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Salisbury bill to help smaller community groups get security grants advances from committee

(Sep 30, 2026) Rep. Abigail Salisbury

HARRISBURG, Sept. 30 – The Pennsylvania House Finance Committee today unanimously approved state Rep. Abigail Salisbury’s bill that would make it easier for lower-income houses of worship and other smaller nonprofit groups to obtain security funding. Salisbury’s H.B. 2639 would remove 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. “For houses of worship and other community groups, nothing is more important than ensuring members are safe on the premises,” Salisbury said. “Unfortunately, many smaller groups struggle to meet the dollar match required to obtain funding under our state security grant program. We saw this happen after the attempted shooting at Jesus’ Dwelling Place in North Braddock. Like many smaller groups whose outreach is limited to the immediate community, the church struggled to raise the required 33% match. It took them a year and a half to raise the match and secure a line of credit for the cost-reimbursable $75,000 grant. “The size of a group’s operating budget should never determine its ability to protect members. My bill would lift the 33% match requirement for grants ranging from $25,000 to $75,000 if a nonprofit’s annual revenue is less than $250,000, to ensure everyone has the protection they deserve.” The bill now Read more

 

Pielli and Fiedler bill to end excess utility profits advances out of state House Energy Committee

(Sep 30, 2026) Rep. Chris Pielli, Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler

“At a time when utility shareholders are earning record profits and households continue to face rising costs, we need to work to find solutions to restore balance by tipping the scales back in favor of Pennsylvania families,” Pielli said. “This legislation will restore fairness and accountability using commonsense measures to ensure affordable energy is provided for everyone.” Read more

 

House Democratic Leadership statement on Rep. Bernstine's behavior

(Sep 30, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Leadership statement issued Wednesday, Sept. 30 Read more

 

Pa. House OKs Haddock measure affirming state’s right to regulate AI

(Sep 30, 2026) Rep. Jim Haddock

“This resolution highlights the significant potential of AI in various economic sectors and also recognizes that Pennsylvania is a leader in the development of AI,” said Haddock, D-Luzerne/Lackawanna. “The resolution reaffirms the right and responsibility of Pennsylvania’s government to pass legislation regarding AI to protect its residents from the dangers of misused AI.” Read more

 

Menopause awareness takes on a new meaning in PA

(Sep 29, 2026) Rep. Melissa Shusterman

Shusterman explained, “Menopause is more than a minor inconvenience; it is a health crisis. From years of lost sleep and debilitating brain fog to frozen joints and brittle bones, these severe symptoms demand action. Every single piece of legislation in the No Time for a Pause package serves a purpose in delivering better care, education and treatment for the women of PA. Read more

 

Pa. House advances Friel Otten bill to establish public-interest standard for utility decisions

(Sep 29, 2026) Rep. Danielle Friel Otten

HARRISBURG, Sept. 29 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today passed legislation introduced by state Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, that would require the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to explicitly consider the public interest when making decisions that affect utility customers across the commonwealth. Friel Otten’s legislation, H.B. 2184 , would establish a statutory definition of "public interest" and require the PUC to consider factors such as affordability, reliability, resilience, economic impacts, energy efficiency, sustainability, transparency, public safety and equitable treatment of customers in utility proceedings. The bill would also require the commission to explain how its decisions align with the public interest. The bill passed the House with bipartisan support by a vote of 150-53. Today's action reflects growing concern among lawmakers about rising utility costs and the need for greater transparency and accountability in decisions that directly affect utility customers, businesses and communities across Pennsylvania. "The increasing cost of almost everything in life right now is one of the first things people bring up to me, whether it's at the grocery store, the soccer sideline, or the carpool group chat," Friel Otten said. "According to United Way's ALICE report, 40% of Pennsylvania households are already living on the financial edge. For those families, a sudden spike Read more

 

Abney bill to help child welfare providers manage insurance costs passes House

(Sep 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, Sept. 29 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today passed legislation sponsored by state Rep. Aerion Abney that would help child welfare providers manage insurance costs so they can afford to continue their important work. A licensed social worker, Abney said H.B. 2490 will help child welfare providers maintain affordable insurance coverage and serve children, families and communities across Pennsylvania. “Child welfare providers are facing a serious insurance crisis, with premiums rising sharply and some providers struggling to find coverage at all,” Abney said. “We need to make sure the people and organizations caring for our children can focus on that work instead of being pushed out by insurance costs. This legislation creates a fairer approach to liability and helps protect the stability of these essential services.” Under the bill, counties would not be allowed to require a child welfare provider to waive an insurer’s right to recover money from a party responsible for a claim as a condition of receiving a county contract. The legislation addresses a growing problem for providers. Rising insurance premiums and limited coverage options can make it more difficult for organizations to provide child welfare services. Preventing contract requirements that further increase insurers’ risk can help create greater Read more

