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House Judiciary Committee advances bills to protect trafficking victims and kids

(May 04, 2026) Rep. Tim Briggs

“Today’s votes reflect a clear commitment to protecting vulnerable Pennsylvanians and ensuring our justice system responds with both accountability and compassion,” said House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Tim Briggs. “These measures take meaningful steps to close gaps in the law, support survivors, and hold offenders responsible.” Read more

 

Hidden Parking Fees Targeted in Unanimous House Vote

(May 04, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania lawmakers have unanimously approved a bill that would require landlords to disclose parking availability and fees upfront, aiming to prevent renters from facing unexpected costs after signing a lease. Read more

 

Bill directing state education secretary to assess Keystone Exams passes Pa. House

(May 04, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, May 4 – State Rep. Gina H. Curry, D-Delaware, today announced that her legislation pushing for a Keystone Exam Alternative Feasibility Study passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of XX to XXX. Should the state Senate also pass H.B. 1752, the Pennsylvania Department of Education secretary would be tasked with contracting an independent study to determine whether the academic SAT, ACT, and Smarter Balanced high school assessments could be used in place of the 11 th grade Keystone Exams in Pennsylvania. “Since 2012, the Keystone Exams have helped schools and the state and federal government keep track of student subject competency and teaching accountability,” Curry said. “They have also had many pros and cons, and this bill’s intent is to alleviate some of those cons.” According to Curry, one downside to assessments such as the Keystone Exams is the cost of administering them to students. In 2019, a report by the state Auditor General found that while the Keystone Exams cost approximately $17.6 million annually to administer and score for all high school juniors, the cost of administering and scoring the SAT for both juniors and seniors was only $13.3 million per year. “Like the Keystones, the SAT and other college-readiness tests assess student competency of certain subjects – these tests are all largely Read more

 

Matzie resolution designates May 5 as World Asthma Day

(May 01, 2026) Rep. Robert F. Matzie

HARRISBURG, May 1 – As National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month begins today, the Pennsylvania House has recognized May 5 as “World Asthma Day” in the Commonwealth, through a resolution introduced by state Rep. Rob Matzie. Matzie said he introduced H.R. 405 , which the House adopted, to foster greater awareness and improve asthma care throughout Pennsylvania and beyond. “So many of us aren’t thinking about of how poor air quality, pollen, smoke and other airborne irritants can trigger someone’s symptoms and worsen asthma attacks,” said Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus. “By making efforts to raise awareness, we can help ensure more Pennsylvanians have the support they need to breathe easier every day.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1 million adults and 300,000 children live with this condition in Pennsylvania alone, with more than 21 million adults and over 4.2 million children living with asthma nationwide. “ Recognizing this day encourages individuals to focus on daily asthma management and to identify allergens and irritants that can lead to and worsen asthma attacks,” Matzie said. “We are supporting those living with asthma and encouraging others to help them control their symptoms.” More information about asthma can be found here . Read more

 

Committee OKs Haddock measure to create new $30 million state grant program for fire companies

(May 01, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Eligible fire companies would include municipal, volunteer, and combination companies. Grants would support equipment, facilities, staffing, and recruitment efforts. Read more

 

Transportation, Environmental, Community and Economic Development and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Apr 30, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Learn more about the latest grant opportunities. Read more

 

New legislation to tax Big Tech’s digital advertising considered by PA House committee

(Apr 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, April 29 - The PA House Finance Committee today considered H.B. 1678 , new legislation that would tax revenue derived from digital advertising platforms. The bill, known as the Digital Ads Tax, was introduced by state Reps. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., Aerion Abney, D-Allegheny, and John Inglis, D-Allegheny. House Bill 1678 would extend the existing gross receipts tax -- a 5% tax already paid by telecommunications and other industries -- to revenue from digital advertising platforms, which sell ad space on websites and apps. Digital ads subject to the tax would include banners, search engine results, and full-screen interstitial ads. The vast majority of the tax will be paid by the wealthiest Big Tech corporations, including Google, Meta, Amazon, TikTok, and Microsoft, the sponsors said. “Working people are struggling under the weight of the rising cost of groceries, gas, and housing, but still manage to pay their taxes. This legislation calls on some of the biggest corporations in the world to pay their fair share,” said Fiedler. “This legislation doesn’t cost people in Pennsylvania a penny. But with investment by these huge for-profit corporations, we can fund the infrastructure we all count on: roads, bridges, schools, and transit.” “I appreciate Chair Fiedler for introducing this legislation and thank the members of the committee for their thoughtful discussion on the Read more

