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Pa. House passes Sunshine Act 24-hour notice bill

(19 hours ago) Rep. Robert L. Freeman

“My legislation would strengthen transparency at public meetings by ensuring residents have sufficient time to review and understand upcoming meetings that affect their daily lives,” said Freeman. Read more

 

House Communications & Technology Committee hearing focused on space exploration and threats to airspace safety

(20 hours ago) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, July 2 – The House Communications & Technology Committee held an informational meeting on Tuesday on space exploration and Pennsylvania’s leadership in space technology, scientific research, and airspace security. “Today’s meeting stressed the need for increased technological development to protect our airspace,” state Rep. Joe Ciresi, House Communications & Technology Committee Majority Chair, said. “Pennsylvania has the talent and the resources to lead the charge in developing technology to explore space and protect our airspace.” The committee heard from three speakers: Dr. Jason Wright, Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Penn State University on astronomical and scientific research, Ryan Graves, Founder/Executive Director, Americans for Safe Aerospace on aerospace and aviation perspectives, and Chris Mellon, Chairman of the Board, The Disclosure Foundation; Former Deputy Secretary of Defense; and Former Minority Staff Director, US Senate Intelligence Committee. “Exploration begins with curiosity,” state Rep. Ben Waxman, D-Phila. said. “Pennsylvania has the talent and institutions to help push the boundaries of scientific discovery, and today's hearing was an important step in that direction — wherever the evidence leads" Wright said that the search for the means to find extraterrestrial intelligence is leading the development of detection technology, Read more

 

Recognizing ‘Concrete Pavement Week’ in Pennsylvania

(1 day ago) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Recognizing Concrete Pavement Week, June 28-July 4, 2026, in Pennsylvania Read more

 

House adopts Fleming resolution directing LBFC to study blindness services

(1 day ago) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

The state House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted a resolution sponsored by state Reps. Justin Fleming, D-Dauphin, and Kristin Marcell, R-Bucks, directing an analysis of the effectiveness of Pennsylvania’s current services for people with vision impairment. Read more

 

Legislation to prevent noncompete agreements for broadcast workers passes PA House

(1 day ago) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Legislation to prevent noncompete agreements for broadcast workers passes PA House Read more

 

Hanbidge bill to protect homeowners’ rights to install solar energy systems on roofs passes PA House

(1 day ago) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Hanbidge bill to protect homeowners’ rights to install solar energy systems on roofs passes PA House Read more

 

Finance Committee hears testimony on Salisbury bill to ensure lower-income community groups can obtain security funding

(1 day ago) Rep. Abigail Salisbury

HARRISBURG, July 1 – The Pennsylvania House Finance Committee heard testimony Tuesday on state Rep. Abigail Salisbury’s legislation that would remove a major obstacle that prevents many lower-income houses of worship and other community groups from obtaining needed security funding. Salisbury said she drafted H.B. 2639 – which would eliminate the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund’s 33% match requirement for grants ranging from $25,000 to $75,000 if a nonprofit’s annual revenue is less than $250,000 – after seeing the difficulty a church in her own district faced attempting to meet the requirement. “After the attempted shooting at Jesus’ Dwelling Place in North Braddock, the church attempted to strengthen security, but struggled for months attempting to raise the required 33% match required for a state security grant,” Salisbury said. “It took a year and a half to finally get the necessary arrangements in place, and during that time, congregants were left to wait and wonder if they would be safe from another attack. “No one should ever have to gamble on their safety or the safety of their loved ones simply because their chosen house of worship, cultural club, or other community group has a smaller budget. Eliminating the match requirement for these groups would ensure members of all community groups have the protections they deserve.” The committee heard testimony from two Read more

 

Matzie praises deal finalizing partnership between Heritage Valley Health, Allegheny Health Network

(1 day ago) Rep. Robert F. Matzie

ALIQUIPPA, July 1 – State Rep. Rob Matzie lauded news today that regulators have approved an agreement clearing the way for Heritage Valley Health System to become part of Highmark Health and the Allegheny Health Network. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said the partnership will bring new benefits for patients in the community. “Today’s announcement that Heritage Valley Health has been approved to become part of Allegheny Health Network is the best possible news for patients in our region,” Matzie said. “Both organizations will benefit from joining forces – AHN will gain access to Heritage Valley’s highly talented network of professionals, while Heritage will enjoy the benefits of an extended consulting network, advanced data sharing, and the enhanced stability, greater bargaining power and easier navigation of regulatory issues that go with affiliating with a larger partner. “But true winners in all this will be our region’s patients, who will see expanded access to care, new paths to specialized treatment and additional options for state-of-the-art technology addressing complex medical needs. I can’t wait to see all the powerful new health resources this partnership will bring.” Matzie testified in support of the agreement before the Pennsylvania attorney general earlier this year. Allegheny Health Network is part of Highmark Health. Read more

 

House members, advocates make bipartisan push for money-saving Advanced Transmission Technologies bill

