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Ciresi’s legislation for free cancer screenings for firefighters heads to full House

(21 hours ago) Southeast Delegation

HARRISBURG, June 10 – In a clear demonstration of bipartisan support for the commonwealth’s first responders, the House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee today overwhelmingly approved state Rep. Joe Ciresi’s legislation to establish a statewide program providing free annual cancer screenings for firefighters. House Bill 2394 would ensure that firefighters can access annual cancer screening examinations at no cost when those services are not fully covered by their health insurance. The program would apply to both career and volunteer firefighters across the Commonwealth. According to Ciresi, firefighters’ repeated job-related exposure to cancer-causing chemicals has led the disease to become one of the leading causes of line-of-duty deaths. Studies by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found that firefighters face a 9% increase in cancer diagnoses, and a 14% increase in cancer-related deaths, compared to the general population in the U.S. “Today’s vote shouts out loud and clear to our firefighters that we recognize the health risk of occupational cancer they uniquely face and that we have their backs,” said Ciresi, D-Montgomery. “Currently, many of our firefighters must choose between their health and their families’ finances. That is a moral outrage. My legislation would improve our firefighters’ health outcomes—and shield them from crushing health care Read more

 

House approves O’Mara bill to protect rights to fertility treatments in PA

(1 day ago) Southeast Delegation

The state House today approved on a bipartisan vote a bill sponsored by state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, to protect prospective parents’ rights to fertility treatments in Pennsylvania. Read more

 

Friel, Lawrence: Bill modernizing lending for Pa. farmers moves from committee

(1 day ago) Rep. Paul Friel

HARRISBURG, June 9 – Legislation that would significantly expand access to low-interest financing for Pennsylvania farmers to grow and modernize their operations advanced unanimously from the state House Commerce Committee on Monday, announced the bill’s prime sponsors. State Reps. Paul Friel and John Lawrence said that their H.B. 2207 would help augment critical agricultural operations and keep Pennsylvania competitive in an increasingly challenging economic environment. Pennsylvania farmers face rising costs for land, equipment, buildings and other investments necessary to sustain and expand their operations. While the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority's Small Business First Fund provides valuable financing opportunities, agricultural businesses are limited to loans of $400,000, far below the $2 million cap available to non-agricultural enterprises. "Our farmers are small business owners, job creators and essential contributors to Pennsylvania's economy," said Friel, D-Chester . "As costs continue to rise, access to affordable capital is more important than ever. This legislation would ensure that farmers have the same opportunities as other businesses to invest in their operations, create jobs, and strengthen our agricultural economy." “I’m grateful for the strong bipartisan support to modernize agricultural lending at PIDA,” said Lawrence, R-Chester . “This Read more

 

PA House passes Guenst bill to honor veterans lost to suicide

(1 day ago) Rep. Nancy Guenst

Legislation allowing Green Star Service Banner on state property advances Read more

 

Kinkead, Friel launch bill to hold healthcare executives accountable

(Jun 08, 2026) Rep. Paul Friel, Rep. Emily Kinkead

Legislation establishing penalties for CEOs of insurance companies responsible for harm Read more

 

Ciresi introduces bill requiring smart glasses to have visible indicator when recording

(Jun 05, 2026) Southeast Delegation

HARRISBURG, June 4 – House Communications & Technology Committee Majority Chair, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, is taking a stand to protect Pennsylvanians’ security and privacy by introducing legislation that would require all smart glasses manufactured, sold, and used in Pennsylvania to have a visual indicator that shows when the device is recording video or audio. “My legislation, H.B. 2603, would establish common-sense privacy safeguards for smart glasses to help protect Pennsylvanians from potential misuse of this emerging technology,” Ciresi said. “Smart glasses are an innovative technological advancement, but their design also allows them to easily record or stream without anyone noticing. Considering the implications this has for individual privacy and surveillance, we must take thoughtful, proactive steps to address those risks. The same features that make these devices appealing—the ability to communicate, capture audio and video, and share information instantly—can also be exploited by bad actors to secretly record individuals; help facilitate stalking, harassment or intimidation; or potentially employ real-time facial recognition technology without a person’s knowledge or consent.” According to Ciresi, the legislation would fall under Pennsylvania’s current wiretapping laws and would have similar requirements in line with existing laws regarding recording people. The legislation would require Read more

 

Every missing child matters: New Ebony Alert System legislation seeks equal urgency for missing black and brown youth

