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Neilson bill to expedite abandoned vehicle processing passes House

(1 hour ago) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Legislation introduced by state Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila., that would expedite junk title processing of abandoned vehicles in the state passed the House today. House Bill 593 would require PennDOT to complete certain administrative steps in processing abandoned vehicles and certificates of salvage within 10 business days to ensure a timely process. Neilson, who chairs the House Transportation Committee, said that after clearing the scene of an accident or removing abandoned vehicles from the side of the road, tow truck operators often hold vehicles in storage at their own expense until the owner claims their property. In some cases, these vehicles, often in a state of poor condition with little value, are simply abandoned by their owners, forcing tow truck operators to file paperwork with PennDOT to obtain a junk title. “Right now, it can take up to six months for PennDOT to process junk titles, which leaves tow truck operators responsible for the non-working vehicle,” Neilson said. “Ensuring the reasonable processing and delivery of junk titles will greatly assist tow truck operators who don’t have the space or resources to store vehicles for an extended period of time.” This is the second time the House has passed this legislation, having sent a similar version to the state Senate in the last legislative session, where it languished. It again moves to that chamber for consideration. Read more

 

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(1 hour ago) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Here are multiple grant programs that are currently open for applications. Read more

 

Hanbidge bill to help more families qualify for dependent care tax credit passes House

(17 hours ago) Rep. Liz Hanbidge

“Childcare is not a luxury. It’s a necessity and it’s vital to us having a functional and growing economy. No qualifying family should be left behind. State tax laws meant to benefit working families should not be overly complicated nor set up to exclude families who are using all options available to them to ensure their children are safe and cared for while they work,” Hanbidge said. Read more

 

Legislators, school leaders celebrate Solar for Schools grants in bipartisan event; call for renewed funding

(19 hours ago) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 25 – Today, lawmakers from both chambers and both parties in the PA General Assembly joined school leaders from across the commonwealth to celebrate the recipients of Solar for Schools grants. The awards were announced earlier this year after the program’s first-ever round of applications. Introduced by state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila, and passed into law in 2024, Solar for Schools provides schools with funding to install solar arrays. By generating their own electricity, these investments can save school districts millions of dollars over the life of one project, as well as generate new renewable energy at a time when energy demand is increasing statewide. Currently, electricity bills are the second-highest cost for schools in Pennsylvania as energy prices are expected to rise. “This is a transformational bill that helps us solve many problems at once: improve school funding, create jobs, add renewable energy to the grid, and make the air cleaner for our kids.” Fiedler said. “We’re just in the first year of Solar for Schools, so these 73 schools are paving the way for what’s possible in Pennsylvania. I am so excited to see how this program will impact schools for years to come.” “I am thrilled about the overwhelming response from schools across the state interested in participating in the Solar for Schools program," state Sen. Camera Bartolotta , Read more

 

Democrats fight to make Cyber Charter Students safer, demand accountability from online schools

(19 hours ago) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

It is our goal to close loopholes, too often exploited by the purveyors of cyber charter schools that allow some students to fall through the cracks. Read more

 

PA House passes ‘Morgan Rose’s Law’ to take on Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy

(22 hours ago) Rep. Lisa Borowski

“The medical community still has a lot to learn about what triggers SUDEP, and this legislation would help supply them with the data they need to be able to better educate patients and their families about its signs and risks,” Borowski said. Read more

 

House passes bipartisan bill for food allergy training and medication in daycare facilities

(1 day ago) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 25 – Bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by state Reps. Bridget Kosierowski and Kristin Marcell to help childcare facilities better manage food allergies ( H.B. 928 ) overwhelmingly passed the House on Tuesday with bipartisan support ( 197-6 ). “As a nurse for nearly 30 years, I saw how crucial it is to quicky and expertly identify the signs of an allergic reaction and provide the right medication,” said Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna. “This bill will provide the necessary training and medication so that Pennsylvania day care workers can immediately identify the signs of an allergic reaction and provide life-saving medication like epinephrine. The lives of some of our most vulnerable residents depend on it. “As more and more hospitals are closing and with proposed federal budget cuts threatening to overwhelm our already overwhelmed emergency rooms with Pennsylvanians who’ve lost their Medicaid coverage, the day care will have to replace the emergency room as the site where life-saving care is provided. This legislation will save lives.” Known as Elijah’s Law, the bill is named after 3-year-old Elijah Silvera who died from an allergic reaction to a dairy product he ingested at his day care. Following his son’s death, Thomas Silvera has advocated for the passage of Elijah’s Law that would require the education and provision of life-saving medicine to childcare workers and teachers. The bill Read more

