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Shusterman, Davis honor Mae Krier, Rosie the Riveter Day

(Mar 24, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, March 24 – State Reps. Melissa Shusterman and Tina Davis honored Bristol resident Mae Krier, a trailblazing member of the “Rosie the Riveter” generation, in celebration of her 100th birthday and her lifelong advocacy on behalf of women who supported the nation during World War II. The recognition took place in conjunction with H.R. 385, which designated March 21, 2026, as “Rosie the Riveter Day” in Pennsylvania. The resolution commemorated the millions of American women who entered the workforce during World War II to support the war effort, filling critical roles in manufacturing, industry, and military support services. These women, many of whom lived and worked across Pennsylvania, played a vital role in securing victory and reshaping the nation’s workforce. “It is my honor to recognize Rosie the Riveter Day here in Pennsylvania,” Shusterman said. “Mae Krier's tireless advocacy for the Rosies to receive the accolades they deserve has always been inspiring to me. At a time when some people are attempting to erase our shared history, it is more important than ever to elevate all the trailblazers and women who have come before us.” Davis emphasized the importance of recognizing both Krier’s legacy and the broader impact of the Rosie the Riveter generation. “Mae Krier represents the very best of this Read more

 

Williams’ bill ensuring juvenile protections on federal property unanimously passes PA House

(Mar 24, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Legislation introduced by state Rep. Dan Williams to ensure juveniles on military bases are handled through the appropriate state juvenile justice systems unanimously passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives today. Read more

 

Matzie: Newly released study recommends changes to PIAA policies

(Mar 24, 2026) Rep. Robert F. Matzie

HARRISBURG, March 24 – The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association should update its policies to better protect student athletes participating in competitions, according to the newly released findings of a legislative study requested by state Rep. Rob Matzie. Matzie, who is chair of the House Majority Caucus and the longest-serving member of the Pennsylvania Athletic Oversight Committee, called on the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct the study based on concerns that PIAA’s system of classifying schools for competition puts student athletes at risk by forcing them to compete against wealthier schools with bigger budgets and larger rosters. “The study’s findings and recommendations demonstrate the need for updated PIAA policies relative to how transfers are monitored and adjudicated, where and how certain private, charter, and co-op schools get their student athletes, and how championship sites are determined,” Matzie said. “This vindicates the questions I’ve raised over the past several years, especially in regard to the treatment of the Aliquippa School District.” Matzie said the report recommends that PIAA: establish a statewide body to independently record, monitor and adjudicate student-athlete transfers among member schools. revise its policy for feeder schools, which pipeline Read more

 

Salisbury bill to preserve tree canopy advances from committee

(Mar 24, 2026) Rep. Abigail Salisbury

HARRISBURG, March 24 – Legislation introduced by state Rep. Abigail Salisbury to help preserve a healthy tree canopy for Pennsylvania’s communities has advanced from committee, sending the bill to the full House for consideration. Salisbury’s H.B. 2161 , which was approved by the House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection Committee, would require utility companies to plant a new tree for each one they cut down. “I introduced this bill after residents and environmental advocates in our district expressed concerns that trees were being removed entirely, instead of simply being pruned or trimmed,” Salisbury said. “Maintaining a healthy tree canopy is essential for communities because it reduces stormwater runoff and air pollution, provides shade that lowers energy costs, raises property values and increases pedestrian traffic for local businesses, among other benefits. “Monday’s committee action moved us a step closer to making sure those benefits continue.” Salisbury’s legislation would require electric utilities that cut down a tree to offer to plant a new one within two years in a location of the municipality’s choice. Salisbury said that the bill would align tree removal by utility companies with existing regulations that require utilities to repair damage caused by work that requires excavation or other projects that involve Read more

 

Kinkead, Green unveil bill tying legislator COLA to minimum wage increases

(Mar 24, 2026) Rep. Emily Kinkead, Rep. Roni Green

Automatic, annual minimum wage bump at same rate of lawmaker pay raises Read more

 

House Majority Appropriations Chairman Jordan A. Harris Introduces 2026-27 State Budget Proposal Focused on Affordability and Accountability

(Mar 24, 2026) Rep. Jordan A. Harris

This budget reflects our commitment to making everyday life more affordable while also delivering on the promises we’ve made to our communities. It prioritizes investments in public education, workforce development, and the services that help people stay safe, healthy and financially stable. Read more

 

Conklin resolution calls on state to study feasibility of senior property tax exemption