(Jun 03, 2026) Southeast Delegation

HARRISBURG, June 3 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Children & Youth Committee on Tuesday reported out legislation ( H.B. 434 ) by state Reps. Gina Curry and Carol Kazeem’s that would establish an Ebony Alert System in Pennsylvania dedicated to finding missing Black and Brown youth, including young women and girls. According to the two Delaware County legislators, Black children accounted for 40% of all children under 18 reported missing in the United States in 2023, despite Black Americans comprising only 14% of the nation’s population. Similarly, Black women and girls represent approximately 18% of all missing persons cases while making up just 7% of the population. The lawmakers argue that cases involving missing children of color—particularly Black children—often receive less attention because they are disproportionately classified as runaways . That designation can prevent AMBER Alerts from being issued, reducing the law enforcement and public resources devoted to recovery efforts and limiting media coverage of their disappearances. Lack of media coverage of missing Black children -- just 7% according to one study -- has a devastating impact on the chances of recovery of missing Black children. Media attention raises public awareness and puts law enforcement on alert , resulting in them contributing critical resources to finding children. “Despite making up a significant percentage of missing child cases, Read more

 

House greenlights AI safety education effort

(Jun 03, 2026) Southeast Delegation

HARRISBURG, June 3 – Legislation to direct the Office of Attorney General to conduct a public education campaign about artificial intelligence and to improve AI consumer literacy in Pennsylvania overwhelmingly passed the House today (198-3), said the bill’s prime sponsors, House Communications & Technology Committee chairs Reps. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, and Jason Ortitay, R-Washington/Allegheny. “AI safety starts with informed users,” Ciresi said. “As AI becomes increasingly common in across our daily life, it’s important that we know how to interact with AI safely and responsibly and be educated consumers of online content. Informed public awareness of the risks of AI—from misinformation and hallucinations, emotional dependency, to potentially harmful advice, and more--is essential as we enter this new technological age.” Ciresi believes that while AI has an incredible potential to increase productivity and lead to breakthroughs across countless fields, it is also a Pandora’s box of risks—including bias in outputs, data collection and privacy issues, and “deepfakes” and misinformation—that requires greater public awareness. “Many people don’t yet have a full understanding of AI,” said Ortitay. “As it is becoming a part of everyday life, this legislation will help improve public awareness. Although AI offers significant benefits, it can also be misused. Read more

 

Seizure-smart schools save student lives: Pa. House passes legislation requiring mandatory epilepsy training for school nurses, staff

(Jun 02, 2026) Southeast Delegation

HARRISBURG, June 2 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today passed state Rep. Carol Kazeem’s H.B. 1045 , which would require school nurses and staff to complete training approved by the state Department of Health to help them recognize the signs and symptoms of a seizure and how to provide first aid treatment. Currently, state law makes epilepsy training optional for school staff. “More than 129,000 Pennsylvanians have epilepsy, and many of them developed the brain disorder during childhood,” said Kazeem, D-Delaware. “Some even had their first seizure during the school day, far from the safety of their homes and their parents’ loving care. My legislation would increase the safety of our students and give their parents peace of mind by requiring that school nurses and other school personnel have the training that would enable them to quickly identify the signs of an epileptic seizure and provide the correct treatment.” Kazeem noted that incorrect treatment of a seizure can result in serious injury and even death. Kazeem’s legislation, developed in collaboration with the Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania, would ensure that school nurses and school professional employees who have direct contact with students complete training approved by the state Department of Health every two years to identify the signs of epileptic seizures and provide seizure first aid. The bill is with the state Senate Read more

 

O’Mara, PA Turnpike announce courtesy parking spots for veterans

(May 18, 2026) Southeast Delegation

State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, today joined officials from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania American Legion to unveil dedicated parking spaces for veterans at turnpike service plazas. Read more

 

Friel, Carroll announce early completion of St. Peters Road project

(May 18, 2026) Rep. Paul Friel

ELVERSON, May 18 – State Rep. Paul Friel and Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll today celebrated the early reopening of St. Peters Road (SR 4041) in St. Peters Village. Portions of the road had been destabilized and closed due to major erosion between the roadway and French Creek in Warwick Township. “This has been a long-standing safety hazard for our community, and getting both lanes of St. Peters Road fully reopened is a massive win for our residents and local businesses,” said Friel, D-Chester. “I am thrilled we could restore the road and ensure that this historic gem is open to all who enjoy its trails, shops, restaurants and natural beauty." Friel noted that he has enjoyed spending time in St. Peters since he was young and still visits regularly. He said he was pleased to see so many people from the community during the ribbon cutting this morning. "This place is a part of our community and a part of me since I was literally in high school,” he said. “So, I know the importance of our little hamlet here. “I'd like to thank Secretary Carroll and the folks at PennDOT for all they did to get this project moving. I also want to extend my deep appreciation to the Loftus Construction team. This was a thorough and well-executed rebuild – I am thoroughly impressed with the work they have done here. The new and improved road will serve St. Peters Village and our Read more

