My insurance legislation is signed into law!

Rep. Jen Mazzocco October 22, 2026 | 4:27 PM

My House Bill 2473 advanced through the PA Senate on Tuesday and was signed into law on Thursday, becoming my first enacted piece of legislation here in Harrisburg.

This bill repeals the Flood Insurance Education and Information Act and removes language mandating studies and reports that were completed more than a decade ago. The Act was enacted in 1996 and required the state’s Insurance Commissioner to create a consumer education plan to increase awareness of flood insurance. Since then, the Insurance Department has established and enhanced its educational efforts, rendering the Act obsolete.

When I came to Harrisburg, I knew I wanted to make our state government work more effectively for the people of the Commonwealth, and this bill is a great place to start. Streamlining our insurance laws means the Insurance Department will do relevant work with our tax dollars rather than waste its time on frivolous mandates.

I appreciate my colleagues for their vigorous support of my bill, and I will continue bringing legislation to the forefront that directly increases government efficiency.

Mitigating AI Risks

During Monday’s meeting of the Communications & Technology Committee, we held a public hearing on mitigating risks posed by “frontier” artificial intelligence models—advanced systems that could cause catastrophic harm across society.

The testimony provided made clear that Pennsylvania needs to be proactive against these AI-related risks. My colleagues Rep. Shusterman and Rep. Scott have introduced House Bill 2800 requiring formation and adherence to AI safety frameworks, while Rep. Guzman’s House Bill 2829 would establish reasonable expectations for safety practices and incident reporting in the AI field.

With no federal framework in sight, these bills would keep Pennsylvania ahead of the game on AI, and I urge the full House to tackle this issue as soon as possible.

Kids & Families Caucus

On Tuesday, I met with my colleagues at the state Capitol to continue the launch of the Kids and Families Caucus in our state legislature. It was nice to hear how excited everyone is—in both the House and Senate—to prioritize policy initiatives for our families trying to have children, expecting children, or raising young children. I look forward to updating you on our legislative priorities through the end of 2026 and beyond.

Nonprofit Symposium

I was proud to join Rep. Abigail Salisbury at her Fourth Annual Nonprofit Symposium last week, gathering more than 350 nonprofit leaders, staffers, and volunteers to provide resources for Commonwealth nonprofits. These organizations are crucial in our communities, especially at a time when federal policies are cutting into the resources people need to survive. If any local nonprofit is looking to connect with state resources, contact my office and we can point you in the right direction.

One Roof Housing Resource Fair

I was able to hear directly from renters about their experiences finding and maintaining affordable housing at the One Roof Housing Resource Fair alongside Reps. Deasy, McAndrew, and Powell. The event brought together affordable housing providers and other social services—such as utility and food assistance, legal help, and eviction support—to make it easier for folks to get the help they need. Listening to these experiences reminded us all that stable housing is the foundation for so many other things—education, employment, food security, and community building.

Make your plans to vote!

The November 3rd General Election is approaching fast! For mail-in and absentee voters, the final day to request a ballot is on Tuesday, October 27th, and you can visit the application page at this link.

Mail-in and absentee ballots can also be returned in-person at several sites, including Allegheny County Satellite Election Offices that will be open this weekend. There, voters can register, apply for, receive, vote and return their ballots.

Locally, the Dormont Pool will serve as a return site from October 30th through November 2nd. Voting by mail is a safe and secure way to make your voice heard in November. For Election Day on November 3rd, the Allegheny County Elections Office allows you to view your sample ballot and polling place address, or you can use the PA Department of State website if you’re unsure of your municipality or ward and district.

A beautiful fall weekend in the district and upcoming events

It was a beautiful weekend to be out in the district! This past Saturday, I had a wonderful time at the Baldwin Township Fall Fest, and it was great to see so many friends, enjoy the band, and “table” or treat. The next day, my office and I handed out lollipops and activity books at the Castle Shannon Library trick-or-treat and Halloween parade. The kids couldn’t keep their claws (literally) off the Dum Dums!

There’s more fun to be had during the spooky season with the following Halloween activities, so come out for some wicked times:

Upper St. Clair Family Fun Halloween Party, Wednesday, Oct. 28: Upper St. Clair Library will host family fun with student volunteers assisting on Halloween crafts and more from 5-6 p.m.
Mt. Lebanon Pumpkin Patch Parade, Saturday, Oct. 31: The parade begins at 11 a.m. along Washington Road, traveling from Mt. Lebanon Cemetery to Lebanon Ave. Children can also enjoy trick-or-treating at participating Uptown locations, including my office.

My district office is here to help! Call or stop by with your questions about state programs, applications, and services including Senior ConnectCards, Unclaimed Property, PennDOT services, Vital Records, and more.

Call us at 412-343-3870, email RepMazzocco@pahouse.net or visit 650 Washington Road, Suite 102, in Mt. Lebanon. Staff will be in the office Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The first 15 minutes of parking in uptown Mt. Lebanon’s North Parking Garage across from the office is free. The office can also be reached on the T to the Mt. Lebanon station.