HARRISBURG, April 9 – Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee Chairman Tim Briggs today announced that a broad package of public safety and justice reform legislation has been voted out of committee, marking a significant step forward for measures aimed at protecting vulnerable Pennsylvanians and strengthening the Commonwealth’s legal system. “Today’s votes show what’s possible when we focus on solutions that put people first,” Briggs said. “These bills reflect a shared commitment to protecting victims, supporting families, and ensuring our justice system is both fair and effective.” House Bill 72 (sponsored by state Rep. Lisa Borowski) would update the Landlord and Tenant Act to better support people experiencing domestic violence. Leaving an abusive relationship is often the most dangerous time, and the last thing someone should have to worry about is whether they can safely stay in—or leave—their home. This bill would allow victims to break a lease early and change locks or other entry points so they can protect themselves and their families right away. Developed with input from advocacy groups, it is designed to give survivors clear, practical options at a time when safety matters most. House Bill 1104 (sponsored by state Rep. Leanne Krueger) would make it easier and more affordable for people to get their medical records in today’s digital world. Even though most records Read more

Members of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Southeast Delegation today wrote to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to express their strong opposition to proposed gas and electric rate hikes by PECO, according to state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, the delegation chair. Read more

HARRISBURG, April 7 – Legislation to require transparency in data center development in Pennsylvania, H.B. 2359, was introduced by the PA House Communications & Technology Committee majority chair, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, this week. According to Ciresi, many developers in Pennsylvania and across the country are requiring local governments to sign non-disclosure agreements to prevent discussion about controversial aspects of data center development and operation. These NDAs prevent officials from sharing data centers’ impact on the environment, zoning issues, and community life with residents. “Public officials’ core responsibility is to clearly inform residents about decisions that could impact their lives, such as data center development in their communities. These NDAs prevent them from fulfilling their essential duties, ultimately misleading the public and limiting Pennsylvanians’ active and informed participation in their self-governance,” Ciresi said. “My legislation would ensure transparency and accountability—the foundations of good governance—by prohibiting state and local government agencies from entering into NDAs with data center developers.” Read more

“Whether you’re young or old, renting or buying, housing is a challenge that many people will face in their lifetime. We know that a strong housing market helps build a strong economy. But without it, businesses can’t grow, workers can’t stay, and communities can’t thrive when the cost-of-living pushes people out,” said Kazeem. “Housing is undoubtedly a human right. Making housing more affordable and attainable for everyone is one of the smartest investments we can make to strengthen our neighborhoods and keep our economy moving forward.” Read more

“Private equity consolidation in the fire truck industry is driving up costs beyond what local fire companies can afford, forcing departments to stretch thin budgets just to maintain essential equipment,” said O’Mara. “This isn’t just economic—it’s a safety issue. When outdated equipment fails, lives are at risk. Fire companies shouldn’t face soaring costs and limited options to protect their communities.” Read more

In bipartisan fashion, the House today approved a bill sponsored by state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, to bring economic stability to more working families by creating a family and medical leave insurance program in Pennsylvania. Read more

HARRISBURG, March 25 – Patient advocates, disease experts, and water management officials joined state Reps. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, and Ed Neilson, D-Phila., at a news conference Monday at the Capitol in support of the legislators’ H.B. 2085, which is aimed at stopping the spread of a severe type of pneumonia, Legionnaires’ disease, that is on the rise in Pennsylvania. The disease is caused by Legionella bacteria, which are found in freshwater, including water that supplies public water systems. Disease symptoms include high fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, headaches, and diarrhea. Smokers, the elderly, those with asthma, and those with chronic lung disease or suppressed immune systems are particularly vulnerable to the disease. “Pennsylvania has one of the highest rates of Legionnaires’ infection and illness in the country, with case rates increasing over 65% over a five-year period and claiming 10% of the lives of those infected, according to the CDC,” Smith-Wade-El said. “It’s time for Pennsylvania to step up to protect its residents’ water sources, so we’ve introduced legislation that would require government agencies, public water systems and some building owners to maintain new minimum standards to better prevent, detect, and control cases of Legionnaires’ disease.” At the press conference, Neilson spoke about his personal experience contracting the disease and Gwen Read more

State Reps. Jennifer O’Mara, Lisa Borowski, and Napoleon Nelson were joined by child and family advocates this week at a news conference to urge the passage of bipartisan legislation to create a family and medical leave insurance program in Pennsylvania. Read more

HARRISBURG, Feb. 12– Legislation introduced by state Rep. Tim Briggs to strengthen Pennsylvania’s judicial system and shield Commonwealth agencies from burdensome federal litigation tactics was signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Josh Shapiro. House Bills 331 and 1934 are designed to improve the administration of justice, increase transparency and accountability, and ensure the responsible use of taxpayer resources. “Both bills tackle important challenges in our legal system,” Briggs said. “House Bill 331 enhances court operations and oversight of justice-related funding, while House Bill 1934 shields state agencies from unnecessary and costly legal burdens. Together, they promote fairness, efficiency, and accountability across the Commonwealth.” House Bill 331 (Act 1 of 2026) introduces targeted reforms to improve justice administration and oversight of judicial and legal aid funds. It includes three main provisions: Judicial training: Allows the court system to cover the $400 annual registration fee for special court judges. Court technology: Redirects local court fees to enhance statewide court technology, without reducing county funding, generating about $7.5 million through 2028. Access-to-justice funding transparency: Requires an independent audit of the Access to Justice Fund to verify proper use of funds and identify ways to expand legal services. Read more

COLWYN, Feb. 5 – Today at Colwyn Borough Hall, state Rep. Regina Young, D-Phila./Delaware, presented a check for three state grants that were recently awarded to the borough from the Commonwealth Financing Authority. Read more