 

Ciresi bill to extend state death benefits to public works employees overwhelmingly passes PA House

(May 06, 2026) Southeast Delegation

HARRISBURG, May 6 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recognized the critical service that public works employees provide in emergency settings by overwhelmingly passing legislation (196–5) Tuesday that would extend to them the same state death benefits that first responders who lose their lives on the job receive. According to the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, the impetus for H.B. 1485 was to provide parity for public works employees who lose their lives on the job protecting Pennsylvanians -- just as the state does for first responders. “Public works employees are the ‘silent arm of public safety’ -- they’re the first on the scene of an emergency and the last to leave,” Ciresi said. “Our families, our homes, and our lives are safe because these public workers risk their lives daily under all kinds of conditions. It’s past time to give them the recognition and respect they deserve, as we do for first responders.” House Bill 1485 is modeled after a similar law passed in New Hampshire in 2022. The legislation now moves to the state Senate for consideration. Read more

 

O’Mara: Flowers aren’t enough on Mother’s Day

(May 06, 2026) Southeast Delegation

Mothers need more than flowers for Mother’s Day; they need policies in place that will make life easier for working families and prospective parents. Read more

 

Committee advances legislation to set guardrails on AI in healthcare, protect consumers in advertising

(May 05, 2026) Southeast Delegation

HARRISBURG, May 5– The PA House Communications & Technology Committee today voted to approve two bills that would establish guardrails for the use of artificial intelligence in advertising and healthcare, and a third bill that would set limits on the sound levels of commercial advertisements in video streaming services. Read more

 

House approves O’Mara bill to require parental notification of bullying in schools

(Apr 29, 2026) Southeast Delegation

The House today approved a bipartisan bill sponsored by state Reps. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, and Danillo Burgos, D-Phila., that makes strides toward protecting children and addressing the youth mental health crisis. Read more

 

House passes Sappey bill to increase clarity, transparency in proposed township ordinances

(Apr 29, 2026) Rep. Christina Sappey

HARRISBURG, April 29 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation ( H.B. 2179 ) introduced by state Rep. Christina Sappey that would clarify what subjects must be included in the public notices of proposed ordinances for second class townships. Sappey serves on the House Local Government Committee and introduced the bill after learning about a shade tree ordinance that was overturned in Lancaster County because of ambiguous language in the public notice. Sappey's bill would clarify what subjects must be included in the brief summary of an advertised proposed ordinance. The summary would need to include a description of the following, as applicable: An adoption, amendment or repeal of a tax, fee, charge or assessment. An adoption, amendment or repeal of a regulation that provides for an offense or civil or criminal penalty. A provision or covenant that provides for the payment or disbursement of funds for goods, services or contractual obligation; restricts funds to a specific purpose or obligation; or pledges funds for a specific purpose or obligation. “This legislation also would require advertisements to include references to the township office where copies of the proposed ordinance may be viewed, and to the publicly accessible website where the full text of the ordinance may be viewed, if one exists,” Sappey said. “If a summary meets the obligations outlined Read more

 

Friel, Kinkead bills to protect good Samaritans in drug, alcohol overdoses clear committee

(Apr 28, 2026) Rep. Paul Friel

HARRISBURG, April 28 – The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee on Monday unanimously advanced two bills that would protect individuals cooperating with first responders in the event of a drug or alcohol overdose, announced state Reps. Paul Friel and Emily Kinkead, who sponsored the bills. House Bills 1944 and 1945 would protect people, such as college students, from endangerment charges if they are administering aid to a person suffering an emergency overdose. “Strengthening medical amnesty, particularly on college campuses, empowers students to prioritize safety over fear, fostering a community where looking out for one another is the norm, not a liability,” said Friel, D-Chester. “When students trust they won't face punishment for seeking help, they are far more likely to intervene in emergencies, saving lives.” “Every second matters in an emergency. In these critical moments, no one should have to weigh saving a life against the risk of being charged with a crime,” said Kinkead, D-Allegheny. “These bills make it clear that if you render aid to a person experiencing a medical emergency as a result of consuming drugs or alcohol, you should be protected. “Advancing this legislation is a step toward ensuring people, especially young people, are empowered to do the right thing without fear of life-altering consequences.” The representatives heard during a March Read more

 

Ciresi, Tomlinson introduce bill to require third parties to evaluate charter school students with special needs

