Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus | News Center

News Center

Ahead of Pa.’s 344th birthday, House adopts Matzie’s Charter Day resolution

(Feb 05, 2025) Rep. Robert F. Matzie

HARRISBURG, Feb. 5 – With Pennsylvania’s 344 th birthday approaching, the House today adopted state Rep. Rob Matzie’s resolution to mark that anniversary and remind Pennsylvanians of the special significance of the charter that serves as its birth certificate. Matzie, who is chairman of the House majority caucus and sits on the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, said he introduced H.R. 35 – designating March 9, 2025, as “Charter Day” in Pennsylvania – to highlight the meaning underlying the 344-year-old document. “The charter symbolizes freedom,” Matzie said. “Williams Penn’s goal in petitioning King Charles II for a land grant was to create a colony where people could worship freely, without the threat of religious persecution. The charter is the result of that effort and an important reminder that Pennsylvania’s birth is rooted in ideals of freedom and tolerance.” Matzie said Charter Day also celebrates the early “Frame of Government” Penn drafted for the new colony, which incorporated democratic concepts such as freedom of worship, balance of powers and a check on the abuse of authority and would go on to inspire the framers of the U.S. Constitution. Written on parchment using iron gall ink, the charter is stored in a high-security vault, where it is preserved under special conditions. Read more

 

Ahead of Pa.’s 344th birthday, House adopts Matzie’s Charter Day resolution

(Feb 05, 2025) Rep. Robert F. Matzie

HARRISBURG, Feb. 5 – With Pennsylvania’s 344 th birthday approaching, the House today adopted state Rep. Rob Matzie’s resolution to mark that anniversary and remind Pennsylvanians of the special significance of the charter that serves as its birth certificate. Matzie, who is chairman of the House majority caucus and sits on the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, said he introduced H.R. 35 – designating March 9, 2025, as “Charter Day” in Pennsylvania – to highlight the meaning underlying the 344-year-old document. “The charter symbolizes freedom,” Matzie said. “Williams Penn’s goal in petitioning King Charles II for a land grant was to create a colony where people could worship freely, without the threat of religious persecution. The charter is the result of that effort and an important reminder that Pennsylvania’s birth is rooted in ideals of freedom and tolerance.” Matzie said Charter Day also celebrates the early “Frame of Government” Penn drafted for the new colony, which incorporated democratic concepts such as freedom of worship, balance of powers and a check on the abuse of authority and would go on to inspire the framers of the U.S. Constitution. Written on parchment using iron gall ink, the charter is stored in a high-security vault, where it is preserved under special conditions. Read more

 

Powell introduces bill to prohibit remote stalking

(Feb 05, 2025) Rep. Lindsay Powell

HARRISBURG, Feb. 5 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, has reintroduced a bill that would ban the unauthorized tracking of victims using AirTags and similar devices. House Bill 407 would forbid the use of AirTags and similar technology for any nefarious motive, with an emphasis on remote stalking. Bad actors have utilized AirTags to put trackers on vehicles and pinpoint the location of their victims, but Pennsylvania still hasn’t outlined penalties for abusing this technology. “This bill cannot undo the damage—physical and mental—that victims have endured, but it is a step in the right direction to ensuring that would-be stalkers will never again be able to perpetrate such abuse in Pennsylvania without being held accountable by the law,” Powell said. “By embracing a proactive approach to regulating technology, we can harness its potential to foster a society where innovation thrives, and our neighbors remain safe.” Multiple plaintiffs filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple in December 2022 for remote stalking and despite the company’s attempt to dismiss the case, it is moving forward. AirTags, launched more than three years ago, is intended to help individuals find items that are often misplaced, such as keys, wallets or bookbags. House Bill 407, previously H.B. 416, passed with a near unanimous vote in last year’s session. The bill has been referred to the body’s Judiciary Read more

 

House committee OKs Freeman land bank legislation

(Feb 05, 2025) Rep. Robert L. Freeman

"We should be doing everything we can as a state to encourage economic development and improve quality of life in all municipalities, big and small,” said Freeman. Read more

 

Salisbury supports governor’s proposals to boost schools and affordable housing, reform cannabis laws, raise the minimum wage