(Mar 23, 2026) Rep. Scott Conklin

HARRISBURG, March 23 – State Rep. Scott Conklin today introduced a resolution calling on Pennsylvania’s Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to research the feasibility of providing a property tax exemption for seniors. Conklin said he introduced H.R. 457 to address a growing problem facing older Pennsylvanians. “Aging in place—in the homes and communities they love—should be a realistic expectation for Pennsylvania’s more than 2.5 million residents who are 65 or older,” Conklin said. “Yet that future is far from certain for the growing number of seniors on fixed incomes, who face the risk of losing their cherished homes as property taxes increase. “A number of other states currently offer some form of property tax exemption for qualifying seniors. Pennsylvania should investigate whether it would be feasible to do the same, which is why I am calling on the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to research the feasibility of providing such an exemption. “Our seniors have built our businesses, shaped our communities, and helped lay the groundwork for younger generations. They shouldn’t have to fear losing their homes because of the burden of property taxes if there is a way we can prevent that from happening.” Read more

 

Tiburcio sworn in to serve PA’s 22nd Legislative District after special election

(Mar 23, 2026) Rep. Ana Tiburcio

Tiburcio was elected to the office on Feb. 24 in a special election. She replaces Josh Siegel, who resigned at the end of 2025 to become Lehigh County executive. Read more

 

PA House OKs Rusnock bill to expand solar energy to warehouses and distribution centers

(Mar 23, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

State Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock, D-Berks, announced that her bill to expand solar energy through e-commerce growth passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Read more

 

Rivera encourages residents to attend PUC hearing on UGI’s proposed rate increase

(Mar 23, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

LANCASTER, March 23 – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will hold an in-person public hearing about UGI-Utilities, Inc.-Gas Division’s proposed rate increase at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. March 30 in the Manheim Township Public Library Morgan Center, 595 Granite Run Drive. Rivera will offer comments at the 6 p.m. hearing. Rivera said the hearings are being held in response to UGI’s planned substantial rate increase in operating revenues by 8.5%, or approximately $99.368 million. Under the proposal, the average monthly bill for a residential customer using 68.7 hundred cubic feet of natural gas would increase 8.7%, from $113.64 to $123.55 per month. In September 2025 , the PUC approved a 8.9%, or $69.5 million UGI rate increase--$40.9 million less than the 14.1%, or $110.4 million that the company originally requested. The monthly customer charge rose by 6.7%, or to $110.51 from $103.57. The rate hike took effect Oct. 28, 2025. According to UGI, the requested increase would allow the company to receive a fair return on proposed investments, including PUC-approved infrastructure replacement programs; enhanced information technology systems; recovery of operating expenses associated with providing gas distribution service; extension of its Weather Normalization Adjustment pilot; and incorporation of weather calculation into its rate design. On Feb. 19, the PUC formally suspended the proposed rate Read more

 

Neilson applauds literacy advocates working to endorse literacy programs across the state

(Mar 23, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

State Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila., today thanked the Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition, school and district leaders, literacy advocates, and lawmakers from across the commonwealth for reaffirming their commitment to ensuring that every child has access to quality, evidence-based literacy programs. Read more

 

Neilson applauds literacy advocates working to endorse literacy programs across the state

(Mar 23, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

State Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila., today thanked the Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition, school and district leaders, literacy advocates, and lawmakers from across the commonwealth for reaffirming their commitment to ensuring that every child has access to quality, evidence-based literacy programs. Since beginning his career in public service, Neilson has worked on various initiatives to highlight the importance of literacy programs in Pennsylvania. In 2014, Neilson’s legislation to create a dyslexia screening pilot program was signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett, making it the first program of its kind in the commonwealth. In 2020, a federal bill modeled after this program was introduced in the U.S. Congress. “Every child in the commonwealth deserves to have a strong educational foundation that leads to a secure and successful future. That foundation is literacy. With literacy programs, children aren’t just learning new words; they are learning comprehension and critical thinking skills. Reading introduces them to new concepts, enhances creativity, and encourages them to think outside the box,” Neilson said. Read more

 