(Apr 17, 2026) Southeast Delegation

HARRISBURG, April 17 – Legislation to strengthen fairness, transparency and accountability in how students are evaluated for special education services in charter schools was introduced on Friday by state Reps. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, and Kathleen C. Tomlinson, D-Bucks. According to the representatives, under current law, charter schools receive additional funding for students identified as needing special education services. While this funding is intended to ensure that students receive appropriate support, the Education Law Center noted in a report that the existing system can create incentives for over-identifying students with mild disabilities while underserving those with more complex or costly needs. According to reports , there are cases in which charter school operators have acknowledged using these funds to support general operations. House Bill 2424 would address this issue by requiring an independent qualified third party – specifically, the student’s school district of residence or an intermediate unit – to perform the initial special-education evaluations for charter school students. “Under the current system, there’s simply too much financial temptation for charter schools to over evaluate their students’ disabilities,” Ciresi said. “By eliminating the funding element from playing a role in evaluations, we will ensure that decisions about a student’s educational needs are made solely in Read more

 

Ciresi introduces legislation for free cancer screening for firefighters

(Apr 17, 2026) Southeast Delegation

HARRISBURG, April 17 – Legislation to establish a statewide program providing free annual cancer screenings for firefighters was introduced this week by state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery. House Bill 2394 would ensure that firefighters can access annual cancer screening examinations at no cost when those services are not fully covered by their health insurance. The program would apply to both career and volunteer firefighters across the Commonwealth. According to Ciresi, firefighters’ repeated job-related exposure to cancer-causing chemicals has led the disease to become one of the leading causes of line-of-duty deaths. Studies by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found that firefighters face a 9% increase in cancer diagnoses, and a 14% increase in cancer-related deaths, compared to the general population in the U.S. “It is morally wrong that our firefighters are being forced to choose between their health and their finances due to the high cost of deductibles, copayments, and other out-of-pocket expenses for work-related preventive care,” Ciresi said. “By removing the financial barriers to annual cancer screenings, my legislation would improve our firefighters’ health outcomes, reduce long-term health care costs, and demonstrate Pennsylvania’s commitment to protecting those who serve and protect our communities.” Read more

 

Friel bill to guide use of food processing residuals in Pa. passes House

(Apr 16, 2026) Rep. Paul Friel

HARRISBURG, April 16 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Wednesday passed H.B. 586, which would responsibly guide the use of food processing residuals in the state, announced the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Paul 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. 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. "We don't know what is coming in or how much is being applied,” Friel explained during House debate. “We have more regulation on manure in Pennsylvania than we do on this unknown waste stream coming into our state. We need these guardrails to protect our communities and, most especially, our farms and farmers." The bill passed 172–29, with broad Republican and Democratic support, underscoring just how nonpartisan concerns about noxious odors and water contamination are in Pennsylvania. “I want to thank my many colleagues who have supported this effort, including Rep. Barb Gleim and former Rep. Paul Schemel, who worked with me on this Read more

 

Ciresi’s legislation for free cancer screenings for firefighters heads to full House
21 hours ago

House approves O’Mara bill to protect rights to fertility treatments in PA
1 day ago

Friel, Lawrence: Bill modernizing lending for Pa. farmers moves from committee
1 day ago

PA House passes Guenst bill to honor veterans lost to suicide
1 day ago

Kinkead, Friel launch bill to hold healthcare executives accountable
Jun 08, 2026

Ciresi introduces bill requiring smart glasses to have visible indicator when recording
Jun 05, 2026

Every missing child matters: New Ebony Alert System legislation seeks equal urgency for missing black and brown youth
Jun 03, 2026

House greenlights AI safety education effort
Jun 03, 2026

Seizure-smart schools save student lives: Pa. House passes legislation requiring mandatory epilepsy training for school nurses, staff
Jun 02, 2026

O’Mara, PA Turnpike announce courtesy parking spots for veterans
May 18, 2026

Friel, Carroll announce early completion of St. Peters Road project
May 18, 2026

Ciresi bill to extend state death benefits to public works employees overwhelmingly passes PA House
May 06, 2026

O’Mara: Flowers aren’t enough on Mother’s Day
May 06, 2026

Committee advances legislation to set guardrails on AI in healthcare, protect consumers in advertising
May 05, 2026

House approves O’Mara bill to require parental notification of bullying in schools
Apr 29, 2026

House passes Sappey bill to increase clarity, transparency in proposed township ordinances
Apr 29, 2026

Friel, Kinkead bills to protect good Samaritans in drug, alcohol overdoses clear committee
Apr 28, 2026

Ciresi, Tomlinson introduce bill to require third parties to evaluate charter school students with special needs
Apr 17, 2026

Ciresi introduces legislation for free cancer screening for firefighters
Apr 17, 2026

Friel bill to guide use of food processing residuals in Pa. passes House
Apr 16, 2026