(Feb 05, 2025) Rep. Abigail Salisbury

HARRISBURG, Feb. 5 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury issued the following statement in response to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address Tuesday: “There’s a lot to like in the proposed plan, which makes our public schools a priority by delivering more than a half-billion dollars into our school districts and communities,” Salisbury said. “The education funding we passed in last year’s budget was a good start, but the impact of decades of underfunding doesn’t get fixed in one budget cycle. We need an ongoing, large-scale commitment to deliver on our promise to fairly fund our schools, and the new budget plan proposes that kind of investment. “The plan also addresses the negative impact of cyber charter schools – which have drained critical dollars from our public school budgets – by implementing a statewide cyber funding formula that would help save districts an estimated $378 million annually. There’s a continued focus on student mental health and school safety, with another $111 million proposed for those resources. “Beyond education, the plan includes commonsense proposals to help make life more affordable for residents. I strongly support the proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Our minimum wage has stagnated at $7.25 an hour for the past 16 years and is the lowest of all our neighboring states. It’s time to stop shortchanging our workers and to put more Read more

 

PA House Democratic Leaders Applaud Governor’s Budget Proposal

(Feb 04, 2025) PA House Democratic Leaders

HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – Pennsylvania House Democratic Leaders today issued the following statement on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 state budget proposal: “Once again, Governor Shapiro has delivered a common-sense budget proposal that builds on our accomplishments over the past two years to ensure fairness in funding our schools, cut costs for working families, grow our economy and workforce and strengthen our communities. “This budget proposal builds on last year’s landmark funding plan to ensure that every child in every school has the same access to a quality public education while simultaneously reducing the burden on local taxpayers. It aligns with House Democrats’ priority to fulfill our constitutional and moral obligation to adequately fund our schools. This budget also provides support to one of the Commonwealth’s biggest assets, our next generation of teachers. “We also recognize that we must grow our economy if we want to ensure a prosperous future and this budget proposal cuts taxes to support and entice businesses to come here while leveling the playing field for Pennsylvania businesses by ensuring large, multi-state corporations pay their fair share. It also provides a plan to support mass transit and transportation infrastructure, which are critical to our economy and workforce. “As we look toward the future, we must ensure that we can continue to support and invest in our Read more

 

Ciresi highlights continued progress on cyber charter reform, addressing education underfunding in Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal

(Feb 04, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, reacted to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2025-26 budget unveiled today before a joint session of the General Assembly. “This budget proposal from Governor Shapiro continues the significant progress we’ve made in bringing state funding to our long-underfunded school districts.” Ciresi said. “Building on the historic investments in our public schools and steps to reform our broken charter school law that we achieved in the previous budget, this proposal would continue that work on education funding and cyber charter reform. The result will be lower property taxes, more resources for our public schools, and a fairer education system for all students and taxpayers.” Ciresi said the proposed budget includes an additional $641 million in education funding, mostly directed to school districts like Pottstown and Pottsgrove that have been identified as most in need of additional state aid. The proposal also includes $265 million in savings for school districts by setting a statewide cyber charter school tuition rate of $8,000 per student per year, aligning these payments of tax dollars from school districts with the actual expenses of providing an online education. This was a key component of comprehensive cyber charter reform legislation proposed by Ciresi last session. The combined education funding increases and cost savings from cyber charter reform would mean an Read more

 

PA House passes bill protecting healthcare workers from surgical smoke

(Feb 04, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

The legislation would ensure that operating rooms utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems to combat the adverse health effects of surgical smoke. Read more

 

House adopts Matzie resolution to raise awareness about rheumatoid arthritis and link to cardiovascular disease