(1 day ago) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, July 1 – Today, a bipartisan group of lawmakers and advocates spoke in strong support of H.B. 2223, the advanced transmission technologies, or ATTs, bill. The bill, which passed the House unanimously in May, offers an efficient way to save both money and energy. “This is commonsense legislation that will save people money and make sure we reduce how much energy we waste during the transmission process,” said Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila, majority chair of the House Energy Committee. “At a time when people are trying to save every dollar they can, this is absolutely legislation we should be able to pass into law. I am proud this bill passed the House unanimously in May and am optimistic it will get over the line in the Senate.” Read more

 

Ciresi bill requiring transparency in data center development passes House

(Jun 30, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 30 – Legislation introduced by state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, to increase transparency in data center development in Pennsylvania passed the House today with overwhelming bipartisan support,171-31. “Today’s vote demonstrates how my colleagues on both sides of the aisle agree that Pennsylvanians shouldn’t be left in the dark about the impact data centers will have on their localities and their lives,” Ciresi said. “My necessary legislation would require developers to be open and transparent about the environmental impact with area residents and would give the public the opportunity to ask questions and express concerns about the proposed development.” House Bill 2359 would require developers of data centers with a peak electrical demand of over 10 megawatts to engage with local communities and their residents before construction and disclose information about the facilities’ impact to qualify for a sales tax exemption for data center-related computer equipment. The legislation specifically targets large-scale/high-impact data centers and excludes smaller data centers that do not pose the same environmental or quality-of-life risks to nearby residents. Qualifying data centers would specifically be required to: submit a “community protection plan” documenting the owner/operator’s engagement with the community and municipality before construction, including holding public Read more

 

O’Mara applauds passage of bill to provide greater access to mental health treatment

(Jun 30, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, a leading advocate of providing greater access to mental health services, today applauded passage of a bill to allow Pennsylvania to join a national compact that helps get mental health treatment to more people in need. Read more

 

Pa. House votes to classify veterinary sedative as a Schedule III drug

(Jun 30, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 30 – The Pennsylvania House today passed a bill that would classify a naloxone-resistant animal sedative, medetomidine, as a Schedule III drug. According to the bill’s prime sponsors, state Reps. Greg Scott and Liz Hanbidge, both of Montgomery County, this is a strategic move to stop the use of medetomidine in street drugs. “We’re seeing increased use of medetomidine in fentanyl and fentanyl-related overdoses,” said Scott. “This is hugely dangerous. Unlike other sedatives that made it to the street drug market, medetomidine doesn’t respond to naloxone – people who overdose on medetomidine-laced fentanyl have a significantly higher risk of dying because overdose-reversing medicines don’t work.” Medetomidine is a non-opioid sedative used by veterinarians. It is not approved for use in people. But data now shows that up to 80 percent of fentanyl samples tested in Pennsylvania contain it, increasing the risk of overdose for people who illegally use fentanyl. “The rapid spread of medetomidine in Pennsylvania's illicit drug supply presents a serious and growing threat to public safety. This dangerous veterinary sedative makes overdoses more difficult to treat, puts first responders at greater risk, and places additional strain on our emergency medical system. As legislators, we have a responsibility to respond before more lives are lost, and that Read more

 

Members of the legislative caucuses representing communities of color applaud Supreme Court decision in Trump v. Barbara

(Jun 30, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 30 -- Today, the United States Supreme Court upheld the Constitution and reaffirmed the guarantee of birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment—protecting thousands of Pennsylvania children born each year. Every year, over 400,000 children are born to immigrant families in Pennsylvania. Today's decision reaffirms that children born in the U.S., who are raised here and pledge allegiance to our flag, are just as American as those born to citizens. This ruling ensures that these children, along with all children born on U.S. soil, will continue to be recognized as citizens with full rights and protections. “This decision affirms what we have always known: that the Constitution does not discriminate,” said Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus . “But while we celebrate today, we must remain vigilant. The rights of our communities should never be one court case away from being taken.” “The fact that this administration saw fit to challenge a founding tenant of this nation, birthright citizenship, is an indictment of a racist, nationalist governing theology,” said Rep. Napoleon Nelson, chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus . “It is also a doomed governing theology that simply doesn’t understand that to be an American and to love this country does not rely on the country loving us back. America has never loved all of its Read more

 

House and Senate Democrats call for minimum wage increase

(Jun 30, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Legislation has been awaiting vote in Republican-controlled Senate Read more

 

Bill supporting EMS participation by minors passes Pa. House

(Jun 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 29 – The state House today voted unanimously to update the Pennsylvania Child Labor Act to allow 14- and 15-year-old emergency service volunteers to engage in training and firefighting activities until 10 p.m. on any night of the year. The bill’s prime sponsor, state Rep. Greg Scott, D-Montgomery, said that this change will help support the pipeline of trained volunteers needed to respond to community emergencies. “By some estimates, Pennsylvania has one-tenth of the volunteer firefighters we had in the 1970s,” Scott said. “Many of our emergency response organizations are chronically understaffed and unable to respond efficiently to calls. It’s a bad situation, and without action, it’s only going to get worse.” Under the state’s Child Labor Act, minors can engage in training or firefighting activities until 10 p.m. the night before a school day. Yet on weekends, holidays and over summer academic breaks, that curfew is only 9 p.m. “The difference between school nights and non-school nights is an oversight that prevents engaged, ambitious young people from helping their communities after an arbitrary timepoint. Making their curfew 10 p.m. all year is a small change that can make a huge difference in an emergency,” Scott said. Under state law, youth may join a volunteer fire company as young as age 14 with Read more

