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With Pittsburgh's Powell as co-chair, Housing Caucus seeks affordability, zoning reform

(Mar 25, 2025) Rep. Lindsay Powell

Pittsburgh state House member Lindsay Powell on Monday launched a bipartisan pro-housing caucus in Harrisburg, with aims of lowering home costs by creating more residential units across the state. Read more

 

Powell, Twardzik, and fellow legislators launch PA Housing Caucus

(Mar 25, 2025) Rep. Lindsay Powell

HARRISBURG, March 25 – State Reps. Lindsay Powell and Tim Twardzik joined a bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers at the state Capitol Monday to launch the Pennsylvania Housing Caucus. Powell said the caucus has three main initiatives for housing in PA: Producing more housing to meet demand by alleviating zoning burdens, ensuring permits do not slow down development, investing in new and affordable housing options, and enabling state funding for land banks and land trusts. Preserving existing housing by increasing repair funding for senior homeowners, offering flexible loans for small landlords, and keeping existing subsidies with properties. Protecting Pennsylvanians’ access to housing by preventing institutional investors from purchasing houses on the market and increasing funds and resources for eviction assistance and first-time homeowners. “Without stable housing, everything else, no matter how well designed, rests on a shaky foundation. That foundation, in many parts of the Commonwealth, is showing cracks, cracks that too many of our neighbors are falling through,” Powell, D-Allegheny, said. “Let’s do what Pennsylvanians sent us here to do – let’s listen, let’s compromise and, most importantly, let’s act.” “Housing is not a partisan issue – it’s a fundamental need. This caucus is committed to finding real solutions that work for all Read more

 

House approves measure to double penalties for child labor law violations

(Mar 25, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Today, the PA House of Representatives approved legislation introduced by state Rep. Regina Young, D-Phila./Delaware, that would increase the fines for violations of the state child labor law. As state legislatures nationwide are weakening their child labor laws, H.B. 118 would ensure that Pennsylvania employers are held accountable for exploiting children by doubling the penalties for a first offense to $1,000, and $3,000 for each subsequent offense. “Our highest duty as legislators should be to protect our most vulnerable people who are unable to protect themselves, especially our children,” said Young following the vote. “Child labor violations are still too common in our state, with too many employers chalking it up to ‘the cost of doing business.’ That is straight up exploitation and unacceptable as we should work to guide and mentor our young people toward gainful employment. These fines have remained unchanged for over a decade as violations increase, so it’s clear they are an insufficient disincentive. Exploitation of children in any circumstance should be abhorrent to all Pennsylvanians. I’m hopeful that these doubled penalties will act as a stronger deterrent to the illegal employment of Pennsylvania’s children.” The bill was approved in the House by a 117-85 vote and now heads to the state Senate for its consideration. The 185th Legislative District is comprised of communities in South and Southwest Philadelphia, along with Tinicum Township and Colwyn Borough... Read more

 

O'Mara bill advances, expanding photo ID access for Pennsylvanians with disabilities and active-duty military families

(Mar 24, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

“House Bill 410 eases the burden of renewal for those with persistent health conditions and military families, allowing them to maintain their licenses or IDs from home and continue their daily lives without interruption,” O'Mara said. Read more

 

Venkat, Friel, Kosierowski, and Mehaffie introduce bipartisan legislation to hold health insurers accountable for denying reimbursement claims

(Mar 24, 2025) Rep. Arvind Venkat, Rep. Paul Friel, Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

HARRISBURG, March 24 – State Reps. Arvind Venkat, Paul Friel, Bridget M. Kosierowski and Tom Mehaffie have introduced a bipartisan bill that would hold health insurance companies accountable if they systematically fail to reimburse Pennsylvanians receiving medically necessary care. The legislation ( H.B. 966 ) would require health insurers to issue a public report on the frequency of rejected claims that are overturned on appeal and pay escalating fines if more than 50% of their claim denials are overturned on appeal. “A denial rate of over 50% suggests a disturbing pattern of systematically denying coverage for medically necessary care. Not only that, these entities are assuming Commonwealth residents will be deterred by the mountain of red tape necessary to file an appeal,” Venkat, D-Allegheny, said. “Collaborating with bipartisan colleagues on this legislation means more than holding insurers accountable. As an emergency physician, it’s my duty to help patients across the state receive coverage for which they have already paid to maintain and improve their health and well-being.” “An increasing number of people are aware that they can challenge denied health care claims through their insurer and, if necessary, the Insurance Department. However, the appeals process can be lengthy and complex, leading many to forgo it due to the administrative burden involved,” Friel, D-Chester, added. “The potential for Read more

