PA House passes the Beagle Bill!

Rep. Leanne Krueger October 20, 2026 | 4:04 PM

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I’m excited to start this week’s newsletter with some great news for Penn-Delco schools!

The Penn-Delco School District has been awarded $536,485 in state funding to support their structured literacy curriculum at all four of its elementary schools: Aston, Coebourn, Parkside, and Pennell.

This funding will help provide our educators and students with the tools and resources they need to strengthen reading instruction, including evidence-based instructional materials, reading assessments and professional development for educators.

Strong reading skills are the foundation for success in the classroom and beyond. I’m proud to see this investment coming back to our schools and helping give the teachers the resources they need to support our youngest learners.

At the Capitol

House passes Beagle Bill

Yesterday, the House unanimously passed the Beagle Bill (SB 381), an important step toward creating a more humane and compassionate Pennsylvania for our animals.

This legislation strengthens the protections for dogs and cats used in research by limiting taxpayer funding for painful testing, increasing transparency, ensuring these animals can be adopted into loving homes, and encouraging the use of non-animal testing alternatives when available.

I was proud to support this bipartisan legislation and its commitment to protecting animals from unnecessary suffering. Our furry friends deserve better, and I’m glad to see Pennsylvania moving in the right direction.

In Harrisburg, we’ve been working on legislation focused on protecting the health and well-being of Pennsylvanians at every stage of life. Here are a few of the bills we recently passed in the House:

Concerning PA’s youngest residents, HB 507, also known as the Baby Food Protection Act, would protect infants from toxic metals in food by establishing testing and labeling requirements under the state Dept. of Agriculture. Baby food would be affixed with labels showing the amount of metals detected, and food that exceeds specified limits would be banned from sale.

We also passed HB 1652, which would add Gaucher disease to PA’s standard newborn screening program, which already tests for more than 10 other conditions. Early detection is key to treating this rare genetic condition, which causes an enzyme deficiency that leads to lifelong health problems.

HB 2649 would require health insurers to cover fertility preservation services if a medically necessary treatment, like cancer treatment, could cause infertility.

And HB 2378 would not just help protect you and your family’s vaccine access, it would strengthen it by expanding the age groups who are offered the vaccines for flu, pneumonia, and RSV after a hospital stay or as part of their ongoing care.

HB 2492 would help families by requiring childcare providers to inform families, staff and the state at least 30 days before permanently closing.

We’re also working to protect kids by cracking down on retailers that illegally sell vaping products to minors. HB 1434 would increase penalties for retailers that violate the law, while HB 2657 would ban the sale of synthetic kratom, regulate the sale of natural kratom products and prohibit kratom sales to anyone under 21.

In the District

New funding for our hometowns!

Last week, I was proud to take part in three state funding check presentations across our district, supporting Brookhaven Fire Company, Upland Borough, and Neumann University. Together, these investments will support important projects that strengthen our communities, improve local facilities and create new opportunities for residents.

I’m always proud to help bring state funding back home and make sure our communities have the resources they need to continue moving forward.

I presented $97,000 to Brookhaven Fire Company to upgrade its aging generators. Reliable equipment is critical to first responders, especially during emergencies when our communities depend on them most. This funding will help ensure the fire company has the dependable backup power it needs to remain operational and ready to respond.

Upland Borough received $500,000 in state funding to modernize the mechanical, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems at the Reese Center. These improvements will help ensure the building can safely and reliably serve as Upland Borough’s emergency management headquarters when our community needs it most.

On Friday, I was happy to join Sen. Kane at Neumann University to present a $500,000 check through Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).

This funding will support the construction of a new ice arena on Neumann University’s Aston Township campus. The project will expand recreational opportunities for students and residents while creating a community asset for students, families and visitors to enjoy.