 

House Consumer Protection Committee advances bill banning forever chemicals in cosmetics, dental floss, menstrual products

(Apr 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

State Rep. Greg Scott, D-Montgomery, today announced that his bill banning toxic PFAS forever chemicals from high-contact consumer products in Pennsylvania was approved by the House Consumer Protection Committee, advancing to the full House of Representatives for further consideration. Read more

 

Pennsylvania House passes Conklin bill to protect student athletes from unfair, risk-laden competitions

(Apr 29, 2026) Rep. Scott Conklin

HARRISBURG, April 29 – The Pennsylvania House today passed legislation introduced by state Rep. Scott Conklin that would better protect public school athletes by allowing the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to create separate playoffs and championships for boundary and non-boundary schools. Conklin, D-Centre, said he introduced H.B. 41 because the existing competition structure administered by PIAA is unfair and jeopardizes athletes’ health and safety. “Student athletes and their parents recognize that contact sports pose certain physical risks, which schools try to minimize through protective equipment, training, and policies like concussion protocols,” Conklin said. “Unfortunately, our schools can’t protect against a playoff system that needlessly escalates those risks through unfair competitions. “PIAA’s existing playoff system forces athletes from public schools, which are limited to recruiting from within district boundaries, to compete against athletes from private schools, which can recruit from anywhere and amass larger, stronger teams. The result is unfair, lopsided competitions that leave public school students on a dangerously unlevel playing field, subjecting them to added physical risks and even depriving them of scholarship and recruitment opportunities. School sports are supposed to be about building confidence and teaching kids lessons in fair Read more

 

House approves Steele bill to strengthen school counseling services

(Apr 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

The House today approved a bill sponsored by state Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny, to standardize and improve school counseling services for students in all grades in Pennsylvania schools by ensuring that counselors aren’t pulled away from their needed counseling duties. Read more

 

PA House unanimously approves Green bill to make parking fees transparent

(Apr 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, April 29 – Today, the PA House of Representatives passed a bill sponsored by state Rep. Roni Green, D-Phila., that would increase transparency of residential parking fees for tenants. House Bill 344 would require landlords to define parking availability and the associated fees to prospective tenants before they sign a lease. Green said this transparency is needed so people aren’t stuck with unexpected parking fees after moving into a new home. “This will empower tenants to hold their landlords accountable if they were unaware of required parking fees when they signed their lease,” said Green.“Tenants deserve to know everything about a rental property before they enter into a lease agreement, and that includes whether parking is provided and any associated costs. The cost of housing is already unbearably high; unexpected parking fees added to monthly expenses are unethical at best and can, in extreme cases, cause people to lose their housing. We need to help people keep a roof over their heads and not be forced out due to surprise costs,” said Green.Green said that while this is becoming a bigger problem with the condo-building boom in Philadelphia, the measure would create accountability and provide recourse by allowing parking fee disputes to be heard in court, enhancing protections for renters throughout Pennsylvania.The bill was approved unanimously in the House and now goes to the state Senate for consideration. Read more

 

House approves O’Mara bill to require parental notification of bullying in schools

(Apr 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

The House today approved a bipartisan bill sponsored by state Reps. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, and Danillo Burgos, D-Phila., that makes strides toward protecting children and addressing the youth mental health crisis. Read more

 

House approves Burns’ American-made flag bill

(Apr 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

On a unanimous vote, the House this week approved a bipartisan bill sponsored by state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, that would require all American flags purchased and displayed by the state to be made in America. Read more

 

