The House today approved a bill sponsored by state Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny, to standardize and improve school counseling services for students in all grades in Pennsylvania schools by ensuring that counselors aren’t pulled away from their needed counseling duties. Read more

HARRISBURG, April 29 – Pennsylvania has some of the oldest infrastructure in the country, and local governments are facing major difficulty and expenses in funding projects—especially for transportation purposes. This is why state Rep. Lindsay Powell has introduced legislation that would allow local governments to take part in public-private partnerships to improve transportation infrastructure. House Bill 2469 would allow all counties, as well as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, to use public-private partnerships, also known as P3s, which authorize governments to coordinate with private entities for the engineering, construction, operation, financing and maintenance of a transportation project or facility. “From aging bridges and congested corridors to major transit and roadway upgrades, we have all seen transportation projects in our communities that need urgent support,” said Powell, D-Allegheny. “These projects can be daunting to take on, especially because taxpayers are footing the bill. My legislation would allow counties to partner with private groups to deliver large-scale infrastructure projects more efficiently and cost-effectively.” Current law allows only PennDOT and certain transportation agencies to use P3s. With this legislation, the current P3 process would remain unchanged. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave Pennsylvania’s infrastructure a grade of C- in 2022, Read more

“I’m very passionate about this issue, because our children are being harmed by unfettered access to digital devices,” Steele said. “I’m grateful to my colleagues on the Education Committee who realize the high stakes for our children and are helping to move this bill through the Legislature. We need to do our part to create a healthy learning environment for every child in Pennsylvania." Read more

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

Read my email update from April 24, 2026 Read more

Read my email update from April 24, 2026 Read more

PITTSBURGH, April 17 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, applauded a $700,000 investment to redevelop two blighted structures in the Spring Garden neighborhood to create more housing and business opportunities in the community. The project will turn two currently vacant and blighted structures – a four-story building and an adjoining single-family home – into a mixed-use property at the intersection of Spring Garden Avenue and Chestnut Street . “A blighted building can be difficult to handle, but it also provides a prime opportunity for redevelopment with the right resources,” said Powell. “This funding will allow for redevelopment that will be incredibly impactful for our community by creating business opportunity and allowing for more neighbors to proudly call Spring Garden home.” Once completed, the development will bring four affordable residential units and a ground-floor commercial space for a neighborhood-serving business to the community. Funding for this project was made available through the Community Revitalization Fund Program via the Mixed-Use Development Tax Credit. The funding will cover more than one-quarter of the total cost of the development, which is being led by the Community Alliance of Spring Garden and East Deutschtown, in collaboration with Rising Tide Partners and Main + Elm Development Company. Powell is the prime sponsor of H.B. 1650 , Read more

Read my email update from April 16, 2026 Read more

State police program on protestors' First Amendment rights and interaction with law enforcement Read more

BRADDOCK, April 16 – New vocational training, reentry supports and after-school programs are coming to the 34 th Legislative District, thanks to more than $1 million in new funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury announced today. Salisbury said the funding includes $500,000 to the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh to expand vocational training and reentry support for 265 adults at high risk of violence involvement. “The program will provide people at risk with vocational training and related support services, including life coaching, counseling, math and financial literacy, transportation, childcare, trauma recovery and more,” Salisbury said. “For people reentering the community, experiencing homelessness, dealing with substance use disorder or living in communities with elevated crime rates, those services can be life changing.” Salisbury said that an additional $531,000 will support after-school and summer programs designed to steer youth away from violence. “I’m thrilled about the new funding for afterschool and summer programs,” Salisbury said. “We have seen the difference these programs make through one-on-one mentoring, homework help and academic support, and activities that create social bonds, build confidence and offer a sense of belonging. Thanks to the new funding, we’ll be able to provide Read more