(Feb 04, 2025) Rep. Robert F. Matzie

HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – The Pennsylvania House today adopted a resolution introduced by state Rep. Rob Matzie to increase public awareness about the dangers of rheumatoid arthritis and the disease’s link to heart and vascular disease. Matzie said he introduced H.R. 16 – designating Feb. 2, 2025, as “Rheumatoid Awareness Day” in Pennsylvania – to make people aware of the disease’s far-reaching impacts on the body and of the importance of early detection. “About one and a half million Americans live with RA, and the potential risks go far beyond joint pain and stiffness to include damage to the heart, lungs, eyes and other organs,” said Matzie, who is chairman of the House majority caucus. “It’s estimated that people with RA have a 50% to 70% higher risk of cardiovascular disease than the general population. This is an issue that’s personal to me because my father lived with RA. “Fortunately, there is some good news. Recent medical advances in immunotherapy are leading to promising new treatments. But, as with any disease, early detection is key. We need to spread the word that folks should not ignore the symptoms and should visit their doctor.” Matzie said typical symptoms of RA include tender, warm, swollen joints; joint stiffness that is usually worse in the morning and after inactivity; pain and stiffness in the same joints on both sides of the body; Read more

 

Fleming responds to Shapiro’s 2025 budget address

(Feb 04, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – State Rep. Justin Fleming, D-Dauphin, today issued the following statement in response to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address: “I found that many of Gov. Shapiro’s proposals directly address current needs in the communities I represent. “A great education is the surest way to invigorate communities and raise people up into the middle class, but historic inequality in our funding system left richer school districts better funded at the expense of poorer ones, creating a legacy of structural inequality. Though last year’s budget made headway in rectifying this imbalance, there’s still a lot of work to be done. This budget would deliver a needed $75 million increase in basic education and a $40 million increase in special education. “We need to ensure that our schools are staffed with top-notch educators by filling the teacher pipeline with highly qualified candidates. I’m impressed by Gov. Shapiro’s plan to put more teachers in the classroom from pre-K to grade 12, by supporting student teachers and investing in professional development that will help our educators stay on the cutting edge of education. “Governor Shapiro sees how working parents have been struggling to juggle work with the rising cost of childcare and how some parents have had to drop out of the workforce altogether, negatively impacting their careers, their families’ income and even Read more

 

Energy Committee hears testimony on Solar for All authorization

(Feb 04, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Today, the newly established House Energy Committee held a public hearing to consider legislation (H.B. 362) introduced by Committee Chairwoman Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., authorizing a Solar for All program. Read more

 

Frankel cheers governor’s budget plans for cannabis reform, rural health care and more

(Feb 04, 2025) Rep. Dan B. Frankel

HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – Health Committee Chair Dan Frankel praised Gov. Josh Shapiro’s call during Tuesday’s budget address to finally legalize cannabis in Pennsylvania – and to do so in a way that puts Pennsylvanians first. “Very soon, the House Health Committee will hold the first votes in the history of the General Assembly to legalize and regulate cannabis, joining our neighbor states at the same time that we ensure that the benefits are enjoyed by Pennsylvanian communities, workers and businesses,” said Frankel, a prime cosponsor with Rep. Rick Krajewski of a legalization bill they are preparing to introduce . Frankel echoed Shapiro’s statement before the General Assembly, agreeing that Pennsylvania cannot afford to wait, now that 24 other states – including nearly every state that shares a border in Pennsylvania – have already legalized recreational cannabis. “We share the governor's vision of setting up a marketplace that will help small businesses and farms thrive in the long term, even within what we know is a cutthroat industry that heavily favors multi-state operators elsewhere,” Frankel said. The Health Committee held six hearings in the 2023-2024 legislative session to examine the successes and failures of cannabis programs in other states. The resulting bill would work through a hybrid system of bolstered state retail operations, privately owned on-site Read more

 

Mayes, McClinton: PA CROWN Act clears committee

(Feb 04, 2025) Rep. La'Tasha D. Mayes, Rep. Joanna E. McClinton

Bill to end hair discrimination sees new life in new session Read more

 

Conklin bill to allow agents at the Office of State Inspector General to carry weapons clears committee, heads for House

(Feb 03, 2025) Rep. Scott Conklin

HARRISBURG, Feb. 3 – A strong bipartisan majority of the state House Judiciary Committee today approved state Rep. Scott Conklin’s bill that would permit agents working for the Office of State Inspector General to arm themselves on the job. Conklin said he introduced H.B. 36 to provide greater protection for OSIG agents, whose law enforcement duties often expose them to the risk of danger. “As members of a government watchdog agency, OSIG agents investigate fraud and other misconduct in government programs and operations,” Conklin said. “Like other law enforcement officers, they have the power to issue subpoenas and search warrants and to file criminal complaints. Unlike other officers, however, OSIG agents are not permitted to carry a weapon – even though their work often places them in dangerous situations. “These agents deserve the same protections as their counterparts in other law enforcement agencies to help them stay safe on the job. I’m pleased the committee has advanced my bill, and I’ll be urging my colleagues in the legislature to pass it quickly.” The committed approved the bill by a 25-1 vote. It now heads to the full House for consideration. Read more

