HARRISBURG, Feb. 11 – A longtime proponent for community safety and first responders, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, today announced local fire and EMS companies have been awarded $161,876 in grants through the state’s Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program. “Our fire and emergency responders are with us in our time of greatest need, but they have been struggling to respond to emergencies with limited resources and fewer recruits,” Ciresi said. “These funds are critical so they can continue to provide the life-saving services they do, day in, day out. I continue to advocate for funding to support our fire and emergency responders so that our communities remain safe.” Local fire and EMS companies that were awarded grants include: Friendship HLH&A Inc – Royersford – $15,000. Goodwill Steam Fire Engine Co No 1 – Pottstown – $31,106.84. Limerick Fire Department – Limerick – $40,000. North End Fire Company Num 1 of Pottstown – Pottstown – $15,000. Philadelphia Steam Fire Engine Co 1 – Pottstown – $15,461.31. Ringing Hill Fire Company – Pottstown – $15,461.31. Royersford Fire Department – Royersford – $14,815.77. Sanatoga Fire Co – Pottstown – $15,030.95. The Fire Company and Emergency Read more

HARRISBURG, Feb. 6 – State Rep. Carol Kazeem, D-Delaware, issued this statement in support of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal: “The budget plan that Governor Shapiro unveiled yesterday would change life for the better for many residents in the communities I represent, and I am excited to help push it over the finish line. “I wholeheartedly support Governor Shapiro’s increased investments in our public school system. Countless studies have shown that a strong public school system can lift up individuals and their communities, but historic inequality in our funding system left richer school districts better funded at the expense of poorer ones, creating a legacy of structural inequality in our schools and across our commonwealth. Though last year’s historic investments in education made headway in rectifying this imbalance, there’s still a lot of work to be done to roll back years of neglect. This budget would deliver a needed $75 million increase in basic education and a $40 million increase in special education. “The governor’s plan to recruit and retain teachers lays the foundation for a great school system. I approve his plan to provide stipends to student teachers and invest in professional development for current teachers to help them stay on the cutting edge of education. “Studies have also shown that starting to educate kids in daycare helps them to acquire the social and Read more

HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, reacted to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2025-26 budget unveiled today before a joint session of the General Assembly. “This budget proposal from Governor Shapiro continues the significant progress we’ve made in bringing state funding to our long-underfunded school districts.” Ciresi said. “Building on the historic investments in our public schools and steps to reform our broken charter school law that we achieved in the previous budget, this proposal would continue that work on education funding and cyber charter reform. The result will be lower property taxes, more resources for our public schools, and a fairer education system for all students and taxpayers.” Ciresi said the proposed budget includes an additional $641 million in education funding, mostly directed to school districts like Pottstown and Pottsgrove that have been identified as most in need of additional state aid. The proposal also includes $265 million in savings for school districts by setting a statewide cyber charter school tuition rate of $8,000 per student per year, aligning these payments of tax dollars from school districts with the actual expenses of providing an online education. This was a key component of comprehensive cyber charter reform legislation proposed by Ciresi last session. The combined education funding increases and cost savings from cyber charter reform would mean an Read more

HARRISBURG, Feb. 3 – Bipartisan legislation (H.B. 201) introduced by state Reps. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, and Kristin Marcell, R-Bucks, which would allow intermediate units to own facilities for instructional space overwhelmingly passed the House today (155-47). Read more

HARRISBURG, Feb. 3 – State Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery, said she is pleased to report that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed her bill creating parking-protected bike lanes today. These special lanes would allow street parking to be reconfigured with vehicles parked further from the curb to leave space for a protected bike lane. “Under current law, a vehicle has to park within 12 inches of a curb,” Daley said. “This bill will update the law and allow vehicles to park farther away from these curbs, creating a bike lane between the curb and the parked car. “This change has been a long time coming, and I hope that the Senate picks up this critical work soon. Lives are depending on it.” House Bill 291 is also referred to as Susan’s and Emily’s Law. In October 2015, Susan Hicks was struck from behind and killed at the corner of Forbes and Bigelow in Pittsburgh. In November 2017, Emily Fredricks was riding her bike to work on Spruce Street in Philadelphia when she was struck and killed by a sanitation truck. This measure is supported by PennDOT’s Pedalcycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, BikePGH, and the Pennsylvania Municipal League, among others. This bill does not require changes to be made; it simply provides local authorities with a legal option to consider, Daley said. For more information, Read more