Briggs’ radon testing bill approved by committee

(Mar 23, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, March 23 – Legislation introduced by state Rep. Tim Briggs that would require radon testing and mitigation in Pennsylvania schools has been approved by the PA House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee. House Bill 289 , which is a bipartisan bill co prime sponsored by state Rep. Jason Ortitay (R- Allegheny/Washington), now advances to the full House for consideration. “Ensuring the safety and health of students and school staff is a fundamental responsibility,” Briggs said. “H.B. 289 establishes clear standards for radon testing and mitigation in our schools, protecting communities across Pennsylvania. I am encouraged by the bipartisan support this bill received and look forward to continued progress in the full House.” Radon is a radioactive, colorless, and odorless gas that forms naturally from decaying radium in the soil and can enter buildings through cracks in foundations. Pennsylvania’s geology places residents at a higher risk of exposure, and the Radon in Schools Workgroup estimates that as many as two in five schools may have unhealthy radon levels. This invisible gas poses a serious long-term health risk, ranking just behind smoking as a leading cause of lung cancer nationwide. Damage can occur gradually and without obvious symptoms, even when concentrations are relatively low. The risk is heightened for children, whose bodies are still developing and Read more

 

Legislators introduce bill to make taxes easier for small businesses

(Mar 23, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, March 23 – After the success of a recent pilot by the PA Department of Revenue, state Reps. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz and Steve Samuelson have introduced legislation to codify a program that would instantly remit sales tax to the state. The legislation, H.B. 2300 , would officially establish the use of software that collects sales and use tax in real time for each transaction and sends it to the Department of Revenue, taking the burden of handling sales and use tax off the taxpayer. “As a small business owner myself, I know convenience and predictability can be hard to come by when you run a business,” said Cepeda-Freytiz. “This legislation would afford our small businesses just that, while ensuring 100% compliance among those who use it. This is a solution that clearly makes work easier for the businesses that fuel our economy and the state government.” Cepeda-Freytiz previously owned Mi Casa Su Casa Café, a breakfast and lunch café in downtown Reading that opened in 2007. The legislation would also allow the Department of Revenue to mandate use of the software for taxpayers with certain arrearages, with the first-year costs covered by the department. After the pilot program, three out of four participants chose to continue using the software at their own expense. House Bill 2300 has been referred to the House Finance Committee, chaired by Samuelson. The Finance Read more

 

Legislators congratulate Wyomissing dispensary on reaching labor agreement

(Mar 19, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

WYOMISSING, March 19 – State Reps. Emily Kinkead, Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, and Napoleon Nelson congratulated the workers of Teamsters Local 429 and their president, Bill Shappell, along with the leadership at Sunnyside Medical Cannabis Dispensary in Wyomissing, on reaching a labor agreement on Tuesday, March 17. The labor agreement comes as the future of cannabis access, employment, and entrepreneurship remains a legislative priority in Harrisburg. Such agreements between labor and cannabis operators are a central component to legislation the legislators said they hope will finally legalize adult-use cannabis in PA, achieving Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget priority and bringing the Commonwealth in line with neighboring states. House Bill 20 , offered by Kinkead, D-Allegheny, and Rep. Abby Major, R-Armstrong, presents a bipartisan path to legalizing adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania and includes a requirement that dispensaries execute labor peace agreements in order to receive licenses. These contracts between the employer and a union require employers not to interfere with efforts of employees to organize in exchange for concessions like avoiding labor disruptions through strikes, picketing, or lockouts. “Cannabis legalization in Pennsylvania is estimated to create around 30,000 family-sustaining jobs in our Commonwealth and ensuring that those workers have access to a union if they want one, free from any employer interference, only makes Read more

 

Legislation to reform short-term rentals introduced in state House

(Mar 19, 2026) Rep. Lindsay Powell

HARRISBURG, March 19 -- State Reps. Lindsay Powell, Jennifer M. O’Mara and Mary Jo Daley today introduced legislation to establish a statewide regulatory framework for short-term rentals across Pennsylvania. The legislation, H.B. 2303 , is based on recommendations from a nonpartisan, independent study conducted by the Joint State Government Commission, which was directed by a 2024 House Resolution sponsored by Powell and O’Mara. The bill aims to create consistent, baseline standards for short-term rental properties while preserving flexibility for local communities. “On New Year’s Eve, a member of our community was seriously injured in a violent incident at a short-term rental in my district. This was the second such event in the same neighborhood in recent years – the prior taking the lives of two teenagers,” said Powell , D-Allegheny. “That is why, two years ago, Rep. O’Mara and I led passage of a resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of the short-term rental industry and develop recommendations for a statewide framework. “Today, we are proud to introduce legislation that turns those recommendations into action. This bill strikes a necessary balance of protecting public safety, supporting responsible operators, and ensuring transparency for local officials and law enforcement. As short-term rentals continue to grow across Pennsylvania, we have a Read more

 

Lancaster County legislators announce state funding to combat sexual violence on college campuses