 

Two years after East Palestine derailment, Matzie renews push for stronger rail safety

(Feb 03, 2025) Rep. Robert F. Matzie

HARRISBURG, Feb. 3 – As Beaver County residents continue to live with health and safety concerns two years after the East Palestine freight train derailment that spread toxic fumes throughout the region, state Rep. Rob Matzie is renewing his push to pass legislation that would strengthen rail safety for Pennsylvanians. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said he plans to introduce a new version of his rail safety bill that won strong bipartisan support in the House last session before stalling in the state Senate. “We have freight trains hauling toxic chemicals through our back yard at a time when we’re still seeing close to 1,000 derailments a year nationwide,” Matzie said. “We have folks still dealing with the East Palestine derailment and wondering if they will face long-term health consequences. “We can’t continue gambling that another incident won’t happen, and we can’t afford to rely on Washington, D.C. – especially at a time when we’re seeing some protections being dismantled at the federal level. We need to put stronger safety standards in place ourselves, at the state level, and we need to do it soon to prevent a repeat of East Palestine.” Mazie’s Safer Rails, Safer Community Act passed the state House 141-62 in June 2023 but the Senate failed to bring it up for consideration. Among other Read more

 

Ciresi, Marcell bipartisan bill to allow intermediate units to own facilities for instructional use passes House

(Feb 03, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, Feb. 3 – Bipartisan legislation (H.B. 201) introduced by state Reps. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, and Kristin Marcell, R-Bucks, which would allow intermediate units to own facilities for instructional space overwhelmingly passed the House today (155-47). Read more

 

Matzie introduces bill to protect consumers from ‘speculative ticketing’

(Feb 03, 2025) Rep. Robert F. Matzie

HARRISBURG, Feb. 3 – State Rep. Rob Matzie today introduced legislation to prevent the deceptive practice of “speculative ticketing” – in which ticket sellers relist event tickets for sale before they have them in hand. Matzie, who is chairman of the House majority caucus, said H.B. 463 would prohibit resellers from listing tickets unless they actually have possession of them and would allow consumers and venues to sue for violations. “Consumers who pay for an item have the right to assume the seller actually has that item in hand to sell – and the same goes for tickets,” Matzie said. “Unfortunately, many sellers engage in speculative ticketing – relisting tickets they don’t have and betting that they can obtain them later. If that falls through, the disappointed consumer – at best – may get a refund. At worst, they lose their ticket money and any other expenses, like travel and lodging, they may have laid out. “Consumers aren’t the only ones who feel the impact. The venue loses credibility in the eyes of the public, while area restaurants, parking garages and other local businesses lose expected revenue. It’s a practice that’s bad for consumers and bad for business.” Matzie introduced an earlier version the bill last session, while he was majority chairman of the House Consumer Protection Read more

 

Judiciary Committee votes in favor of bills with bipartisan support

(Feb 03, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, Feb. 3 – Today, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee voted to advance three important bills that are now under consideration by the full House. The bills, supported by legislators from both parties, seek to improve the criminal justice system, strengthen safety and simplify family law processes. Committee Chair Rep. Tim Briggs, D-Montgomery, said, “The committee’s bipartisan support for these bills demonstrates our shared commitment to making necessary improvements to our laws, ensuring fairness, safety and efficiency across Pennsylvania. These bills are now on their way to the full House, where we will continue to work together for the benefit of all Pennsylvanians.” The following bills were voted out of committee: House Bill 36 , sponsored by state Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Centre, would permit law enforcement officers working under the Pennsylvania Office of the State Inspector General to carry weapons while performing their duties. The legislation aims to enhance the safety of officers, who often face dangerous situations while fighting fraud, waste, misconduct and abuse in state programs and government agencies. House Bill 166 , sponsored by state Reps. Tim Bonner, R-Mercer, and Tarik Khan, D-Phila., would ensure that Pennsylvania’s death penalty statute meets the highest standard of proof before a jury can impose such a penalty. It would require the Commonwealth to Read more

