Thursday night, the SEPTA board had to approve a budget that includes the catastrophic service cuts that all of us here in the Philadelphia region are dreading. Read more
“I am beyond proud that these two bills have made it to the finish line,” he said. “So many of my colleagues in the House and Senate provided crucial feedback to ensure bi-partisan support for these bills. I wish to thank everyone who was a part of the legislative process and of course, I wish to thank Governor Shapiro for his approval and signature.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) Firearm Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention Initiative Who May Apply: Units of local government, nonprofit organizations (including community-based and statewide organizations), institutions of higher education, and state government agencies. Use: To support programming that focuses on firearm-related suicide prevention. Funds: A total of $1 million in federal 2024 Byrne SCIP funds in available. PCCD expects to fund 4 to 6 grants over a 21-month period. Application Deadline: September 9, 2025 More information: PCCD Website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Community and Economic Development: PA SITES Who May Apply: Municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities, industrial development agencies, and for-profit organizations. Use: To develop competitive sites for businesses to relocate or expand within Pennsylvania. Funds: $400 million in funding is available. Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and approved on a quarterly basis More information: DCED Website Department of Community and Economic Development: Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant Who May Apply: Technical and trade schools, school districts, post-secondary academic Read more
HARRISBURG, June 23 – The PA House today approved bipartisan legislation sponsored by state Rep. Tarik Khan, D-Phila., and co-sponsored by state Rep. Jeremy Shaffer, R-Allegheny, to forbid the fraudulent misrepresentation of a candidate in a Pennsylvania election with generative artificial intelligence, or GenAI. Khan introduced H.B. 811 after AI was used to misrepresent candidates in elections across the country in 2024. Deepfake pictures, audios, and videos were used to trick voters thanks to rapid increases in GenAI. “We have a duty in the commonwealth to protect our elections from bad actors,” Khan said. “I am proud to reach across the aisle to create this bipartisan bill with Representative Shaffer. I believe it’s a strong first step in protecting the public from deceptive election ad deepfakes.” The bill would create civil penalties for the dissemination of a campaign advertisement containing an artificially generated impersonation of a candidate without consent and with the intent to unduly influence the outcome of an election in Pennsylvania. “All voters must have confidence in elections,” Shaffer said. “This piece of legislation is a proactive approach to help protect our electoral system. Currently, there are limited laws regulating the use of artificial intelligence. The integrity of our elections is foundational to our government, and Read more
“Veterans have served all of the United States, not just one state. Their ability to enjoy the great outdoors should be enjoyed nationally with as little hindrance as possible,” said Pielli, who is an Army veteran. Read more
While we hunker down in Harrisburg to prepare for a long week of budget negotiations, there is some good news to share at the start of this arduous process! Read more
Pielli, a former township supervisor, told Spotlight PA that his proposal has the support of local fire and EMS agencies. He said that funding is only one aspect of the crisis facing public safety services and that additional actions in Harrisburg, like tax breaks for first responders, should be considered. Read more
Hi Folks,These last few days have been extremely stressful for many of us as we have navigated between the horrific political assassinations and assaults of Minnesota elected officials and their family members followed by the near tragedy of a heavily armed man arrested at the recent “No Kings” rally, who was later arrested for a second time due to his possession of numerous explosive devices. Read more
“As a former correctional officer and counselor, I have seen the devastating result these barriers can produce with incarceration,” Pielli said. “Later, as a past criminal defense attorney, I represented clients in Drug Court, Veterans Court, and Mental Health Court. I noticed the unique challenges and roadblocks that mothers, especially single moms, face during their recovery, as well as the failure of our court system to implement a meaningful treatment court option for these individuals. Read more
“As a former court-appointed guardianship attorney, I saw clients who lost their homes as a result of unpaid property taxes,” Pielli said. “Too often, these were individuals with cognitive impairment or those who were otherwise incapacitated and could not pay tax bills without assistance. Read more
“While going through countless surgeries and chemotherapy due to his lung cancer, Major Star learned that he would not concurrently receive his retirement and disability pay through the Department of Defense,” Pielli said. “This is an injustice that requires attention. For these reasons and more, I’ve reintroduced House Resolution 234 to urge Congress to support and pass the Major Richard Star Act, and am glad it was again reported out of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee with unanimous support. The United States owes a debt to its former service members, one that should not be dismissed based on costs.” Read more