 

Schweyer responds to executive order to gut U.S. Dept. of Education

(Mar 20, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

We’ve spent a lot of time undoing the mistakes and malice of the Trump administration already, and we’re ready to continue the work of fighting for every kid in every school and for every taxpayer here in Pennsylvania. Read more

 

Smith-Wade-El, legislators hold news conference to highlight reintroduction of legislation to create Office of New Pennsylvanians

(Mar 20, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, March 20 – In the face of the Trump administration’s vilification of immigrants and unlawful deportations of immigrants , state Reps. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, Joe Hohenstein, D-Phila., and Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, D-Berks, held a news conference on Wednesday to highlight the reintroduction of their legislation to create an Office of New Pennsylvanians to support, attract and retain immigrants in the commonwealth. “Pennsylvania welcomed William Penn from religious persecution in the 17 th century, Blacks fleeing slavery in the 19 th century, and today Afghans, Bhutanese, Ukrainians and others that are fleeing persecution, ethnic cleansing and war,” Smith-Wade-El said. “Instead of keeping to its values, Pennsylvania is scapegoating immigrant communities with punitive policies that are driving them out of the state. “Economically, we can’t afford to lose them as they make up over 8% of our state’s workforce and pay $3.3 billion yearly in state and local taxes. As our population ages and many residents leave our state for other opportunities, we need skilled workers, entrepreneurs, consumers and community leaders to make sure that Pennsylvania continues to grow and thrive economically, culturally and socially and retains its electoral power at the federal level. But even more than that, we can’t afford to betray the values on which our commonwealth was founded. Read more

 

Bizzarro, Policy Committee examine sustainable long-term care

(Mar 19, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

“Pennsylvania must fix its aging services care in order to protect our older population,” said Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, who represents portions of Erie County. “My bill would update legislation that was originally intended to be a one-year fix to the growing nursing home costs about 20 years ago. It would update an antiquated system that only five states in the nation continue to use.” Read more

 

Bipartisan bill to attract health care workers to rural PA passes House

(Mar 19, 2025) Rep. Dan B. Frankel

HARRISBURG, March 19 – Republican and Democratic chairs of the House Health Committee Kathy Rapp and Dan Frankel joined forces Wednesday to celebrate the passage of legislation aimed at reducing health care disparities in rural areas by providing grants to health care facilities for the payment of health care workers’ education debt. “Our rural health care providers are in crisis, facing persistent shortages that make it harder for Pennsylvanians to get the care they need,” said Rapp, R-Crawford/Forest/Warren. “This bill is a common-sense solution that benefits both medical professionals and the communities they serve. By easing the financial burden on providers, we can encourage more of them to bring their skills to rural areas, ensuring better access to quality care.” The bill, H.B. 157 , sponsored by Rapp and Frankel, received unanimous approval by the committee on Feb 5, 2025. “When hospitals and clinics in rural areas can’t hire enough health care workers, entire communities suffer,” said Frankel, D-Allegheny. "Patients shouldn’t have to drive long distances just to see a doctor or receive emergency care. This bill prioritizes the people who make health care possible – our frontline providers – so they can continue serving the communities that need them most.” Eligibility for the Rural Health Care Grant Program Under the proposal, Read more

 

House OKs Neilson resolution to honor transit workers

(Mar 19, 2025) Rep. Ed Neilson

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today adopted a resolution recognizing March 18 as National Transit Worker Appreciation Day in Pennsylvania, according to author House Transportation Committee Chair Rep. Ed Neilson. Read more

 

House adopts Matzie resolution celebrating PA’s natural gas utility workers

(Mar 19, 2025) Rep. Robert F. Matzie

HARRISBURG, March 19 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today adopted a resolution introduced by state Rep. Rob Matzie honoring the work of the commonwealth’s natural gas utility workers. Matzie, who is chairman of the House majority caucus, said he introduced H.R. 85 – designating March 18, 2025, as “Natural Gas Utility Worker Appreciation Day” in Pennsylvania – to recognize these employees for the labor-intensive, often-hazardous work they perform and the essential role they play on behalf of residents and businesses. “Natural gas utility workers are first responders, technicians, heavy equipment operators, construction workers, safety investigators and troubleshooters all rolled into one,” Matzie said. “They go out in all hours and all weather – often to work amidst noise, fumes and other hazardous conditions – to safely maintain our vast natural gas infrastructure. “They keep our houses warm, our showers hot, our gas stoves cooking and our gas-powered businesses running smoothly. Thanks to their efforts, we have a safe, abundant supply of cleaner energy and the peace of mind that goes with knowing that there are dedicated, safety-minded workers on the job 24/7. I’m grateful for the work they do.” Natural Gas Utility Workers Day is recognized nationally on March 18 because this is the anniversary of the New London, Texas, Read more