 

Daley celebrates House passage of bike lane protections

(Feb 03, 2025) Rep. Mary Jo Daley

HARRISBURG, Feb. 3 – State Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery, said she is pleased to report that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed her bill creating parking-protected bike lanes today. These special lanes would allow street parking to be reconfigured with vehicles parked further from the curb to leave space for a protected bike lane. “Under current law, a vehicle has to park within 12 inches of a curb,” Daley said. “This bill will update the law and allow vehicles to park farther away from these curbs, creating a bike lane between the curb and the parked car. “This change has been a long time coming, and I hope that the Senate picks up this critical work soon. Lives are depending on it.” House Bill 291 is also referred to as Susan’s and Emily’s Law. In October 2015, Susan Hicks was struck from behind and killed at the corner of Forbes and Bigelow in Pittsburgh. In November 2017, Emily Fredricks was riding her bike to work on Spruce Street in Philadelphia when she was struck and killed by a sanitation truck. This measure is supported by PennDOT’s Pedalcycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, BikePGH, and the Pennsylvania Municipal League, among others. This bill does not require changes to be made; it simply provides local authorities with a legal option to consider, Daley said. For more information, Read more

 

Reps. Bellmon, Dawkins, Dougherty, Gallagher, Neilson and Solomon Issue Statement on Plane Crash in Northeast Philadelphia

(Jan 31, 2025) Northeast Philadelphia Members

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 31, 2025 — State Reps. Anthony Bellmon, Jason Dawkins, Sean Dougherty, Pat Gallagher, Ed Neilson and Jared Solomon today issued the following statement on a plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia: "While we're still learning details regarding the horrific tragedy in Northeast Philadelphia, we're working with local and state officials to support our community. For everyone's safety and to ensure first responders have unimpeded access to the site, please avoid the area around Roosevelt Mall. "Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims, as well as the neighbors and businesses impacted by this disaster. We're extremely grateful for all the first responders working this emergency." Read more

 

Ahead of Pa.’s 344th birthday, House adopts Matzie’s Charter Day resolution
Feb 05, 2025

Ahead of Pa.’s 344th birthday, House adopts Matzie’s Charter Day resolution
Feb 05, 2025

Powell introduces bill to prohibit remote stalking
Feb 05, 2025

House committee OKs Freeman land bank legislation
Feb 05, 2025

Salisbury supports governor’s proposals to boost schools and affordable housing, reform cannabis laws, raise the minimum wage
Feb 05, 2025

PA House Democratic Leaders Applaud Governor’s Budget Proposal
Feb 04, 2025

Ciresi highlights continued progress on cyber charter reform, addressing education underfunding in Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal
Feb 04, 2025

PA House passes bill protecting healthcare workers from surgical smoke
Feb 04, 2025

House adopts Matzie resolution to raise awareness about rheumatoid arthritis and link to cardiovascular disease
Feb 04, 2025

Fleming responds to Shapiro’s 2025 budget address
Feb 04, 2025

Energy Committee hears testimony on Solar for All authorization
Feb 04, 2025

Frankel cheers governor’s budget plans for cannabis reform, rural health care and more
Feb 04, 2025

Mayes, McClinton: PA CROWN Act clears committee
Feb 04, 2025

Conklin bill to allow agents at the Office of State Inspector General to carry weapons clears committee, heads for House
Feb 03, 2025

Two years after East Palestine derailment, Matzie renews push for stronger rail safety
Feb 03, 2025

Ciresi, Marcell bipartisan bill to allow intermediate units to own facilities for instructional use passes House
Feb 03, 2025

Matzie introduces bill to protect consumers from ‘speculative ticketing’
Feb 03, 2025

Judiciary Committee votes in favor of bills with bipartisan support
Feb 03, 2025

Daley celebrates House passage of bike lane protections
Feb 03, 2025

Reps. Bellmon, Dawkins, Dougherty, Gallagher, Neilson and Solomon Issue Statement on Plane Crash in Northeast Philadelphia
Jan 31, 2025