 

House Education Committee approves Kazeem’s cosmetology training through CTCs

(1 day ago) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 24 – Legislation sponsored by State Rep. Carol Kazeem, D-Delaware, that would make the cosmetology out-of-school training program a permanent career and technical education offering was unanimously approved by the House Education Committee today. Read more

 

Salisbury introduces bill to mandate newborn screening for Gaucher disease

(1 day ago) Rep. Abigail Salisbury

HARRISBURG, June 24 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury today introduced legislation that would require all Pennsylvania newborns to be tested for Gaucher disease – an inherited genetic disorder with far-reaching health consequences. Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said H.B. 1652 would ensure diagnosis at the earliest possible time, when treatment can help alleviate some symptoms of the disease. “Currently, there is no cure for Gaucher disease, which causes fatty substances to accumulate and enlarge the liver and spleen,” Salisbury said. “People born with the disorder can develop a litany of problems, from organ, blood and bone disorders to gynecological and obstetric problems, to even some cancers. “The good news is that timely detection and treatment can alleviate some of the symptoms and help people achieve better outcomes. My bill would ensure that Gaucher testing is included among the diseases for which Pennsylvania newborns are screened. It’s a simple step that can make a huge difference in the life of someone born with this disease.” Gaucher disease is a genetic condition in which a person is missing an enzyme that breaks down lipids – fatty compounds in the body that serve various important functions. This can result in symptoms including a large liver and spleen, low number of red blood cells, easy bruising, bone pain, bone fractures and lung disease. In rare cases, the Read more

 

House unanimously passes Rabb bill to crack down on deed fraud

(1 day ago) Rep. Christopher M. Rabb

Legislation to grade deed fraud as second-degree felony advances to Senate Read more

 

Williams’ bill to expand Medicaid access in Pennsylvania passes state House

(1 day ago) Rep. Dan Williams

HARRISBURG, June 24 – Bipartisan legislation introduced by state Rep. Dan Williams, D-Chester, that would help Pennsylvanians take advantage of new federal Medicaid rules that give patients and clinicians more telehealth options for behavioral health services passed the PA House today with overwhelming support. “The longstanding and outdated ‘four walls’ requirement has limited Medicaid reimbursement to services within the physical walls of a clinic,” said Williams. “This only creates barriers to care, particularly in rural areas and regions experiencing mental health workforce shortages.” The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services gave states the option to waive the requirement on Jan. 1. In response, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has submitted a State Plan Amendment to adopt this flexibility, which is currently awaiting federal approval. House Bill 1590 would repeal state regulations that conflict with the new federal flexibility. Importantly, the bill would not change existing rules requiring in-person treatment hours for outpatient behavioral health clinics. “Under this bill, Pennsylvania can fully implement the change, expanding access to behavioral health services and reducing care gaps for our vulnerable populations across the Commonwealth,” Williams said. The bill now moves to the state Senate for consideration. Read more

 

The 2025 federal budget is an attack on America [column]

(1 day ago) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

This Sunday, LNP published my view on how the 2025 federal budget is an attack on America by eviscerating support for: working families; care for the poor, the sick and the vulnerable; environmental protections; and smart economic policies to drive growth and save money for the future. Instead, it’s survival of the richest. Read more

 