Committee advances legislation to inform the public on safe AI use

(Apr 29, 2026) Rep. Joseph Ciresi

HARRISBURG, April 29 – The House Communications & Technology Committee today reported out three bills that would increase protections against the misuse of artificial intelligence in the commonwealth. The following legislation was considered: House Bill 95 (Pielli) would amend the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to require disclosure of content in advertising that has been generated or substantially modified by AI. House Bill 2314 (Ciresi) would direct the Office of Attorney General to conduct a public education campaign about AI and to improve AI consumer literacy. House Resolution 425 (Haddock) would urge the U.S. Congress and the White House to suspend efforts to impose a moratorium on state-level AI regulation and would reaffirm Pennsylvania’s right to legislate on AI and emerging technologies. “While Pennsylvania is experiencing significant economic growth thanks to AI, the technology also poses potential dangers such as misinformation and manipulation which require the Legislature to implement strong guardrails to protect the public from its misuse,” House Communications & Technology Committee Majority Chair Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, said. “As the federal government has abandoned efforts to regulate the technology while overriding states’ sovereign right to enact AI-related measures, we must reassert our legislative authority and pass laws Read more

 

Powell introduces bill to expand public-private transportation projects

(Apr 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, April 29 – Pennsylvania has some of the oldest infrastructure in the country, and local governments are facing major difficulty and expenses in funding projects—especially for transportation purposes. This is why state Rep. Lindsay Powell has introduced legislation that would allow local governments to take part in public-private partnerships to improve transportation infrastructure. House Bill 2469 would allow all counties, as well as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, to use public-private partnerships, also known as P3s, which authorize governments to coordinate with private entities for the engineering, construction, operation, financing and maintenance of a transportation project or facility. “From aging bridges and congested corridors to major transit and roadway upgrades, we have all seen transportation projects in our communities that need urgent support,” said Powell, D-Allegheny. “These projects can be daunting to take on, especially because taxpayers are footing the bill. My legislation would allow counties to partner with private groups to deliver large-scale infrastructure projects more efficiently and cost-effectively.” Current law allows only PennDOT and certain transportation agencies to use P3s. With this legislation, the current P3 process would remain unchanged. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave Pennsylvania’s infrastructure a grade of C- in 2022, Read more

 

House ok’s bills to allow for digital driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations

(Apr 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

This week, the PA House of Representatives passed two bills with overwhelming bipartisan support designed to keep Pennsylvania up to date in an increasingly technology-driven world, according to state Rep. Ed Neilson, chair of the House Transportation Committee. Over 90% of people have smartphones now, and with programs such as Apple Wallet and Google Pay, more Pennsylvanians want the convenient and secure option of a digital ID and digital registration card on their smartphone Read more

 

House passes Sappey bill to increase clarity, transparency in proposed township ordinances

(Apr 29, 2026) Rep. Christina Sappey

HARRISBURG, April 29 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation ( H.B. 2179 ) introduced by state Rep. Christina Sappey that would clarify what subjects must be included in the public notices of proposed ordinances for second class townships. Sappey serves on the House Local Government Committee and introduced the bill after learning about a shade tree ordinance that was overturned in Lancaster County because of ambiguous language in the public notice. Sappey's bill would clarify what subjects must be included in the brief summary of an advertised proposed ordinance. The summary would need to include a description of the following, as applicable: An adoption, amendment or repeal of a tax, fee, charge or assessment. An adoption, amendment or repeal of a regulation that provides for an offense or civil or criminal penalty. A provision or covenant that provides for the payment or disbursement of funds for goods, services or contractual obligation; restricts funds to a specific purpose or obligation; or pledges funds for a specific purpose or obligation. “This legislation also would require advertisements to include references to the township office where copies of the proposed ordinance may be viewed, and to the publicly accessible website where the full text of the ordinance may be viewed, if one exists,” Sappey said. “If a summary meets the obligations outlined Read more

 