 

Kenyatta calls for heightened protections for municipal workers

(Mar 19, 2025) Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta

“Every person deserves to be safe on the job, particularly the public workers that do the critical work of keeping the water running in our homes, making sure our electricity is on, keeping our kids safe when they walk to school and more,” Kenyatta said. “There is a constant threat that is hanging over the heads of these public workers as they do their jobs. It’s time to give them the protections they need and deserve.” Read more

 

Nelson Introduces Bill to Protect PA from Foreign AI

(Mar 19, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, March 19 – State Rep. Napoleon Nelson is spearheading a bipartisan initiative to safeguard Pennsylvania’s government systems from the risks posed by foreign adversary-controlled artificial intelligence and is circulating a co-sponsorship memorandum for legislation that would protect state data and information technology infrastructure from these growing threats. Artificial intelligence platforms have proven effective in numerous public and private sector applications, often relying on vast amounts of proprietary data to optimize decision-making, enhance operational efficiency, and facilitate complex processes. However, when these AI platforms are developed and controlled by foreign adversaries, such data becomes a potential weapon in the hands of those who seek to exploit it for malicious purposes. Contracts, financial records, and personal or corporate documents used by state agencies could be manipulated, contributing to harmful disinformation, unauthorized data collection, and the compromise of both commonwealth and national security. “Securing the integrity of Pennsylvania’s data is critical,” said Nelson, who serves on the House Communications and Technology Committee. “Allowing foreign adversary-controlled AI into our state-owned systems is a risk we cannot afford. This legislation will ensure that we protect sensitive information and technology infrastructure, safeguarding the privacy of Read more

 

House passes Borowski bill to simplify electronic prescription transfers between pharmacies & align with federal standards

(Mar 19, 2025) Rep. Lisa Borowski

The PA House unanimously passed Rep. Lisa Borowski's legislation that would simplify prescription transfers between pharmacies and align PA law with federal regulations, saving time and money for patients, doctors, and pharmacies. Read more

 

Guzman secures $106,334 in LSA grants for one local project

(Mar 18, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

READING, March 18 – State Rep. Manuel Guzman, D-Berks, today announced that a local project will benefit from a $106,334 state Local Share Account grant. The funds will be used for the purchase of a backhoe loader to be utilized throughout Shillington Borough. The grant was awarded to: Shillington Borough. - $106,324 for the purchase of a backhoe loader to assist with work on the borough's existing water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer systems along with other road maintenance tasks. “ This backhoe loader will improve work efficiency . I am glad to welcome this funding for Shillington Borough that will help address a critical need, and I will certainly continue fighting for other necessary funds for the community.” Read more

 

House passes Conklin bill to allow agents at the Office of State Inspector General to carry weapons

(Mar 18, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, March 18 – The Pennsylvania House today passed state Rep. Scott Conklin’s bill that would authorize agents at the Office of State Inspector General to arm themselves for protection on the job. Conklin said he introduced H.B. 36 to address a flaw in existing state law that leaves these officers – the only law enforcement officers in Pennsylvania not permitted to carry firearms while on duty – unable to properly defend themselves. “The Office of State Inspector General is a government watchdog agency that roots out fraud and other misconduct in state programs, and their agents are out there every day fighting bad actors, just like other law enforcement officers,” Conklin said. “Unlike other law enforcement, though, OSIG agents are not authorized to carry a weapon. They are investigating crimes and serving warrants – often facing dangerous situations – without the ability to protect themselves. It’s time to fix the law and ensure these officers have the same ability to defend themselves as their colleagues in other agencies.” Conklin said OSIG officers’ lack of authority to carry a weapon has other repercussions, as well. “Not only does it endanger these officers, but it forces them to rely on local law enforcement, which burdens local departments and creates delays that can allow conflicts to escalate, jeopardizing broader community Read more

 

House adopts Matzie resolution to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis

(Mar 18, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, March 18 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today adopted a resolution introduced by state Rep. Rob Matzie to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis. Matzie, who is chairman of the House majority caucus, said he introduced H.R. 31 – designating March 9-15, 2025, as “Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week” in Pennsylvania – to shed greater light on this central nervous system disease that affects nearly 1 million Americans. “This issue is personal to me because my father lived with MS,” Matzie said. “Early diagnosis is critical, even though we don’t yet have a cure, because timely treatment can delay the progression of the disease and improve long-term outcomes.” Matzie said MS occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath that coats and protects the nerve fibers in the central nervous system, leaving inflammation and scarring that disrupts the transmission of nerve signals. Symptoms vary from person to person but commonly include abnormal fatigue and weakness, vision problems, balance and coordination problems, muscle spasms, numbness or tingling, bladder and bowel problems, difficulty walking and cognitive and mood changes. Most people are diagnosed between ages 20 and 50, although the disease can occur in young children and older adults. Women are about three times more likely than men Read more

 

PA House Dems launch CARE Package for juvenile justice reform

(Mar 18, 2025) Rep. Emily Kinkead, Rep. Dan Miller

Bills proposed to protect children in the juvenile justice system, save taxpayer dollars Read more

 

House Insurance Committee approves bill to enshrine ACA protections into state law

(Mar 17, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, March 17 — In a pivotal moment for health insurance reform, the Pennsylvania House Insurance Committee, chaired by state Rep. Perry Warren, D-Bucks, reported out of committee four significant bills that safeguard health insurance in Pennsylvania in the event the federal government repeals protections of the Affordable Care Act. House Bill 404 , sponsored by Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, would allow parents to keep adult children on their health insurance plans until they turn 26. Before the Affordable Care Act became law, many kids turned 18 and were dropped from their parent’s insurance plan. Losing health insurance coverage led to many young health individuals leaving the health insurance market entirely. Because of the lack of healthy individuals to balance out the high-need policyholders, insurance premiums became unaffordable for many young people. “Ensuring young Pennsylvanians can stay on their parents’ health insurance plan until 26 will provide them with stability and peace of mind should the Republican Congressional majority repeal the Affordable Care Act,” Pashinski said. “That stability means they can begin pursuing their careers and building their lives without worrying about having the insurance needed to stay healthy and help in an emergency at a critical time in their lives.” House Bill 618 , sponsored by Rep. Jim Haddock, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne, would Read more

 

House passes PA CROWN Act to end hair discrimination

(Mar 17, 2025) Rep. La'Tasha D. Mayes, Rep. Joanna E. McClinton

Lawmakers cast strong bipartisan vote for Mayes, McClinton bill Read more

 

With Pittsburgh's Powell as co-chair, Housing Caucus seeks affordability, zoning reform
Mar 25, 2025

Powell, Twardzik, and fellow legislators launch PA Housing Caucus
Mar 25, 2025

House approves measure to double penalties for child labor law violations
Mar 25, 2025

O'Mara bill advances, expanding photo ID access for Pennsylvanians with disabilities and active-duty military families
Mar 24, 2025

Venkat, Friel, Kosierowski, and Mehaffie introduce bipartisan legislation to hold health insurers accountable for denying reimbursement claims
Mar 24, 2025

Schweyer responds to executive order to gut U.S. Dept. of Education
Mar 20, 2025

Smith-Wade-El, legislators hold news conference to highlight reintroduction of legislation to create Office of New Pennsylvanians
Mar 20, 2025

Bizzarro, Policy Committee examine sustainable long-term care
Mar 19, 2025

Bipartisan bill to attract health care workers to rural PA passes House
Mar 19, 2025

House OKs Neilson resolution to honor transit workers
Mar 19, 2025

House adopts Matzie resolution celebrating PA’s natural gas utility workers
Mar 19, 2025

Kenyatta calls for heightened protections for municipal workers
Mar 19, 2025

Nelson Introduces Bill to Protect PA from Foreign AI
Mar 19, 2025

House passes Borowski bill to simplify electronic prescription transfers between pharmacies & align with federal standards
Mar 19, 2025

Guzman secures $106,334 in LSA grants for one local project
Mar 18, 2025

House passes Conklin bill to allow agents at the Office of State Inspector General to carry weapons
Mar 18, 2025

House adopts Matzie resolution to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis
Mar 18, 2025

PA House Dems launch CARE Package for juvenile justice reform
Mar 18, 2025

House Insurance Committee approves bill to enshrine ACA protections into state law
Mar 17, 2025

House passes PA CROWN Act to end hair discrimination
Mar 17, 2025