Dear Friends,
This week marked what I consider the last week of “ordinary business” in the House before the November 3 election. While we moved an unprecedented number of bills this week, we ended the week with several important issues unresolved.
One of my biggest frustrations is the continued inaction on House Bill 1250, my legislation to protect residents of manufactured home communities from predatory rent increases. Despite passing the House with 144 votes, the bill has languished in the Senate for more than a year. To my knowledge, no member of the Senate majority has stepped forward to circulate a Dear Colleagues letter in support of the bill or offer a discharge resolution to bring it up for a vote. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania families who own their homes but rent the land beneath them remain vulnerable to skyrocketing costs because of predatory price increases by private equity buyers.
I was also disappointed by the breakdown in negotiations over several major issues. As I understood it, the House and Senate had reached a broad agreement by Tuesday evening to provide sustainable funding for SEPTA, fulfill our court-mandated responsibility to establish a framework for skill games, and invest in our roads and bridges. Apparently, at the last minute after negotiations were concluded and an agreement reached, Senate Republican leadership backed away from the agreement, citing a lack of votes. This has been a pattern with this failed leadership in the Senate, and it impacts all of us. These are significant issues affecting communities across Pennsylvania, and I remain frustrated that we could not reach a resolution.
The contrast in legislative progress this session is striking. The House has moved 524 bills in a bipartisan fashion, while the Senate has moved only 122. While I am disappointed that so much important work remains unfinished, I also want to recognize the substantial progress made this week. Many bills passed both chambers and were signed into law by the Governor.
Sixty-one bills were presented to the Governor for his signature this week alone. With so many bills passing in the final days of session, I’ll focus on just two this week, including one of my own, and organize future updates around related legislative themes.
I’m especially pleased to share that House Bill 2555 passed the Senate unanimously and was signed into law by the Governor as Act 88 of 2026! My dad summed it up best when I told him the bill passed, saying, “You have given generations of horses a better life. What a wonderful repayment for all the joy they have brought you.” This one is personal to me. I’ve spent decades working with horses and have seen and heard too many problematic issues around equine health and horses put into the slaughter pipeline. I’m grateful for the privilege of being able to help these incredible creatures who have given me so much.
This legislation strengthens disease prevention, animal identification, and recordkeeping requirements for horses sold through dealers and auction barns. It requires documentation of a current negative Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), or Coggins, test; identifying information such as tattoos, brands, or microchips; and veterinary inspection certificates for horses entering Pennsylvania from other states.
Pennsylvania’s equine industry supports agriculture, recreation, tourism, entertainment, and thousands of jobs across the Commonwealth. Yet inconsistent documentation and gaps in recordkeeping can make it harder to identify horses, trace their movements, and respond quickly when disease threatens. Because of our comparatively weaker equine health standards some horse “sales” in Pennsylvania were occurring for horses who were never in the state. Stronger standards are an important step toward protecting horses, the people who care for them, and the industry that depends on their health and well-being.
This legislation also addresses concerns about missing or falsified records that can make it difficult to trace stolen horses or horses diverted into the slaughter pipeline in Mexico and Canada. By improving identification and traceability, we can strengthen protections for these animals and help prevent their exploitation.
The bill received strong bipartisan support throughout the legislative process, passing the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee 25–1 and the House 194–8 in June before receiving unanimous approval at all stages in the Senate.
I’m grateful to the advocates and stakeholders who helped move this legislation forward. Protecting animals requires more than good intentions; it requires practical safeguards that promote humane care, accountability, and responsible ownership.
You can watch my committee remarks here and House floor speech here.
Another important measure passed this week was Senate Bill 1014, which would require Pennsylvania schools to establish bell-to-bell policies restricting students’ use of personal cell phones and other mobile devices during the school day. I supported this approach when it came before the House previously as Rep. Steele’s House Bill 1814, and I believe it can help students learn, strengthen relationships, reduce bullying, and improve school safety.
Cell phones can be a significant distraction in the classroom, making it harder for students to concentrate, participate, and build meaningful connections with their classmates and teachers. They can also contribute to cyberbullying and create opportunities for cheating. Keeping phones away during the school day gives teachers more time to teach and students more opportunity to engage in their education.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 53% of public school leaders believe that cell phone usage negatively affects student academic performance, and more than 72% believe it harms students’ mental health and attention span. Although most schools prohibit non-academic use of cell phones during school hours, a 2023 study of 200 students between the ages of 11 and 17 found that 97% used their cell phones a median time of 43 minutes and up to 6.5 hours during the school day, and students picked up their phones a median of 51 times per day.
There are also important safety considerations. During a school emergency, students need to be able to hear and follow directions from teachers and administrators. Uncontrolled phone use can distract students, complicate communication, and spread unverified information when clear communication matters most.
Studies suggest that bell-to-bell policies are strongly contributing to the overall well-being of the school. In a survey of school principals in schools that had implemented cell-phone bans, the following was reported:
- 70% reported that the ban has had an overall positive impact on climate.
- 67% reported that the ban reduced inappropriate use of cell phones in the school, for example, to photograph students in restrooms or locker rooms, or to record, stream, photograph, or organize fights.
- 54% reported a reduction in cyberbullying inside the school.
- 44% reported reduced distractions during safety and emergency drills and actual emergencies.
- 26% reported that the ban reduced the use of phones to make and post threats against the school, including on social media.
Teachers report less classroom distraction, greater teacher satisfaction, and more face-to-face interaction among students. These bans are showing a positive impact in the classroom, however the dataset is not large enough yet to see a significant impact in student performance. However, Florida, which enacted a cell phone ban in 2023, has shown improvements on a school district level. In a study conducted in a large urban school district in Florida, the district saw results in the second year this law was in effect. Student scores increased, showing a greater improvement for boys and most impacting students in middle and high school. Absenteeism also declined significantly, causing researchers to estimate that improved attendance could explain the increase in test scores. Most importantly, smartphone activity during school hours decreased by approximately two-thirds following implementation.
The law requires schools to implement these policies by the beginning of the 2027–2028 school year, covering both instructional and non-instructional time, including lunch, recess, and the time between classes.
It also recognizes that a single policy will not work for every student or every situation. It provides exceptions for documented medical needs, including certain conditions affecting students or their immediate family members; individualized education programs and Section 504 plans; English-language learners who need phones for translation; and limited instructional uses approved by school administrators. Schools may also authorize exceptions for special occasions and other appropriate circumstances.
The bill requires schools provide families with emergency notification information and staffed ways to contact students. Parents must be able to reach their children, when necessary, even when phones are not available for routine use throughout the school day.
This legislation is about creating a better learning environment, not simply taking phones away. Pennsylvania students deserve classrooms where they can focus, develop relationships, and build the skills they need to succeed. Thoughtful policies, with appropriate exceptions and clear communication with families, can help schools achieve those goals.
I’ll continue to keep you informed about the legislation moving through Harrisburg, the issues that remain unresolved, and the work still needed to deliver results for our communities. Important issues like manufactured home protections deserve another opportunity for consideration, and I remain committed to bringing forward meaningful legislation, working across the aisle, and doing the thoughtful, effective work needed to serve our district and the Commonwealth.