 

House passes Alyssa’s Law to get panic alarms installed into schools

(Sep 29, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, Sept. 29 – To ensure the safety of students and staff in schools across Pennsylvania, the state House has passed legislation introduced by state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, D-Berks, that would require schools to consider installing panic alarms to quickly respond to emergencies. House Bill 634 would require schools to consider implementing a panic alarm system within their classrooms during annual safety and security reviews. These silent alarms would connect a specific classroom to law enforcement responders and signal a life-threatening emergency. “Feeling safe in the classroom where they spend most of the year should be the bare minimum expectation that students, teachers and school staff have,” said Cepeda-Freytiz. “This legislation will take practical steps to ensure that in the case of a shooting or another emergency, law enforcement can act faster in these moments where every second used or wasted can mean the difference between life and death.” The legislation, also known as Alyssa’s Law, has been backed by Make Our Schools Safe , which was founded by Lori and Ilan Alhadeff following the death of their 14-year-old daughter Alyssa in the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. “As Alyssa’s mother, I know firsthand that in an emergency, every second matters,” said Lori Alhadeff , co-founder and CEO of Make Our Schools Safe. Read more

 

Pielli’s data center regulation bill unanimously adopted in House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee

(Sep 29, 2026) Rep. Chris Pielli

“Since 2020, when data centers started to be constructed, Pennsylvania’s energy costs have risen by over 70%,” Pielli said. “With there being estimates up to 130 active data centers with an additional 55 data centers being proposed, planned, or under construction, this problem will only get worse without proper regulation. If data centers become a public utility, they could preempt local municipal zoning ordinances and reduce communities’ control over land-use decisions. We need to place guardrails on this issue and ensure that Pennsylvanians have a voice in where these data centers are developed.” Read more

 

Salisbury to host fourth annual Nonprofit Symposium on Oct. 15

(Sep 29, 2026) Rep. Abigail Salisbury

BRADDOCK, Sept. 29 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury will host the fourth annual Nonprofit Symposium from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15 at the Monroeville Convention Center, located at 209 Mall Blvd. in Monroeville, 15146. Salisbury, who is the founder and co-chair of the Pennsylvania Charitable Nonprofit Caucus, said this year’s free event will be the largest and most comprehensive symposium to date, with an agenda covering a broad range of topics to help nonprofits thrive at a crucial time. “Wherever people need help, nonprofits are there at the ground level – providing food, connecting residents with mental health and crisis services, running afterschool programs and meeting hundreds of other community needs,” Salisbury said. “Those services are more critical than ever, as more families are feeling the impact of cuts at the federal level. This year’s symposium will help nonprofit board members, managers, staffers and volunteers develop the skills they need to ensure that their organizations are there to meet the demand. I urge anyone who works or volunteers for a nonprofit in any capacity to register for this free event.” Salisbury said this year’s agenda will include expert-led sessions on nonprofit social media communications, cultivating recurring individual small donors, managing nonprofit risk, telling your nonprofit’s story, and nonprofit personnel mental Read more

 

Kosierowski bill to cover fertility preservation for cancer patients passes PA House

(Sep 28, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, Sept. 28 – Legislation that would require insurance to cover fertility preservation services for cancer patients passed the PA House today (172-31), the bill's sponsor, state Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna, announced. According to Kosierowski, cancer rates are rising among Americans under 50. Cancer treatments often destroy a patient’s ability to have children. Cancer patients who want to preserve their fertility can face thousands of dollars in bills because fertility preservation treatment often is not covered by insurance. "A cancer diagnosis has a devastating emotional, physical, and financial impact on a patient, and the prospect of never being able to have children as the cost of survival only compounds a patient's distress," Kosierowski said. "Surviving cancer should not mean losing the opportunity to start or grow a family. "Thanks to new therapies, there is life after cancer for many. We should ensure that life includes having children, and this legislation would help make that possible for many Pennsylvanians. House Bill 2649 would require insurance to cover standard fertility preservation services for cancer patients who must undergo medical treatment that may result in infertility. According to Kosierowski, 21 other states have already enacted insurance coverage requirements for oncofertility benefits. The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration. Read more