Legislation to expand event permits statewide introduced in PA House

(Apr 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, April 29 – As Pennsylvania prepares for a busy tourism season, including major celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary, recognition of the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, and hosting several World Cup games, state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, D-Berks, has introduced legislation that would allow all municipalities across Pennsylvania to expand their event permits during this period. The bill, H.B. 2471 , would replicate on a statewide level similar bipartisan legislation, Act 8 of 2026 , which allows bars in Philadelphia to continue serving alcohol until 4 a.m. from June 11 to July 20, 2026. Act 8 was signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro two weeks after being introduced. “Between the World Cup and America 250 celebrations, southeastern Pennsylvania alone is expected to generate $2 billion to $3 billion,” said Cepeda-Freytiz, “However, tourism will not just be contained in Philadelphia – tourists will be visiting World Cup Fan Zones in Reading, Scranton and Pittsburgh, while also visiting landmarks such as Valley Forge and Gettysburg. “If we are providing one municipality with the tools to expand its local economy, I believe every municipality should be able to prime their local events and businesses accordingly. We are set for a tourism season that will welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors, so we should act to provide the greatest experience that every part of Read more

 

House Education Committee advances Steele bill to restrict cell phones in schools

(Apr 28, 2026) Rep. Mandy Steele

The bill would prohibit students in public schools from using or possessing a cell phone during the school day. Students would be required to secure their phones in a way that prevents access until the end of the day, with exceptions for certain emergency and medical needs approved by school authorities. Read more

 

Legislation to prevent white nationalist housing communities in Pa., including Fairness Act protections, passes Pa. House and heads to Senate

(Apr 28, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, April 28 – A bill to block the creation of whites-only housing communities in Pennsylvania passed the state House today 101-100. House Bill 2103, introduced earlier this year by Rep. Ben Waxman, D-Phila., is a direct response to efforts by extremist groups to exploit legal loopholes and create segregated communities. The legislation comes after the Return to the Land organization reportedly formed a whites-only community in Arkansas and has expressed intentions to expand to Pennsylvania and other states. Waxman’s bill would prevent any organization from discriminating against protected groups under the guise of being a private club or member-only organization, closing loopholes that could enable exclusionary housing practices. In addition, the bill was amended by Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., to incorporate provisions known as the “Fairness Act,” significantly strengthening Pennsylvania’s anti-discrimination laws by updating the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. The amendment would explicitly add protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression in employment, housing and public accommodations. “This has always been simple: Pennsylvania is better when it’s fairer,” Kenyatta said. “For too long certain Pennsylvanians, particularly those in the LGBTQ community have had to look over their shoulders. Wondering if at any moment Read more

 

House Judiciary Committee advances bills to protect trafficking victims and kids
May 04, 2026

Hidden Parking Fees Targeted in Unanimous House Vote
May 04, 2026

Bill directing state education secretary to assess Keystone Exams passes Pa. House
May 04, 2026

Matzie resolution designates May 5 as World Asthma Day
May 01, 2026

Committee OKs Haddock measure to create new $30 million state grant program for fire companies
May 01, 2026

Transportation, Environmental, Community and Economic Development and Additional Grant Opportunities
Apr 30, 2026

New legislation to tax Big Tech’s digital advertising considered by PA House committee
Apr 29, 2026

House Consumer Protection Committee advances bill banning forever chemicals in cosmetics, dental floss, menstrual products
Apr 29, 2026

Pennsylvania House passes Conklin bill to protect student athletes from unfair, risk-laden competitions
Apr 29, 2026

House approves Steele bill to strengthen school counseling services
Apr 29, 2026

PA House unanimously approves Green bill to make parking fees transparent
Apr 29, 2026

House approves O’Mara bill to require parental notification of bullying in schools
Apr 29, 2026

House approves Burns’ American-made flag bill
Apr 29, 2026

Committee advances legislation to inform the public on safe AI use
Apr 29, 2026

Powell introduces bill to expand public-private transportation projects
Apr 29, 2026

House ok’s bills to allow for digital driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations
Apr 29, 2026

House passes Sappey bill to increase clarity, transparency in proposed township ordinances
Apr 29, 2026

Legislation to expand event permits statewide introduced in PA House
Apr 29, 2026

House Education Committee advances Steele bill to restrict cell phones in schools
Apr 28, 2026

Legislation to prevent white nationalist housing communities in Pa., including Fairness Act protections, passes Pa. House and heads to Senate
Apr 28, 2026