Pictured from left to right: Michael Hedden, Head Men’s Ice Hockey Coach; Gina McLaughlin, Deputy Athletic Director; Eric Wellington, Provost; Sen. John Kane; Dr. Chris Domes, President; Stephen Washkalavitch, Chair of the Board of Trustees; John Krimmel, Director of Athletics and Recreation; Rebecca Morse, Head Women’s Ice Hockey Coach

Honoring our veterans

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of joining Sen. John Kane’s office to host our Veterans Appreciation Lunch at American Legion Post 926 in Aston. It was a wonderful afternoon spent showing our appreciation for the veterans in our community and thanking them for their service and sacrifice.

Veterans and their families enjoyed lunch while connecting with organizations and representatives from government programs that provide important resources and services for veterans.

Thank you to all of our veterans and their families who joined us, as well as our participating vendors and organizations for sharing valuable information and resources.

Programs & Services

Make your voice heard with a mail-in ballot

Mail-in voting in PA is simple, safe, and secure. It’s one way that you can make your voice heard. The deadline for requesting a mail-in ballot is Oct. 27, so there is still time to request one. Learn more by watching the video below or visiting www.vote.pa.gov.

Important Election Dates and Deadlines

November 3 is Election Day. Here are the dates and deadlines you need to ensure that you are prepared to vote.

Last Day to Request a Mail-in or Absentee Ballot: October 27, 2026
General Election: November 3, 2026. Polls are open 7 AM – 8 PM.
- Last day for county election office to receive completed mail-in and civilian absentee ballots (must be received by 8:00 p.m.)

Military and Overseas Absentee Ballots: November 10, 2026.
- Submitted for delivery no later than 11:59 PM on November 2

Election Resources

Vote.pa.gov is Pennsylvania’s official voter information website. This site is a comprehensive voting resource for all eligible citizens in Pennsylvania.

delcopa.gov/vote is the official election information website for Delaware County, providing local resources and support for Delaware County voters.

Voting & Election Statistics: Look up registration statistics, election data, and results.

SNAP benefits to increase; More secure EBT cards on the way

SNAP recipients in Pennsylvania will see a modest increase in benefits beginning October 1. Most households will receive an average increase of about $18 per month, while the minimum monthly benefit will increase from $24 to $25. No recipient will see a decrease in benefits as a result of the annual adjustment.

The Shapiro Administration also recently announced that Pennsylvania will begin issuing chip-enabled EBT cards in late spring 2027. The upgraded cards, funded through a $7 million state investment, will help protect SNAP and Cash Assistance benefits from fraud and theft and will be mailed automatically to recipients at no cost.

County Assistance Office Updates

All County Assistance Offices, the PA DHS Customer Service Center, and the PA DHS Helpline currently have a delayed opening to the public of 11:00 a.m. on Thursdays. Starting Nov. 5, 2026, they will have a delayed opening of 1:00 p.m. on Thursdays.

The public will not be able to enter offices and calls will not be accepted before 1:00 p.m. on Thursdays due to staff training. This will not impact hours of operation on other days of the week. Thursday delayed openings will continue for the foreseeable future.

Individuals can still submit an application or renewal, report a change, submit verification documents, and more anytime online at dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS or you can stop in my district office for assistance.

Pennie Open Enrollment Begins November 1

Open Enrollment for 2027 health coverage through Pennie, Pennsylvania's official health insurance marketplace, begins November 1, 2026, and runs through January 15, 2027. Through Pennie, residents can compare health plans, determine eligibility for financial assistance, and enroll in coverage that meets their needs.

Residents are encouraged to review their eligibility and update their household and income information before enrolling, as recent federal changes may affect financial assistance for some consumers. Many Pennsylvanians may still qualify for savings that can help lower monthly premiums and other health care costs.

To have coverage begin on January 1, 2027, enrollment must be completed by December 15, 2026. For more information, visit Pennie's website.

Free job training and employment support through EARN

The Employment, Advancement and Retention Network (EARN) Chester District offers FREE employment and training support for individuals receiving cash assistance or SNAP benefits. The program can help participants prepare for employment and build new skills through job search and resume assistance, vocational training and certifications, connections to employers, and other community resources.

To learn more about the EARN program, contact Somonya Jorden at 610-470-2266 or email Sjorden@edsi.com. The EARN Center is located at 701 Crosby St., Suite B, Chester.