 

Shusterman’s AI chatbot safety bill approved by House

(Sep 28, 2026) Rep. Melissa Shusterman

“The revolutionary potential of AI and the positive impacts this technology will have on business, government and society is undeniable,” Shusterman said. “Far too many children and adults are creating unhealthy emotional attachments with chatbots -- and are experiencing terrifying interactions. As AI chatbots continue to advance, our society is coming to a bipartisan consensus: we need government to step up. I’m determined to provide commonsense and reasonable safety guardrails.” Read more

 

House passes Krajewski bill to protect benefits for foster youth in Pa.

(Sep 28, 2026) Rep. Rick Krajewski

HARRISBURG, Sept. 28 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by state Reps. Rick Krajewski and Sheryl Delozier that would end the practice of intercepting public benefits intended for foster youth .? ? The bill (H.B. 151) would prevent Pennsylvania agencies from intercepting the Social Security benefits foster youth receive, such as survivor benefits, and instead require those?benefits to be conserved in a savings account for when a foster youth exits care. The federal Office of Administration for Children and Families in December demanded that states no longer intercept benefits, and 10 states have already worked to prohibit it. “What makes up a fraction of our state’s spending could make?a huge difference?in the lives of foster youth, who often face high rates of homelessness, addiction and depression,” said Krajewski, D-Phila., the lead sponsor of the bill.?“This is about fairness and the protection of our kids. Just as other foster children do not pay for their own costs of care or other county services, children who receive public benefits shouldn’t either. We must?do what’s right for the future of these children.”?? “These are funds?that?for many could?mean the difference between homelessness and stable housing, between?needing to work multiple jobs and having time?to attend?college, between?lacking healthcare and?receiving?necessary Read more

 

Briggs bill to support crime victims, families and communities through prison work programs passes House

(Sep 28, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, Sept. 28 – State Rep. Tim Briggs announced today that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed legislation that would establish a framework for a program that can benefit crime victims, families, communities and correctional facilities while helping reduce recidivism. House Bill 2154 would create a prison work program that connects Pennsylvania businesses with correctional facilities, with the goal of providing incarcerated individuals opportunities to work, learn skills and earn a paycheck. “This is about creating a program that can help crime victims receive restitution more quickly, support families, make our correctional facilities safer and reduce recidivism,” Briggs said. “It can strengthen our communities while helping people return home better prepared to become productive, taxpaying members of society.” Participants would gain work experience and training while earning a local prevailing wage. Their earnings could help pay restitution, court fines and fees, child support and support for their families. By developing job skills and positive work habits before returning home, participants can be better prepared to find and keep a job and less likely to return to prison. Making payments toward restitution while incarcerated also can help individuals meet their obligations to victims and provide victims with payments sooner. The legislation also includes Read more

 

Public hearing held on Ciresi’s bill to keep AI chatbots out of toys

(Sep 28, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, Sept. 28 – The Pennsylvania House Communications & Technology Committee held a public hearing today on state Rep. Joe Ciresi’s H.B. 2637 that would bar manufacturing, distributing, selling or leasing a children’s toy with a generative AI chatbot in Pennsylvania for three years. “There is too much that we don’t know yet about the effects of AI companions on children, but the early warning signs are severe,” Ciresi said. “The toys that we’ve already seen on the market have been found to say things that could put children in danger, produce sexually explicit outputs, and violate the privacy of children and their families with irresponsible data collection and storage practices - without even getting into the long-term effects on child development. The risks are too high to treat our children as test subjects for this developing technology.” The committee heard from subject matter experts supporting and challenging the legislation. Supporters of the bill included: Dr. Mitch Prinstein, John Van Seters distinguished professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and co-director of the Winston Center on Technology and Brain Development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Dana Suskind, professor of surgery and pediatrics and founder and co-director of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health, University of Chicago. Rachel Franz, Young Read more

 

Transportation, Agricultural, Community Development and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Sep 25, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Grant opportunities available! Read more

 

