Major healthcare victories in Allegheny County

Rep. Jen Mazzocco October 29, 2026 | 4:21 PM

I took part in two milestones for Allegheny County healthcare this past week, joining the signing ceremony for the county’s new Paid Parental Leave bill and the Allegheny General Hospital nurses in the celebration of their new contract.

My House colleagues and I were with County Executive Sara Innamorato as she signed the nation’s first countywide paid parental leave mandate, a monumental moment for new families in the commonwealth.

The policy, providing for 12 weeks of paid parental leave, applies to businesses with 15 or more employees, benefiting full-time workers employed for at least six months as well as part-time workers who have worked at least 625 hours.

Bringing a child into this world is hard enough, and making new parents return to work immediately can severely impact their own health and the health of their newborns. With this policy, families in Allegheny County can grow without facing the impossible choice between their wellbeing and a paycheck. It’s an investment toward our workers, our economy, and the health of our communities.

I’m incredibly proud to support this initiative locally, and I will use my voice in Harrisburg to call for this policy to be applied statewide. All the commonwealth’s growing families should feel supported in the same way we’re supporting families in Allegheny County.

On Wednesday, I joined SEIU Healthcare PA and the 1,500 nurses of AGH after they ratified a three-year contract giving average total raises of nearly 16 percent. The agreement also gives an option for 100% employer-paid coinsurance while preserving existing benefits, ends forced rotating shifts and establishes a provision to protect staffing ratios.

Nurses are our lifeline here in Allegheny County, providing both medical expertise and comfort to patients of all ages, and they deserve this improvement in pay and work conditions. Their advocacy is not just for themselves, but a step forward for nurses in all our region’s hospitals.

Our prosperity here in Allegheny County, and across Pennsylvania, relies on how we take care of working people and their families. When workers are well paid and have access to benefits, like affordable healthcare and paid leave, they can live their lives while also continuing the important work that makes our communities thrive.

Election Day is almost here!

This coming Tuesday marks the 2026 General Election, and there’s still time to make your plan to vote.

Mail-in and absentee ballots can be returned in person at several sites, including right here in the district at the Dormont Pool at the following times:

Friday, October 30, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 31, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, November 1, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday, November 2, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

For Election Day prep, you can visit the Allegheny County Elections Office website to view your sample ballot and polling place address, or you can use the PA Department of State website if you’re unsure of your municipality or ward and district.

Participating in our elections is one of the most important civic contributions you can make, allowing you to shape your community, the commonwealth and the nation. My office will be closed on Tuesday, but please reach out to my office if you have any voting issues and we’ll be happy to assist you.

My insurance bill, school cell phone ban signed into law

Gov. Shapiro signed a bevy of legislation into law over the past week, including my House Bill 2473 to streamline our insurance laws. The bill is now known as Act 86 of 2026, and I thank the Governor for putting his signature on legislation that puts more of our tax dollars toward relevant work.

The Governor also signed Senate Bill 1014 into law on Monday, requiring all Pennsylvania schools to adopt policies prohibiting students from using personal cell phones throughout the school day. Schools are required to adopt and implement policies by the beginning of the 2027-28 school year.

As a former teacher, I’ve heard concerns from local parents and faculty about phone use, both from an education and socialization standpoint. Not only is screentime a distraction from learning in the classroom, but it also can be a barrier to a child making new friends and forging new bonds. This is a huge win for students, allowing them to be more present and engaged, and this is a huge win for our teachers who can be more focused on their core duties.

Spooky season in full effect

My family and I had a wonderful time at the annual Dormont Elementary Haunted Trail. It was great to run into so many friends and neighbors, including KO School Board President Emily Snyder, who gave me quite a scare! This fantastic event is a fall favorite and a big thanks to the Dormont Elementary PFO for their incredible work putting it together.

I kept up the Halloween spirit on Wednesday, heading over to the Upper St. Clair Library for its Family Fun Halloween Party with plenty of crafts. A big thanks to the student volunteers that helped make the evening happen.

Mt. Lebanon is celebrating Halloween on Saturday with the annual Pumpkin Patch Parade. The parade begins at 11 a.m. along Washington Road, traveling from Mt. Lebanon Cemetery to Lebanon Ave. Kids can also enjoy trick-or-treating at participating Uptown locations, including my office!

District Office Services

If you don’t stop by Saturday for trick-or-treating, you can always stop by and ask about state programs, applications and services, including Senior ConnectCards, Unclaimed Property, PennDOT services, Vital Records and more.

Another service my office can help with is the commonwealth’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which opens for the 2026-2027 season on Monday, November 2. LIHEAP helps families living on low incomes pay their heating bills in the form of a cash grant ranging from $200 to $1,000 based on household size, income and fuel type. For more information and to see if you are eligible, visit the link above or give us a visit.

We can also assist with the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program which supports eligible homeowners and renters across Pennsylvania with a rebate up to $1,000 based on income. Applications for the 2025 PTRR program are still available through December 31, so call or visit us with any questions you may have.

Call us at 412-343-3870, email RepMazzocco@pahouse.net or visit 650 Washington Road, Suite 102, in Mt. Lebanon. Staff will be in the office Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The first 15 minutes of parking in uptown Mt. Lebanon’s North Parking Garage across from the office is free. The office can also be reached on the T to the Mt. Lebanon station.