Fleming bipartisan bill to protect firefighters’ income passes House

(1 day ago) Rep. Justin Fleming

HARRISBURG, June 23 – Bipartisan legislation from state Reps. Justin Fleming and Joe Kerwin that would exempt income tax on length of service awards for volunteer firefighters passed the House today. “Every day, our volunteer firefighters give their time and put themselves in danger to safeguard our community's health, safety, and property," said Fleming, D-Dauphin. "Our bill keeps the hard-earned money these men and women deserve in their pockets." House Bill 1306 would exclude contributions to length of service award programs from the definition of income under the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax. “Firefighters answer the call 24/7 to protect our communities. There are great demands on their time, and they shouldn’t be taxed on the income that departments use as a retention incentive,” Kerwin, R-Dauphin, said. To retain volunteers during an ongoing statewide firefighter shortage, some fire companies are choosing to offer length of service award programs to volunteers who remain with the fire company for a dedicated amount of time. The representatives said they feel these award programs not only honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women who keep Pennsylvania safe, but also provide a retention incentive. They are concerned that contributions made by a fire company to a volunteer firefighter through a length-of-service award program can currently be Read more

 

State lawmakers introduce landmark bills to protect abortion care in Pa.

(1 day ago) Women’s Health Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 24 – Marking the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which has dismantled access to abortion health care in states across the country, Pennsylvania lawmakers today introduced two packages of bills to fight back and protect reproductive health care rights in the commonwealth. Recognizing that the fight for reproductive freedom now rests with the states, the group of legislators said that codifying legal protections for patients and providers into state law is not just a policy choice – it’s now required to uphold the rights that millions lost when Dobbs was decided. "We cannot solely rely on courts to decide women’s rights, and we will not tolerate attempts to criminalize women’s health care in our commonwealth,” said Women’s Health Caucus Co-Chair state Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery . “These protections are the culmination of three legislative sessions of work since Dobbs was handed down in 2022. We listened to women, expert stakeholders, human rights lawyers, doctors and nurses to clearly identify the protections that Dobbs has threatened, and then we created bills to re-establish and enshrine each of those protections at the state level. “These laws draw a clear line: we protect our patients, our providers and their privacy – regardless of where they come from. Abortion care is legal in Pennsylvania, and it must always remain Read more

 

Legislation to seal eviction records for millions of Pennsylvanians who struggle to find housing passes the House

(Jun 23, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 23 – Legislation that would seal eviction records for the millions of Pennsylvanians who are unable to secure adequate housing due to an eviction passed the House today (105-98), announced the bill’s sponsors, state Reps. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, Jordan A. Harris, Elizabeth Fiedler and Rich Krajewski. “Evictions have contributed to the spiraling housing crisis in Pennsylvania by making it difficult, if not impossible, for deserving working Pennsylvanians to access safe and affordable housing in which to raise their children and help them secure and keep career-advancing jobs,” the bill’s prime sponsor, Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, said. The legislation, H.B. 1095 , aims to protect communities and ensure fair housing access by instituting a statewide policy that would establish procedures to limit access to eviction records in certain cases, such as no-fault evictions. In cases where the tenant has been determined to be at fault by a judge, the records would remain accessible to the public for seven years, bringing them into line with policies related to bankruptcies and foreclosures. "Secure, affordable housing is more than a roof over someone’s head – it’s a critical building block for economic mobility, family stability, and safer neighborhoods," said Harris, who is majority chair of the House Appropriations Committee. "This legislation ensures that Pennsylvanians aren’t forever Read more

 

House Finance Committee studies eliminating tax on overtime pay

(Jun 23, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Employees who are eligible to receive overtime pay work in some of the nation's most vital professions, such as nursing, health care, retail, hospitality, construction and manufacturing, for example. Many are not highly paid and must carefully manage their budgets to make ends meet. Today, the state House Finance Committee held a public hearing on legislation that would establish a state-level income tax credit for overtime wages, so that these hardworking employees get more back at tax season. Read more

 

House passes Rabb, Bonner bill protecting vulnerable homeowners

(Jun 23, 2025) Rep. Christopher M. Rabb

Legislation preventing forced sale of inherited property heads to Senate Read more

 

Solomon’s bill to deliver better communication between law enforcement and crime victims passes House

(Jun 23, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation (H.B. 627) authored by state Rep. Jared Solomon to set up a public safety resident communications program within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The program is designed to improve and modernize communication between law enforcement and the communities they serve. “This bill will deliver victims of crime with more timely information about victim and law enforcement resources they need in the hours after becoming a victim of crime,” said Solomon, House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee chairman. “In addition, it gives police departments the opportunity to get feedback about the interaction they had with communities. Together this bill will make our communities safer,” said Solomon, House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee chairman. The bill now moves to Senate for consideration. Read more

