managing everyday expenses.

This bill creates a First-Time Homebuyers Savings Account program in Pennsylvania, allowing individuals and families to deposit money into a designated account exclusively for the purpose of purchasing a first home. This will help build stronger and more confident families and communities by giving first-time home buyers tools for success, which is why I voted Yes.

5/7/25

HB 1200 (Krajewski) – Legalizing and Regulating Adult Use Cannabis

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 102-101)

This bill provides for the legalization and regulation of marijuana for adults 21+ in a structured process, informed by the mistakes and successes of other state’s efforts.

The criminalization of marijuana has resulted in over-policing and harsh punishments for minor offenses that have disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities. This bill makes provisions for criminal justice reform, including expungement of records for acquittal and the removal of criminal penalties for simple and underage possession. It also establishes an Office of Social and Economic Equity and reinvests funds into historically impacted communities.

I share my constituents’ concerns about safety, and I believe that purchase within a government-regulated market, as opposed to an illicit market, is ultimately safer. Illicit markets pose physical safety threats, dangerously high potencies, and the potential for lacing and additives. A regulated market will limit youth access, overconsumption, and DUIs. This bill prohibits excessive THC levels and predatory marketing practices, including those targeting young people.

Five of PA’s six neighboring states have legalized cannabis, generating revenue from Pennsylvanians who cross state lines to purchase it. This bill would impose a 12% excise tax and 6% sales tax on all cannabis purchases, providing a significant source of revenue, which would go toward important social service programs.

HB 986 (Cephas) – Unfair Service Agreements for Homeowners

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 153-50)

Non-Title Recorded Agreements for Personal Services (NTRAPS) are predatory, multi-decade real estate agreements. They offer small payments in return for exclusive real estate rights for up to 40 years. If a homeowner tries to cancel the agreement or sell their home with another realtor, they can be sued or face extreme cancellation fees. This bill establishes prohibitions and requirements for NTRAPS, and I voted yes to protect homeowners from these risky long-term agreements. 

HB 754 (Harkins) – Updating the County Pension Law

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 120- 83)

Currently, County Pension Law requires county retirement boards to grant cost-of-living adjustments to county employee pensions equal to the percent change in the Consumer Price Index. Unfortunately, this leaves no flexibility for counties to adjust according to their budgets and can burden counties with very high costs. This legislation amends County Pension Law to permit boards to grant smaller increases up to the CPI. This was a difficult decision, as I want retirees to receive their deserved and promised pensions. I ultimately voted Yes because I believe this will still provide retirees with increased benefits, while giving counties a little more budgetary leeway to continue providing their other important services.

HB 504 (Schweyer) – Community Energy Act

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 114-89)

This bill would create subscriber-based community energy projects, where subscribers can finance and receive the benefits of renewable energy facilities. They can receive credit for this subscription on their energy bills. I voted Yes for this bill because renewable energy helps to mitigate climate exchange, makes our grid more reliable, and reduces electric bills.

HB 103 (Kulik) – Addressing the Issue of Abandoned and Derelict Boats

How I voted: Yes (Bill passed the House 148-55)

Abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) are often left indefinitely, uncared for and unused, alongside waterways. They can be washed away or sink into the ground, blocking channels. Their debris, along with fuel or other hazardous substances left onboard, can pollute our waterways. Determining ownership is difficult, if not impossible, and removing them places a significant cost burden on local governments. This bill increases the penalty for abandoning a boat to a third-degree misdemeanor and establishes clear guidelines in this previously undefined legal area.

After Senate amendments and House concurrence, Governor Shapiro signed this bill into law on July 7 as Act 28 of 2025.

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