On Feb. 24, I will be hosting my rescheduled town hall on cell phones in schools, an important educational issue. It will be 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 24 at Cooper-Siegel Community Library.

My bipartisan H.B. 1814, currently pending in the House Education Committee, would require all public schools in Pennsylvania to restrict student cell phone possession and use during the school day, with exceptions for certain emergency and medical needs approved by school authorities. If enacted, Pennsylvania would join more than 20 other states that prohibit student phone use during the school day.

In case you missed it, Gov. Shapiro this week called on the General Assembly to send a bill to his desk limiting cell phone use in schools. Read more about the governor’s statement here.

The PA Game Commission gave preliminary approval to dates and bag limits for 2026 hunting seasons last week, siding against a proposal for an earlier firearms deer season. The board gave preliminary approval to dates maintaining the current structure for rifle deer season, opening it on the Saturday following Thanksgiving; the board opposed a proposal to open the season on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

A final vote is planned for the Game Commission’s meeting in April. Read more about the season dates that received preliminary approval here.

I’m partnering with the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department for my annual Concealed Carry Permit and Safety Seminar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 21. It will be at Harrison Township Citizens Hose Fire & EMS, 965 Burtner Rd., Natrona Heights.

You can obtain or renew your concealed carry permit from the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department and learn more about the rules and regulations regarding firearm transport and safety. My staff and I will also be on hand to assist with any state-related issues or concerns.

Visit here to RSVP. Please bring your completed application for a PA license to carry firearms from the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department, which is available here. You also may stop by my office to pick up an application.

When winter weather hits, you can check www.511pa.com before you travel. You can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles. 511PA also shows plow-truck locations and details of when state-maintained roadways were last plowed.

For more tips on winter driving, check out PennDOT.pa.gov/Winter.

I’m excited to announce a new service available at my Cheswick office! I will be hosting a representative from Allegheny County Treasurer Erica Rocchi Brusselars’ office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. once a month from February through September.  

Residents can pay county property taxes; apply for the Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion or the Senior Citizen Tax Relief programs; or get hunting, fishing or dog licenses during these special days and hours at my office located at 1296 Pittsburgh St.

Mark your calendars with the dates and times on the graphic above!  

I have a new location and expanded hours for my mobile office. It is in the Sharpsburg Borough Building, 1611 Main Street. The hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break, every Wednesday.

Feel free to stop by for assistance with any state-related service or program, and my staff will be happy to help!

With more families struggling to put food on the table, my office is serving as a drop-off site for food donations. If you are able, please consider donating non-perishable food items, which we will deliver weekly to food banks and pantries in our area. Stop by any weekday between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at my Cheswick office at 1296 Pittsburgh St.

Twice each month, a Veterans Service Officer will be at my office to help veterans with a host of services. The VSO will be at my Cheswick office, 1296 Pittsburgh St., on the third Wednesday and Thursday of the month.

Call to schedule an appointment at (723)826-5151.

District Office

1296 Pittsburgh Street

Cheswick, PA 15024

(724) 826-5151

Pennsylvania State Capitol

111 B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 705-7141

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