 

Legislation to ban surveillance prices by ride-hailing companies passes House

(Jun 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Legislation to ban surveillance prices by ride-hailing companies passes House Read more

 

Cryptocurrency corruption prevention bill passes the House

(Jun 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Cryptocurrency corruption prevention bill passes the House Read more

 

Grant Memo: Nonprofit security, Redevelopment, Scholarship, and Additional Grant Opportunities for your District

(Jun 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Emergency Management Agency: Nonprofit Security Grant Who May Apply: Nonprofit organizations Use: Provides funding for physical and cybersecurity enhancements and other security-related activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high-risk of a terrorist or other extremist attack. Funds: This program is funded through FEMA using federal dollars. The maximum award request is $200,000. Application Deadline: July 14, 2026 More information: PEMA Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: 2026 First Chance Trust Fund Who May Apply: Eligibility for these funds is open to any school district identified as having statistically higher high school dropout and incarceration rates based on data from the PA Department of Education and the PA Department of Corrections. Please refer to Appendix A for a full listing of eligible school districts. Use: Direct financial support to eligible students via scholarship, administrative support directly related to the administration of student scholarships and connecting at-risk youth with community-based organizations, or community-based organization (CBO) direct programming support. Funds: A total of $3.3 million in state funding is being made available to support this initiative. PCCD anticipates awarding up to $150,000 per grantee for an initial two-year project period. Application Deadline: August 11, 2026 More Read more

 

Kenyatta votes ‘yes’ on historic $1.7 billion tax cut for Pennsylvanians

(Jun 25, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Affordability is one of the biggest problems facing Pennsylvania residents right now, I’m happy to vote for any legislation that lessens financial burden on people across the commonwealth. Read more

 

House Adopts Guzman Resolution Designating July 2026 as Culinary Arts Month in Pennsylvania

(Jun 25, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 29 — State Rep. Manuel Guzman, D-Berks, today announced H.R. 345 , designating July 2026 as “Culinary Arts Month” in Pennsylvania, a statewide initiative highlighting culinary education, professional training, and the Commonwealth’s food and hospitality industries. Adopted by the House of Representatives on June 10, the resolution recognizes the contributions of career and technical education programs and postsecondary institutions that prepare students for employment in food service, hospitality, and culinary innovation. It also highlights Pennsylvania’s restaurants, wineries, and food producers, which contribute to local economies and attract visitors from across the region. The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association has expressed support for the measure, citing the importance of strengthening Pennsylvania’s hospitality talent pipeline. “Pennsylvania’s culinary and hospitality industries play a vital role in our economy, our communities and the experiences that define our Commonwealth,” said Joe Massaro, president & CEO of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association. “Culinary Arts Month is an opportunity to celebrate the talented chefs, culinarians, educators, and hospitality professionals who create memorable dining experiences every day while inspiring the next generation of industry leaders. Through programs like Pennsylvania ProStart , students Read more

 

Pa. House passes Sunshine Act 24-hour notice bill
19 hours ago

House Communications & Technology Committee hearing focused on space exploration and threats to airspace safety
20 hours ago

Recognizing ‘Concrete Pavement Week’ in Pennsylvania
1 day ago

House adopts Fleming resolution directing LBFC to study blindness services
1 day ago

Legislation to prevent noncompete agreements for broadcast workers passes PA House
1 day ago

Hanbidge bill to protect homeowners’ rights to install solar energy systems on roofs passes PA House
1 day ago

Finance Committee hears testimony on Salisbury bill to ensure lower-income community groups can obtain security funding
1 day ago

Matzie praises deal finalizing partnership between Heritage Valley Health, Allegheny Health Network
1 day ago

House members, advocates make bipartisan push for money-saving Advanced Transmission Technologies bill
1 day ago

Ciresi bill requiring transparency in data center development passes House
Jun 30, 2026

O’Mara applauds passage of bill to provide greater access to mental health treatment
Jun 30, 2026

Pa. House votes to classify veterinary sedative as a Schedule III drug
Jun 30, 2026

Members of the legislative caucuses representing communities of color applaud Supreme Court decision in Trump v. Barbara
Jun 30, 2026

House and Senate Democrats call for minimum wage increase
Jun 30, 2026

Bill supporting EMS participation by minors passes Pa. House
Jun 29, 2026

Legislation to ban surveillance prices by ride-hailing companies passes House
Jun 29, 2026

Cryptocurrency corruption prevention bill passes the House
Jun 29, 2026

Grant Memo: Nonprofit security, Redevelopment, Scholarship, and Additional Grant Opportunities for your District
Jun 29, 2026

Kenyatta votes ‘yes’ on historic $1.7 billion tax cut for Pennsylvanians
Jun 25, 2026

House Adopts Guzman Resolution Designating July 2026 as Culinary Arts Month in Pennsylvania
Jun 25, 2026