House Judiciary Committee advances package of public-safety bills

(Sep 25, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, Sept. 24 – State Rep. Tim Briggs, chair of the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee, announced that the committee approved a package of legislation addressing child protection, probation, election administration, human trafficking and animal testing. "Whether it means better protecting children, putting trafficking victims first or helping ensure voters can cast a ballot without intimidation, these bills address real concerns facing Pennsylvanians," Briggs said. "They are practical proposals to make our laws work better for the people they serve." The bills approved by the committee include: House Bill 1097 , sponsored by state Rep. Perry Warren, would ban live pigeon shoots in Pennsylvania. The bill would remove the current exception that allows these events under Pennsylvania's animal cruelty laws. House Bill 2699 , sponsored by state Reps. Liz Hanbidge and Jonathan Fritz, would add more required members to teams that review child deaths and near-fatalities involving suspected abuse, including county child-welfare staff, health care professionals, law enforcement representatives and a Department of Human Services representative. It also would let teams bring in people who knew the child or family, as well as other experts who can help explain what happened and how future tragedies might be prevented. "Protecting children requires more than responding Read more

 

House Judiciary Committee approves voter intimidation protection bill

(Sep 24, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Today, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee reported out House Bill 2758, introduced by state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and co-sponsored by state Reps. Chris Pielli, Liz Hanbidge, Paul Friel, and Perry Warren. The bill would amend Pennsylvania’s Election Code to clarify and make explicit that law enforcement officers are prohibited from being within 100 feet of a polling location on Election Day. “The statements and actions from the current federal administration have unfortunately necessitated us clarifying a nearly centuries old commonsense prohibition on law enforcement presence on Election Day,” Kenyatta said. “Our legislation is intended to do two things. First, to ensure that every Pennsylvanian understands that our elections will be free and fair and that they can vote without fear. Second, to make abundantly clear to any federal agent that may be confused that you cannot operate with impunity in Pennsylvania. Our law provides no wiggle room and will be enforced in the commonwealth.” If passed by the General Assembly, Pennsylvania would be the 29th state with similar voter protection laws. “The hour is upon us, and the choice is clear that we legislators must once again heed that sacred oath we took to support, obey and defend our constitution and all the processes it entails to include the administration of free and fair elections,” Pielli said. “As President Roosevelt once said, ‘The only thing we have Read more

 

Lawmakers examine benefits of additional school funding

(Sep 23, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

“When we invest in our public schools, students win and our communities win,” said Prokopiak, who represents portions of Bucks County, including Morrisville. “More dollars mean smaller school sizes and more resources for greater academic and mental health support – something that’s not possible when schools are underfunded.” Read more

 

Grant Memo: Transportation, Agricultural, Community Development and Additional Grant Opportunities for your District

(Sep 23, 2026) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Grant Memo: Transportation, Agricultural, Community Development and Additional Grant Opportunities for your District Read more

 

Salisbury bill to help smaller community groups get security grants advances from committee
Sep 30, 2026

Pielli and Fiedler bill to end excess utility profits advances out of state House Energy Committee
Sep 30, 2026

House Democratic Leadership statement on Rep. Bernstine's behavior
Sep 30, 2026

Pa. House OKs Haddock measure affirming state’s right to regulate AI
Sep 30, 2026

Menopause awareness takes on a new meaning in PA
Sep 29, 2026

Pa. House advances Friel Otten bill to establish public-interest standard for utility decisions
Sep 29, 2026

Abney bill to help child welfare providers manage insurance costs passes House
Sep 29, 2026

House passes Alyssa’s Law to get panic alarms installed into schools
Sep 29, 2026

Pielli’s data center regulation bill unanimously adopted in House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee
Sep 29, 2026

Salisbury to host fourth annual Nonprofit Symposium on Oct. 15
Sep 29, 2026

Kosierowski bill to cover fertility preservation for cancer patients passes PA House
Sep 28, 2026

Shusterman’s AI chatbot safety bill approved by House
Sep 28, 2026

House passes Krajewski bill to protect benefits for foster youth in Pa.
Sep 28, 2026

Briggs bill to support crime victims, families and communities through prison work programs passes House
Sep 28, 2026

Public hearing held on Ciresi’s bill to keep AI chatbots out of toys
Sep 28, 2026

Transportation, Agricultural, Community Development and Additional Grant Opportunities
Sep 25, 2026

House Judiciary Committee advances package of public-safety bills
Sep 25, 2026

House Judiciary Committee approves voter intimidation protection bill
Sep 24, 2026

Lawmakers examine benefits of additional school funding
Sep 23, 2026

Grant Memo: Transportation, Agricultural, Community Development and Additional Grant Opportunities for your District
Sep 23, 2026