HARRISBURG, July 14 – New guardrails regulating the use of food processing residuals are now law in Pennsylvania after being included in the newly passed state budget, establishing necessary oversight for commercial food waste that is disposed of on some farms. State Rep. Paul Friel, who advanced the proposal with bipartisan support, said that he was glad to see the General Assembly take action on a pervasive problem in the state. "For four years I've been working with stakeholders and with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers to pass protective legislation. The process was extensive and worthwhile, because it led us to legislation that could pass with wide support, be signed into law, and get the job done," said Friel, D-Chester. Food processing residuals, also known as FPR, are the leftover products created by commercial food processing. They can include vegetable peelings, raw meat scraps and liquid waste from cleaning processes that might contain blood, fat, hair, feathers, and a variety of other vegetable and animal byproducts, as well as chemicals used in processing. The results of spreading FPR on farmland have included noxious odors, air quality problems and contaminated drinking water. Surrounding states have heavily restricted or banned the use of these residuals, making Pennsylvania a target for the cheap disposal of this commercial waste stream. "By embedding these Read more

HARRISBURG, July 13– State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, celebrated the 2026-27 state budget ’s delivery on three key priorities he has long championed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives: increased education funding, charter school oversight and data center transparency. “I’m gratified that my long-standing advocacy for protections for cyber charter students and data center transparency has been reflected in this budget,” Ciresi said. “Together with historic investments in education, this budget will create a stronger future for our students and a safer, healthier environment for our communities.” The budget makes a $670 million investment statewide in education, which includes a $565 million increase to help rectify historic funding discrepancies and $50 million increases in both basic education and special education funding to ensure every student can succeed. Ciresi said school districts in the 146th Legislative District will benefit from significant funding increases totaling more than $3.5 million: Pottstown School District: $2.5 million (7.9% increase) Pottsgrove School District: $681,000 (4.6% increase) Spring-Ford Area School District: $347,000 (1.8% increase) “This budget will strengthen our schools, ensuring Pennsylvania’s children have access to the education they need to succeed in the 21st century,” Ciresi said. “I am especially pleased that the budget will Read more

HARRISBURG, July 13 – State Rep. Carol Kazeem, D-Delaware, celebrated the 2026-27 state budget’s historic investments in education and support for Pennsylvania’s working families. “Our students deserve a high-quality education, so they have the skills and knowledge to adapt and thrive in an increasingly competitive global workforce,” Kazeem said. “This budget will ensure that all Pennsylvania’s students have access to educational opportunities that will lay the foundation for life-long success.” The budget makes a $670 million investment statewide in education, which includes a $565 million increase to help rectify historic funding discrepancies and a $58 million increase in basic education and $47 increase in special education funding, to ensure every student can succeed. Kazeem said the school districts in the 159th Legislative District will benefit from significant funding increases: $6.3 million, or 4.9% increase for Chester-Upland School District $1.5 million, or 7.1% increase for Chichester School District $1.3 million, or 5.1% increase for Ridley School District $404,000 or 3.4% increase for Penn-Delco School District Kazeem also praised the budget’s increased support for key healthcare programs: $615.2 million or 7% increase, for Medical Assistance managed care program $484.7 million or 16.1% increase, for Medical Assistance Capitation $130.5 million or 2.3% increase, for Medical Read more

HARRISBURG, July 2 – The House Communications & Technology Committee held an informational meeting on Tuesday on space exploration and Pennsylvania’s leadership in space technology, scientific research, and airspace security. “Today’s meeting stressed the need for increased technological development to protect our airspace,” state Rep. Joe Ciresi, House Communications & Technology Committee Majority Chair, said. “Pennsylvania has the talent and the resources to lead the charge in developing technology to explore space and protect our airspace.” The committee heard from three speakers: Dr. Jason Wright, Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Penn State University on astronomical and scientific research, Ryan Graves, Founder/Executive Director, Americans for Safe Aerospace on aerospace and aviation perspectives, and Chris Mellon, Chairman of the Board, The Disclosure Foundation; Former Deputy Secretary of Defense; and Former Minority Staff Director, US Senate Intelligence Committee. “Exploration begins with curiosity,” state Rep. Ben Waxman, D-Phila. said. “Pennsylvania has the talent and institutions to help push the boundaries of scientific discovery, and today's hearing was an important step in that direction — wherever the evidence leads" Wright said that the search for the means to find extraterrestrial intelligence is leading the development of detection technology, Read more

HARRISBURG, June 30 – Legislation introduced by state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, to increase transparency in data center development in Pennsylvania passed the House today with overwhelming bipartisan support,171-31. “Today’s vote demonstrates how my colleagues on both sides of the aisle agree that Pennsylvanians shouldn’t be left in the dark about the impact data centers will have on their localities and their lives,” Ciresi said. “My necessary legislation would require developers to be open and transparent about the environmental impact with area residents and would give the public the opportunity to ask questions and express concerns about the proposed development.” House Bill 2359 would require developers of data centers with a peak electrical demand of over 10 megawatts to engage with local communities and their residents before construction and disclose information about the facilities’ impact to qualify for a sales tax exemption for data center-related computer equipment. The legislation specifically targets large-scale/high-impact data centers and excludes smaller data centers that do not pose the same environmental or quality-of-life risks to nearby residents. Qualifying data centers would specifically be required to: submit a “community protection plan” documenting the owner/operator’s engagement with the community and municipality before construction, including holding public Read more

State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, a leading advocate of providing greater access to mental health services, today applauded passage of a bill to allow Pennsylvania to join a national compact that helps get mental health treatment to more people in need. Read more

HARRISBURG, June 24 – Legislation to give Pennsylvania municipalities the time and authority to rein in data center projects across the state continues its way through the General Assembly, announced the measure’s sponsor, state Rep. Paul Friel, D-Chester. The state House of Representatives today by an overwhelming bipartisan majority passed H.B. 2496 to empower local governments in Pennsylvania to place up to a six-month “pause” on the consideration of any data center application. Municipalities could adopt, amend or repeal sections of their related land-use ordinances during the pause. “This pause window allows local governments the time they need to thoroughly research, draft and pass comprehensive land-use ordinances pertaining to data centers,” Friel said. “The bill gives our local officials necessary breathing room to update these ordinances, evaluating demands like water and energy usage and other considerations related to protecting our communities from potential harms caused by data center development.” Critically, the pause dates back to the moment the public was notified of the meeting agenda, and any application filed during the pause is subject to the new rules. ?“Large-scale data centers cannot be allowed to bypass community scrutiny,” said state Rep. Kyle Mullins, D-Lackawanna. “With development surging across Pennsylvania, this bill ensures Read more

The bipartisan H.B. 2162, co-prime sponsored by state Reps. Lisa Borowski, D-Delaware; Paul Friel, D-Chester; and Thomas Kutz, R-Cumberland, would allow makers of a drug or medical device to apply for a temporary product license from the commonwealth at the same time they begin its FDA approval process. Read more