 

Fiedler, Pisciottano ‘Pay The Price You See’ bill to eliminate deceptive ‘junk fees’ passes House with bipartisan support

(Jun 23, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 23 – Today, legislation that would require platforms for event tickets, lodging, and food delivery to list the full, final price of their products upfront, passed the House. The bill was introduced by state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila, with a companion bill introduced by state Sen. Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny. Junk fees are the unexpected, mandatory fees added to the price of a good or service at checkout, often associated with online purchases for items like concert tickets. These fees can add up to 30% more to the original price, and they cost the average American family more than $3,000 per year. “Pennsylvanians are trying to make plans with their budgets in mind, but these hidden fees prevent people from making informed decisions,” said Fiedler. “It's more than frustrating to be scouring for hours to plan your family vacation only to get to the checkout page to see the price skyrocket. Whether it's a special occasion like a concert or a trip, we all deserve better treatment from these corporations.” House Bill 1216 would protect Pennsylvania consumers against “bait and switch” pricing practices, while allowing small businesses to compete with the artificially lowered prices used by dominant, national corporations. In 2023, the legislation was previously authored by then-Rep. Pisciottano and passed the House with significant bipartisan support. It was Read more

 

Davis bill to address flood risk for property owners passes House

(Jun 23, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 23 – State Rep. Tina Davis today announced the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed her legislation that would require municipalities to notify residents when changes to flood plain classifications occur — a crucial step toward better protecting homeowners and communities from flood risks. “As we’ve seen in Bucks County and across the Commonwealth, flooding can strike with little warning and isn’t confined to traditional high-risk zones,” Davis said. “Our landscapes are constantly evolving, and so is the information provided by FEMA. When a property’s flood risk changes, homeowners deserve to know.” House Bill 1282 mandates that municipalities provide written notice to property owners if their flood plain status changes, based on updates from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The notice must include: Confirmation that a change in flood plain classification has occurred. Contact information for the National Flood Insurance Program. The name and contact details for the municipality’s designated flood plain administrator. Davis said the bill empowers residents with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about insurance coverage, home safety measures, and emergency preparedness. “This legislation is about transparency and giving people the Read more

 

Neilson bill to expedite abandoned vehicle processing passes House
1 hour ago

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities
1 hour ago

Hanbidge bill to help more families qualify for dependent care tax credit passes House
17 hours ago

Legislators, school leaders celebrate Solar for Schools grants in bipartisan event; call for renewed funding
19 hours ago

Democrats fight to make Cyber Charter Students safer, demand accountability from online schools
19 hours ago

PA House passes ‘Morgan Rose’s Law’ to take on Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy
22 hours ago

House passes bipartisan bill for food allergy training and medication in daycare facilities
1 day ago

House Education Committee approves Kazeem’s cosmetology training through CTCs
1 day ago

Salisbury introduces bill to mandate newborn screening for Gaucher disease
1 day ago

House unanimously passes Rabb bill to crack down on deed fraud
1 day ago

Williams’ bill to expand Medicaid access in Pennsylvania passes state House
1 day ago

The 2025 federal budget is an attack on America [column]
1 day ago

Fleming bipartisan bill to protect firefighters’ income passes House
1 day ago

State lawmakers introduce landmark bills to protect abortion care in Pa.
1 day ago

Legislation to seal eviction records for millions of Pennsylvanians who struggle to find housing passes the House
Jun 23, 2025

House Finance Committee studies eliminating tax on overtime pay
Jun 23, 2025

House passes Rabb, Bonner bill protecting vulnerable homeowners
Jun 23, 2025

Solomon’s bill to deliver better communication between law enforcement and crime victims passes House
Jun 23, 2025

Fiedler, Pisciottano ‘Pay The Price You See’ bill to eliminate deceptive ‘junk fees’ passes House with bipartisan support
Jun 23, 2025

Davis bill to address flood risk for property owners passes House
Jun 23, 2025