"This is a victory for common sense, public health and communities who have paid the highest price under prohibition," said state Rep. Dan Frankel, who chairs the House Health Committee. "We cannot allow the missteps of other states to stop us from ending the harmful policies of cannabis prohibition. Instead, we have the opportunity to chart a new course that protects public health and benefits Pennsylvanians whether they use cannabis or not." Read more

HARRISBURG, May 7 – The Pennsylvania House today adopted state Rep. Rob Matzie’s resolution recognizing the importance of railroads and their impact on the commonwealth’s history. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said he introduced H.R. 187 – recognizing May 10, 2025, as “National Train Day” in Pennsylvania – as a reminder of how railroads transformed the commonwealth’s landscape physically, economically and socially. “From the mid-1800s on, the rail industry played a huge role in powering our economic growth and shaping our landscape,” Matzie said. “Once businesses were freed from having to rely on water-based shipping, they began locating all over the state, and towns and urban centers began growing up around them. “At the same time, the rail industry’s demand for materials and fuel boosted our steel and coal industries, and with new trains carrying our steel, iron and coal throughout the state and beyond, we grew into an industrial powerhouse.” Matzie said that today, trains also play a key role in easing congestion on our roads, linking cities and rural communities and providing a means of mass transportation that is more environmentally friendly than air travel or gas-powered cars. National Train Day was first established in 2008 and is celebrated annually on the Read more

Legislation creating state logo to identify veteran-owned businesses advances Read more

Powell’s legislation would make it possible for clerical workers, bus drivers, janitors, lunch staff, security and related positions employed by the school district to apply for unemployment compensation during an extended break between school terms. Currently, these staff members are forced to rely on temporary positions over the longer breaks to pay bills and feed their families. Read more

HARRISBURG, May 6 – The PA House today passed bipartisan consumer protection legislation introduced by state Rep. Arvind Venkat along with state Reps. Rob Matzie and Tom Mehaffie that would prohibit businesses from charging additional fees for providing paper account statements. Venkat, D-Allegheny, said the measure would shield lower-income people, older adults and others with limited access to digital technology from unnecessary and often hidden financial burdens. House Bill 81 would classify paper statement fees as an unfair or deceptive practice. While businesses could still encourage digital options through incentives, they would be forbidden from charging consumers more when they prefer paper copies of their account statements. “Far too many Pennsylvanians – especially seniors, those on fixed incomes, and people without reliable internet – rely on paper statements to manage their finances,” said Venkat, the prime sponsor of the bill. “Charging a fee just to access basic account information and manage one’s finances is an unnecessary expense for consumers. This legislation puts an end to that.” Financial institutions sometimes charge between 50 cents and $5 per month for paper statements – fees that can add up to $60 annually per account. These charges disproportionately impact consumers least able to afford them. “This is about fairness,” said Read more

This one-of-a-kind event brings together self-advocates, parents, educators, service providers, state officials and legislators to discuss the state of disability and mental health in Pennsylvania. Free and open to the public, the summit also includes a popular Resource Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 8 with more than 140 organizations in attendance. Read more

Reps. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., and Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, officially introduced long-awaited legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania — a bold, thoughtful proposal designed to center public health, repair communities harmed by prohibition, and create a stable, sustainable market. Read more

“Pennsylvanians deserve a public transportation system that is safe, reliable and accessible,” said Abney, D-Allegheny. “As significant service cuts are being proposed for our public transit agencies, we’re exploring every possible avenue with legislation like this to secure more dollars and ensure residents can continue getting to where they need to be." Read more

BRADDOCK, April 29 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury will host her first two town halls of 2025 in Braddock Hills and Rankin on April 30 and May 1, respectively, to hear residents’ priorities for the coming year. Salisbury said she is encouraging everyone to attend and share their thoughts. “Now, more than ever, it's important for people to speak up and share their concerns and priorities, and for their representatives to listen,” Salisbury said. “Nothing is more valuable than a resident’s own perspectives about life in their own home community, and when we take those messages back to Harrisburg, we have greater power to make change happen at the state level. “With puzzling and confusing events happening in Washington, people need to know that their voices are still being heard and that those voices are powerful.” Salisbury said the town halls will be held at the following times and locations: Braddock Hills – April 30 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Braddock Hills Borough building (lower level), 1300 Brinton Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Rankin – May 1 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Rankin Christian Center, 230 3 rd Ave., Rankin, PA 15104. Additional town halls are being planned for those unable to attend the Braddock Hills or Rankin events. Anyone with questions should call 412-273-3400. Read more

HARRISBURG, April 23 – Pennsylvania communities are one step closer to having a powerful new tool to fight blight after the state House today passed Rep. Abigail Salisbury’s bill that would make it easier for land banks to acquire abandoned properties. Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said she introduced H.B. 743 – which would allow a municipality to designate a blighted or abandoned property for acquisition by a land bank – to address a longstanding issue that frustrates residents and small businesses and poses economic problems for municipalities. “When a property owner abandons or severely neglects their property over the years, the entire community pays the price – in higher crime, health and safety hazards, lower property values and the exodus of small businesses and residents,” Salisbury said. “It’s an issue that has frustrated residents, business owners and local officials for decades, but municipalities have had their hands tied. “One way we can attack the problem is by giving communities new tools to deal with properties that have a long history of safety or code violations. By allowing local governments to designate these properties for acquisition by land banks, we can free up these blighted lots for productive use – for parks and green spaces, for construction of affordable housing, for small businesses – for all the beneficial uses that make communities Read more