(Mar 18, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

LANCASTER, March 18 – State Reps. Ismail Smith-Wade-El and Nikki Rivera, both D-Lancaster, today highlighted new “It’s On Us PA” funding awarded to combat sexual violence and support survivors on college campuses in their districts. Millersville University in Smith-Wade-El’s district received $40,000 and Franklin and Marshall College in Rivera’s district received $21,795. “Sexual violence is a human rights abuse , a form of discrimination, and a manifestation of unequal power,” Smith-Wade-El and Rivera said. “The ‘It’s On Us’ program plays a critical role in making Pennsylvania a more equal commonwealth by raising awareness among students about consent as a basic human right and providing healing support to survivors. This money helps to ensure that the ‘It’s On Us’ program will continue to help make our higher educational learning environments safe spaces for everyone.” The Shapiro administration awarded more than $1.7 million in this round of funding to 43 institutions statewide. Since 2023, nearly $5 million has been invested in “It’s On Us PA” initiatives focused on education, prevention, and survivor support. The “It’s On Us PA” program builds on a national initiative launched to raise awareness about sexual assault, promote consent education, and encourage bystander intervention. The state-level campaign brings together Read more

 

Testifiers emphasize the role of grid modernization in curbing rising energy costs

(Mar 18, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, March 17 – On Monday, PA House Energy Committee Chair Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., convened a public hearing to discuss ways to modernize and upgrade Pennsylvania’s electric grid using lower-cost, high-efficiency solutions.Members of the committee heard testimony from industry experts on H.B. 2223, which would encourage the adoption of advanced transmission technologies, and H.B. 2264, which would establish a virtual power plant program in Pennsylvania. ATTs and VPPs offer cost-effective opportunities to strengthen grid reliability, expand capacity, and ensure energy costs are kept as low as possible for consumers and small businessesPennsylvania’s energy demand is being driven higher by the rapid expansion of data centers that support artificial intelligence and cloud computing, the increasing electrification of vehicles and household appliances, and the power needs of advanced manufacturing. This demand shift has already led to record increases in energy bills for regular households, with shutoffs increasing by 38% in 2025. To keep pace, the Commonwealth’s electric grid requires significant and timely capacity upgrades. Read more

 

Legislators, advocates call for Family Care Act passage

(Mar 17, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

State Reps. Jennifer O’Mara, Lisa Borowski, and Napoleon Nelson were joined by child and family advocates this week at a news conference to urge the passage of bipartisan legislation to create a family and medical leave insurance program in Pennsylvania. Read more

 

Goughnour sponsors bill to keep more law enforcement officers on the job through binding arbitration

(Mar 12, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

State Rep. Dan Goughnour, D-Allegheny, today announced that he has introduced bipartisan legislation that would help keep law enforcement officers on the job by allowing more officers to access binding arbitration Read more

 

Shusterman, Davis honor Mae Krier, Rosie the Riveter Day
Mar 24, 2026

Williams’ bill ensuring juvenile protections on federal property unanimously passes PA House
Mar 24, 2026

Matzie: Newly released study recommends changes to PIAA policies
Mar 24, 2026

Salisbury bill to preserve tree canopy advances from committee
Mar 24, 2026

Kinkead, Green unveil bill tying legislator COLA to minimum wage increases
Mar 24, 2026

House Majority Appropriations Chairman Jordan A. Harris Introduces 2026-27 State Budget Proposal Focused on Affordability and Accountability
Mar 24, 2026

Conklin resolution calls on state to study feasibility of senior property tax exemption
Mar 23, 2026

Tiburcio sworn in to serve PA’s 22nd Legislative District after special election
Mar 23, 2026

PA House OKs Rusnock bill to expand solar energy to warehouses and distribution centers
Mar 23, 2026

Rivera encourages residents to attend PUC hearing on UGI’s proposed rate increase
Mar 23, 2026

Neilson applauds literacy advocates working to endorse literacy programs across the state
Mar 23, 2026

Neilson applauds literacy advocates working to endorse literacy programs across the state
Mar 23, 2026

Briggs’ radon testing bill approved by committee
Mar 23, 2026

Legislators introduce bill to make taxes easier for small businesses
Mar 23, 2026

Legislators congratulate Wyomissing dispensary on reaching labor agreement
Mar 19, 2026

Legislation to reform short-term rentals introduced in state House
Mar 19, 2026

Lancaster County legislators announce state funding to combat sexual violence on college campuses
Mar 18, 2026

Testifiers emphasize the role of grid modernization in curbing rising energy costs
Mar 18, 2026

Legislators, advocates call for Family Care Act passage
Mar 17, 2026

Goughnour sponsors bill to keep more law enforcement officers on the job through binding arbitration
Mar 12, 2026