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Sign the Petition - One Million Signatures to Raise the Minimum Wage in Pennsylvania

Community and Economic Development, Transportation Safety, Fresh Food and Additional Grant Opportunities

(25 minutes ago)

New state grant programs accepting applications Read more

 

House Dems Pass 300+ Bills; Community Events; Public Transit Updates; and more

(Mar 27, 2026)

Read my email update from March 27, 2026 Read more

 

Pa. House passes bill to raise minimum wage to $15 by 2029

(Mar 25, 2026)

For the third time in four years, the state House has passed a bill to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage. The latest measure, which was approved on a mostly partisan 104-95 vote, would see the current minimum wage of $7.25 an hour rise gradually to $15 an hour in 2029.Another bill introduced in the House, introduced by Reps. Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) and Roni Green (D-Philadelphia), would tie the minimum wage to a cost of living increase received by lawmakers in Harrisburg.Already, Pennsylvania lawmakers receive an annual, automatic cost of living increase. Currently, rank and file lawmakers make $113,000 per year. That puts Pennsylvania’s legislature among the highest paid in the country.Kinkead and Green’s bill would annually raise the minimum wage by the same relative amount as lawmakers’ salaries.“It is shameful that state lawmakers have seen a more than 45% salary increase over the last 17 years while the minimum wage has remained unchanged,” Kinkead said in a statement. “Taxpayers are funding annual raises for elected officials. Those same taxpayers deserve to see their wages grow as well.” Read more

 

Bill would tie Pennsylvania lawmakers’ salaries to minimum wage

(Mar 25, 2026)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Each year, no matter what they’ve accomplished in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania lawmakers get a raise.State law has required a yearly increase since 1995 as a way to prevent lawmakers from enriching themselves. The increase is based on an annual cost-of-living-adjustment that matches the federal consumer inflation figure for mid-Atlantic urban areas.Last year, that meant a 3.25% increase — making the $113,500 annual salary the highest in the nation for full-time lawmakers.Pennsylvania’s minimum wage, which has sat at $7.25 since 2009, is the lowest in the nation.Rep. Emilky Kinkead (D-Allegheny) and Rep. G. Roni Green (D-Philadelphia) want to change that by tying lawmakers’ salaries to the state’s lowest-paid workers. The two proposed a bill this week that would require the state’s minimum wage to rise at the same rate as salaries in the General Assembly. Read more

 

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

(Mar 24, 2026)

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

 

Sign the Petition - One Million Signatures to Raise the Minimum Wage in Pennsylvania

(Mar 23, 2026)

One Million Signature to Raise the Wage in PA Read more

 

Working People Deserve a Raise; My Minimum Wage Bill; Agriculture Literacy; and more

(Mar 20, 2026)

Read my email update from March 20, 2026 Read more

 

Legislators congratulate Wyomissing dispensary on reaching labor agreement

(Mar 19, 2026)

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

 

Good Samaritan Protections; Bills for Equal Rights Advance; Budget Hearings Wrap Up; and More

(Mar 16, 2026)

Read my email update from March 13, 2026 Read more

 

Good Samaritan protections in Pennsylvania need to be improved, testifiers say

(Mar 11, 2026)

after finding an incapacitated student and calling for help, the House Majority Policy Committee met in Harrisburg Wednesday to discuss legislation that will focus on bolstering legal protection for good Samaritans. Read more

 

Women’s History Month; My Office is Hiring; News from the State Capitol; and more...

(Mar 06, 2026)

Read my email update from March 6, 2026 Read more

 

Grant Memo: School Bus Safety, Recreation Facilities, Recycling, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Mar 05, 2026)

New state grant programs accepting applications Read more

 

Budget Hearings Begin; Minimum Wage Listening Session; Disability & Mental Health Summit; and more

(Mar 02, 2026)

Read my email update from February 28, 2026 Read more

 

Violence Prevention, Recreation Facilities, Mental Health, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Feb 24, 2026)

State grant programs now accepting applications Read more

 

$239,000 for First Responders; Election Deadlines; Job Resources; and more

(Feb 20, 2026)

The May 19 Primary Election will be here before you know it. If you want to cast a ballot, there are less than 75 days left to register to vote or update your voter registration! I encourage every eligible voter to participate. Read more

 

Kinkead announces over $239,000 for local fire and EMS companies

(Feb 19, 2026)

State grant funding approved for first responders Read more

 

Grant Memo: Transportation, Parks, Pedestrian Safety, School Mental Health, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Feb 10, 2026)

New State Grant Programs Accepting Applications Read more

 

House passes Davidson, Kinkead bill to strengthen Protection from Abuse Orders

(Feb 05, 2026)

Legislation increasing accountability for PFA violations advances to Senate Read more

 

Transportation, Public Schools, Public Safety, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Feb 02, 2026)

New state grant funding opportunities Read more

 

Kinkead celebrates $2.5 million for local infrastructure

(Jan 22, 2026)

State grants fund road improvements, sewer upgrades Read more

 

Community and Economic Development, Transportation Safety, Fresh Food and Additional Grant Opportunities
25 minutes ago

House Dems Pass 300+ Bills; Community Events; Public Transit Updates; and more
Mar 27, 2026

Pa. House passes bill to raise minimum wage to $15 by 2029
Mar 25, 2026

Bill would tie Pennsylvania lawmakers’ salaries to minimum wage
Mar 25, 2026

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

Sign the Petition - One Million Signatures to Raise the Minimum Wage in Pennsylvania
Mar 23, 2026

Working People Deserve a Raise; My Minimum Wage Bill; Agriculture Literacy; and more
Mar 20, 2026

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

Good Samaritan Protections; Bills for Equal Rights Advance; Budget Hearings Wrap Up; and More
Mar 16, 2026

Good Samaritan protections in Pennsylvania need to be improved, testifiers say
Mar 11, 2026

Women’s History Month; My Office is Hiring; News from the State Capitol; and more...
Mar 06, 2026

Grant Memo: School Bus Safety, Recreation Facilities, Recycling, and Additional Grant Opportunities
Mar 05, 2026

Budget Hearings Begin; Minimum Wage Listening Session; Disability & Mental Health Summit; and more
Mar 02, 2026

Violence Prevention, Recreation Facilities, Mental Health, and Additional Grant Opportunities
Feb 24, 2026

$239,000 for First Responders; Election Deadlines; Job Resources; and more
Feb 20, 2026

Kinkead announces over $239,000 for local fire and EMS companies
Feb 19, 2026

Grant Memo: Transportation, Parks, Pedestrian Safety, School Mental Health, and Additional Grant Opportunities
Feb 10, 2026

House passes Davidson, Kinkead bill to strengthen Protection from Abuse Orders
Feb 05, 2026

Transportation, Public Schools, Public Safety, and Additional Grant Opportunities
Feb 02, 2026

Kinkead celebrates $2.5 million for local infrastructure
Jan 22, 2026