HARRISBURG, Oct. 5 – The House Communications & Technology Committee today advanced a Senate bill that would require the disclosure of content generated or substantially modified by artificial intelligence, or AI, when used to sell consumer goods. Read more

HARRISBURG, Oct. 5 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, last week introduced H.B. 2821 , which would give residents a say in whether high-impact data centers are approved in their communities. “Data centers can have substantial impacts on local infrastructure, electricity demand and water resources,” Ciresi said. “Pennsylvania residents should be able to have a meaningful opportunity to decide whether a large-scale data center development would be appropriate for their community.” The bill would amend the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to require municipalities to put the approval of a proposed high impact data center before voters in a local referendum. To make sure voters are informed, a detailed description of the development would appear on the ballot before the referendum question. “This measure would increase transparency, strengthen local decision-making, and give communities a direct voice in determining whether high impact data center developments are appropriate for their municipality,” Ciresi said. Read more

"These officers work to serve their community every day, and everyone benefits when we have a clear record of those encounters,” said Malagari. “I was proud to secure this funding, and I thank Chief Martin and Township Manager Hammer for their work on the application.” Read more

Highmark Mann Center has been awarded a $250,000 state grant for operational support for its educational and cultural programming. Read more

Bipartisan legislation that would require coroners to investigate and report cases of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, or SUDEP, was unanimously approved (49-0) today by the Pennsylvania Senate, state Rep. Lisa Borowski, D-Delaware, announced. Read more

HARRISBURG, Sept. 30 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, introduced legislation last week that would require clear toll-rate signage on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. “Currently, motorists on the Pennsylvania Turnpike have no information about what their tolls will cost while they’re driving,” Ciresi said. “My legislation would ensure that motorists have clear, readily visible information about the toll they will be charged.” Ciresi noted that tolls are determined by vehicle classification, including axle count and, for certain tolls, vehicle height. House Bill 2794 was referred to the state House Transportation Committee. Read more

HARRISBURG, Sept. 30 – The House Communications & Technology Committee today approved three measures out of committee, including legislation regarding the use of disclosure of AI content, video streaming and driverless vehicles, Majority Chair Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, announced. “The legislation the committee approved today will help protect consumers from misinformation by AI-generated content and from disturbingly loud advertisements on streaming services,” Ciresi said. “We’ve also advanced a resolution to help prepare Pennsylvania for the potential impact of driverless vehicles and personal delivery devices on safety and jobs.” The legislation approved during today’s committee meeting were: House Bill 2534 (Ortitay, Ciresi) – Provides for AI disclosure by requiring providers of generative AI platforms to embed provenance metadata to track content created or modified by AI and offer AI detection tools, and requires large online platforms to detect and disclose AI-generated or modified content based on available provenance data. House Bill 2790 (Fiedler, Shaffer) – Prohibits video streaming services from transmitting commercial advertisements at a volume louder than their accompanying video content. House Resolution 563 (Waxman) – Directs the Joint State Government Commission to study the potential impact of driverless vehicles and personal delivery devices on Read more

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