HARRISBURG, Jan. 31 – State Rep. Napoleon Nelson, joined by state Reps. Paul Friel, Steven Malagari, Chris Pielli and Robert E. Merski, announced this week forthcoming legislation aimed at curbing the use of artificial intelligence tools in schools and by state government agencies. "As technology continues to evolve, we must ensure that it is used responsibly -- especially when it directly impacts the people we serve," said Nelson, who serves on both the House Education Committee and the House Communications & Technology Committee. "Pennsylvania taxpayers and students have the right to expect factual and reliable information when they interact with government officials or educators. AI tools are already incredibly powerful and often deliver significant workplace efficiencies, but they are prone to, frankly, making stuff up. If a student is in a classroom to learn or a resident is reaching out to their government seeking assistance, the worst thing we could do is put someone in front of them that speaks with authority and but is not speaking in truth." The legislation, which has yet to be formally introduced, would require that any AI tool or agent used in direct communication with Pennsylvania residents or students -- whether in state government offices or public schools -- meets a minimum standard of factual accuracy. It would also introduce an audit process to regularly assess AI-generated content and ensure any Read more

HARRISBURG, Jan. 28 – State Rep. Perry Warren, D-Bucks, announced today that the Pennsylvania House Insurance Committee is reorganized and focused on new ways to protect consumers. “As chairman of the Insurance Committee, I look forward to passing laws that make insurance better for all Pennsylvanians,” Warren said. “Earlier today, the committee unanimously voted in support of three important proposals that will hopefully become law.” The first proposal, H.B. 111 , would prohibit life insurance companies from discriminating against individuals who have obtained naloxone or another medication to reverse an opioid overdose. Because of a standing order from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, anyone can walk up to a pharmacy counter and receive naloxone. Warren noted the story of one mother who received naloxone so she could save her son’s life if he experienced an opioid overdose. She applied for a life insurance policy, but the life insurance company refused to give her a policy because they saw that she received naloxone and presumed that she had an addiction. House Bill 111 would protect consumers like this mother by prohibiting life insurance companies from denying coverage based on an individual’s prior purchase or acquisition of naloxone, Warren said. House Bills 211 and 261 update outdated language in Read more

HARRISBURG, Jan. 28 – State Rep. Justin Fleming has helped to secure $121,000 in state funding through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program for Hawthorne SPE LLC Susquehanna Union Green project. The funds will be used to install accessible walking trails at Susquehanna Union Green and to install stairs to the pedestrian bridge installed over Black Run tributary. "This funding will help Susquehanna Union Green fulfill its promise as an outdoor experience destination for our communities," Fleming said. “Offering over 19 acres of green space, Susquehanna Union Green offers area residents of all ages beautiful areas to explore and enjoy.” In 2022, Susquehanna Union Green received an award from Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. The award provided financial assistance for construction of the public parks and greens making up the heart of the Susquehanna Union Green master plan. This latest grant funding comes through the Act 13 of 2012, which established the Marcellus Legacy Fund and allocates funds to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks and beautification projects using the Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program. The funds are allocated to projects involving the development, rehabilitation and improvement of public parks, recreation Read more

HARRISBURG, Jan. 28 – Bipartisan legislation ( H.B. 201 ) introduced by state Reps. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, and Kristin Marcell, R-Bucks, which would allow intermediate units to own facilities for instructional space was reported out of the House Education Committee and is now headed to the full House for a vote. Last session, the legislation, introduced as H.B. 1526, passed the House and was sent to the Senate for consideration. However, the Senate did not act on it. IUs are regional educational service agencies that were created by the legislature in 1970. They provide special education, professional development and technical assistance services to public school districts and non-public/private schools. They also serve as liaisons between school districts and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Every year, more than 175,000 students and 50,000 educators receive services and training from IUs. Currently, IUs are only permitted to own office space and warehouse facilities, not facilities used for instructional space. This limitation does not apply to school districts, area career and technical schools, or charter schools, even though many IUs operate classrooms and other instructional spaces. As a result, all of their instructional facilities must be leased, burdening IUs with rental costs that sometimes greatly exceed what it would cost the IU to purchase and own the facility themselves. “As a former school board member, I know that Read more