Below are multiple grant programs that are currently open for applications. NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Transportation: School Bus Safety Grant Program Who May Apply: Independent school bus contractors, school entities, and municipalities Use: To promote and increase school bus safety, education, and training, as well as pay for education, training, and other associated costs related to an individual earning their commercial learner's permit, commercial driver's license, or school bus endorsement for the purpose of driving a school bus in Pennsylvania. Funds: $1.2 million in funds are available through the School Bus Safety Grant Program. Grant awards will not exceed $100,000. Application Deadline: July 3, 2025 More information: PennDOT website Department of Environmental Protection: Pennsylvania Grid Resilience Grant Program Who May Apply: An electric grid operator, an electricity storage operator, an electricity generator, a transmission owner or operator, a distribution provider, a fuel supplier, and any other relevant entity, as determined by DEP in consultation with DOE. Use: To implement resilience measures throughout PA intended to mitigate the impact of electric grid disruptive events. Funds: $8 million in grant awards is available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Application Deadline: Concept Paper submission availability will close at Read more
Hi Folks, We hope this May edition of District Deliberations finds you all doing well. It was an unknown author who once wrote, “May is the month of expectation, the month of wishes, the month of hope.” As we prepare ourselves for another round of June budget negotiations, these words seem more than appropriate. Budget season is always an uncertain time in Harrisburg. And now, with severe DOGE cuts and the proposed federal budget, the uncertainty is unprecedented. In truth, we will come upon a hard-fought compromise for our State budget. We always do. Yet, it may all be for naught if some of our pre-approved Congressional funding remains in the president’s grasp and if the proposed federal cuts in the “Big, Beautiful Bill” become a reality. The truth is, we can’t make up the difference in Medicaid and SNAP spending if the proposed “Big Beautiful Bill” passes. These and other cuts will adversely affect millions of our fellow Pennsylvanians and the impact will be felt for years to come. Read more
“Our Fire and EMS companies need modern equipment to save lives,” Pielli said. “They cannot afford to make do with aging equipment when the wellbeing of our neighbors is on the line. I want to thank the Office of the State Fire Commissioner for providing Good Fellowship Ambulance the necessary funds to acquire three new ambulances so they may continue their great work in keeping the people of Chester County safe.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: PACTT (Pennsylvania Academic and Career/Technical Training) Grant Who May Apply: All residential facilities, community-based, and/or juvenile probation office providers that are not currently PACTT Affiliates and serve primarily adjudicated delinquent youth. Use: Applicants must ensure that the proposed program and associated expenses directly align with the PACTT affiliation areas (Academics, Job Skills Training, or Work-Related Services) the agency intends to pursue Funds: A total of $160,000 in state JRI funds is being announced to support this initiative among residential facilities, community-based providers, and juvenile probation departments. PCCD expects to fund eight grants with budgets not to exceed $20,000 over a 12-month project period. Application Deadline: July 7, 2025 More information: PCCD Website Department of Agriculture: Farm Vitality Planning Grant Program Who May Apply: Farmers, prospective farmers, and others Use: Create or obtain business plans, management strategies, transition plans, ownership plans, or plans to maintain the long-term economic viability of a farm. Funds: Up to $500,000 is available in grant funding. Individual grants shall not exceed $15,000. Application Deadline: Applications are accepted until funds are exhausted. More information: PDA Website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR Read more
“Our schools are great places to implement clean energy,” Pielli said. “They sit in open spaces and receive plenty of sunshine. By putting in solar panels at East Bradford Elementary, we harness energy from the sun to help that school become energy-independent, lower our carbon footprint, and save taxpayer dollars. It is a win-win scenario for everyone” Read more
“Funding struggles can result in staffing shortages and increased response times, which can make the difference between life and death. This legislation is a simple but important step in increasing funding opportunities for our first responders,” he said. “With this funding, our first responders can increase staffing and upgrade equipment. This option should also be extended to all townships of the second class.” Read more
“We tell our children not to trust strangers. We tell our children what they should do when a stranger approaches them. But we also tell our children that you CAN trust your teacher. You CAN trust a police officer,” Pielli said. “How can we allow adults who break that sacred trust to then benefit from institutional leniencies they do not deserve? This legislation, as amended, allowing for sentencing enhancements for a perpetrator in a position of authority, is a step in the right direction.” Read more
“Over a decade ago, Pennsylvania launched the Medical Officer and Health Officer Incentive Program to provide additional financial incentives for skilled medical professionals to enlist in the Pennsylvania National Guard,” Pielli said. “In the time since Act 78 of 2014, this program has proven to be a meaningful tool, bringing highly qualified health professionals into our forces. Read more
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