Preserving our tree canopy; sending another budget to the Senate; voting to protect striking workers and student health

Preserving our tree canopy; sending another budget to the Senate; voting to protect striking workers and student health – and more!

Rep. Abigail Salisbury October 15, 2025 | 10:52 AM

Third annual Nonprofit Symposium is coming later this month!

This is a reminder that my third annual Nonprofit Symposium will be held on Thursday, Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 9 PA, located at 100 Kingston Drive in Wilkins Township. Registration is required and can be completed by visiting this page.

Also, please remember that the deadline to apply for a grant-writing scholarship is Wednesday, Oct. 15. To determine whether you are eligible, visit this page and enter your address into the search tool. If your address is located in a green zone designated as a low-income census tract, you are eligible to apply. Residents who wish to apply should contact Krishna Patel at patelk.hea@gmail.com. Winners will be announced at the Nonprofit Symposium!

Preserving our tree canopy

Trees play such a critical role in our urban neighborhoods, from reducing pollution and providing shade to curbing stormwater runoff and adding beauty that increases property values.

Of course, electric utilities must sometimes trim or even remove trees when vegetation threatens power lines. But given how important trees are to quality of life, we need to ensure that power companies do so in the community’s best interests.

To accomplish that, I will soon be introducing legislation that would allow municipalities to work with electric utilities to ensure proper vegetation management. In addition, my bill would require a utility that removes a tree to plant a new one, within two years, in a location of the municipality's choice. I’m currently gathering co-sponsors for the bill and will keep you posted on its progress.

Sending ANOTHER state budget to the Senate

Last Wednesday, my House colleagues and I sent a state budget bill to the Senate –the third budget bill we have sent them in the past 100 days. Our prior bills were met with inaction, as the Republican-led Senate instead demanded cuts to schools and counties that would shortchange students, jeopardize jobs, and threaten essential services.

Our latest bill contains no new taxes and spends responsibly, while also providing critical investments in our schools and delivering on our court-mandated duty to level the playing field for students in underfunded districts. It’s time for the Senate to come to the table, pass this budget, and finally deliver for our students, our workers, and our most vulnerable residents.

In other news from the House, I voted for – and we passed – bills that would:

Allow unemployment benefits for employees who are out of work due to a strike.
Support student health by mandating an inventory of school facilities to assess specific building conditions needing repairs.

Visit this page to read more news from the House.

Our office is closed today, Oct. 13

Please be aware that our office is closed today, Oct. 13, in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, Oct. 14, for regular business hours.

Finding funding & accessing state services

Local officials, nonprofit groups, and residents: Visit this page to see a list of the latest state grant openings, and this page to search for grants by topic.

Finally, please remember that our talented staff can assist with a wide range of state-related services, including filing for a Property Tax/Rent Rebate, obtaining a Senior ConnectCard or disability placard, resolving issues with PennDOT and other state agencies, and more. Contact us to find out how we can help!