QUAKERTOWN, June 12 – Leaders of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, including state Reps. Napoleon Nelson, Darisha Parker, Justin Fleming and Ismail Smith-Wade-El, released the following statement calling on Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan to expedite the investigation into the actions of Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree: “Video footage and eyewitness accounts describing a physical confrontation between the police chief and student protesters have raised significant questions that warrant a swift and transparent investigation. “It is difficult to ignore the concerns raised by members of the community while questions regarding law enforcement conduct remain under review. Public confidence in our justice system depends on all parties being held to the same standard of accountability. “The public deserves a prompt and impartial resolution to this matter, not nearly four months of uncertainty. Continued delays in the investigation of Police Chief McElree only prolong unanswered questions for those involved and for the broader community. “We therefore call upon District Attorney Khan and his office to expedite the investigation into Chief McElree and any officers involved and to announce their findings and charging decisions as soon as practicable. Transparency and timely action are essential to maintaining public trust in the integrity of the justice system. “Our Read more
POTTSTOWN, June 12 – State Rep. Paul Friel today announced that East Coventry Township has been awarded a $97,399 Keystone Historic Preservation Grant through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, funding that will help preserve local historic resources and strengthen the community's connection to its heritage. The grant is part of more than $2.2 million awarded statewide through the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program, which supports projects that identify, preserve, protect and promote Pennsylvania's historic and archaeological resources. "I was proud to support this investment because preserving our history is an investment in our future," said Friel, D-Chester. "East Coventry Township is home to important historic assets that help tell the story of our community and our commonwealth. This funding will help ensure those stories are preserved for future generations, enhancing our way of life and community pride." The Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program provides matching funds for planning and construction projects that preserve historic resources and support local revitalization efforts. Grants are awarded through a competitive application process and require a 50% local match. The funding comes in time to celebrate America's 250th anniversary in 2026. Historic preservation projects across the commonwealth are helping communities showcase Pennsylvania's central Read more
LANCASTER, June 11 – Building on the success of her May event promoting Red Rose Authority’s services, state Rep. Nikki Rivera, D-Lancaster, will lead a second “Bus it to Market” trip on Saturday, June 27, to Central Market in Lancaster to raise awareness of the region’s affordable bus transportation system. “Residents on last month’s ‘Bus it to Market’ trip told me how much they enjoyed the ease and affordability of RRTA’s bus ride to Central Market,” Rivera said. “I’m leading a second ride so that more of our residents can experience for themselves how central Lancaster City’s eclectic mix of one-of-a-kind shops and creative restaurants is just a short RRTA bus ride away. And knowledge of how to use our public transportation can lead to new job opportunities.” Rivera said that she hopes her Bus It to Market excursions will show residents that RRTA buses are a fast, reliable, and inexpensive way to get to Lancaster and other places in the region. According to Rivera, Lancaster has unhealthy levels of air pollution. She cited the American Lung Association’s 2025 “State of the Air” report, which listed the Lancaster metro area as rejoining the worst 25 cities in the U.S., at 22nd most polluted in the nation and second worst in the Mid-Atlantic for daily particle pollution. The Lancaster area’s year-round pollution went from bad to worse, from 57th to Read more
HARRISBURG, June 10 – In a clear demonstration of bipartisan support for the commonwealth’s first responders, the House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee today overwhelmingly approved state Rep. Joe Ciresi’s legislation to establish a statewide program providing free annual cancer screenings for firefighters. House Bill 2394 would ensure that firefighters can access annual cancer screening examinations at no cost when those services are not fully covered by their health insurance. The program would apply to both career and volunteer firefighters across the Commonwealth. According to Ciresi, firefighters’ repeated job-related exposure to cancer-causing chemicals has led the disease to become one of the leading causes of line-of-duty deaths. Studies by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found that firefighters face a 9% increase in cancer diagnoses, and a 14% increase in cancer-related deaths, compared to the general population in the U.S. “Today’s vote shouts out loud and clear to our firefighters that we recognize the health risk of occupational cancer they uniquely face and that we have their backs,” said Ciresi, D-Montgomery. “Currently, many of our firefighters must choose between their health and their families’ finances. That is a moral outrage. My legislation would improve our firefighters’ health outcomes—and shield them from crushing health care Read more
The state House today approved on a bipartisan vote a bill sponsored by state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, to protect prospective parents’ rights to fertility treatments in Pennsylvania. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 9 – Legislation that would significantly expand access to low-interest financing for Pennsylvania farmers to grow and modernize their operations advanced unanimously from the state House Commerce Committee on Monday, announced the bill’s prime sponsors. State Reps. Paul Friel and John Lawrence said that their H.B. 2207 would help augment critical agricultural operations and keep Pennsylvania competitive in an increasingly challenging economic environment. Pennsylvania farmers face rising costs for land, equipment, buildings and other investments necessary to sustain and expand their operations. While the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority's Small Business First Fund provides valuable financing opportunities, agricultural businesses are limited to loans of $400,000, far below the $2 million cap available to non-agricultural enterprises. "Our farmers are small business owners, job creators and essential contributors to Pennsylvania's economy," said Friel, D-Chester . "As costs continue to rise, access to affordable capital is more important than ever. This legislation would ensure that farmers have the same opportunities as other businesses to invest in their operations, create jobs, and strengthen our agricultural economy." “I’m grateful for the strong bipartisan support to modernize agricultural lending at PIDA,” said Lawrence, R-Chester . “This Read more
Legislation allowing Green Star Service Banner on state property advances Read more
Legislation establishing penalties for CEOs of insurance companies responsible for harm Read more
HARRISBURG, June 4 – House Communications & Technology Committee Majority Chair, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, is taking a stand to protect Pennsylvanians’ security and privacy by introducing legislation that would require all smart glasses manufactured, sold, and used in Pennsylvania to have a visual indicator that shows when the device is recording video or audio. “My legislation, H.B. 2603, would establish common-sense privacy safeguards for smart glasses to help protect Pennsylvanians from potential misuse of this emerging technology,” Ciresi said. “Smart glasses are an innovative technological advancement, but their design also allows them to easily record or stream without anyone noticing. Considering the implications this has for individual privacy and surveillance, we must take thoughtful, proactive steps to address those risks. The same features that make these devices appealing—the ability to communicate, capture audio and video, and share information instantly—can also be exploited by bad actors to secretly record individuals; help facilitate stalking, harassment or intimidation; or potentially employ real-time facial recognition technology without a person’s knowledge or consent.” According to Ciresi, the legislation would fall under Pennsylvania’s current wiretapping laws and would have similar requirements in line with existing laws regarding recording people. The legislation would require Read more
HARRISBURG, June 3 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Children & Youth Committee on Tuesday reported out legislation ( H.B. 434 ) by state Reps. Gina Curry and Carol Kazeem’s that would establish an Ebony Alert System in Pennsylvania dedicated to finding missing Black and Brown youth, including young women and girls. According to the two Delaware County legislators, Black children accounted for 40% of all children under 18 reported missing in the United States in 2023, despite Black Americans comprising only 14% of the nation’s population. Similarly, Black women and girls represent approximately 18% of all missing persons cases while making up just 7% of the population. The lawmakers argue that cases involving missing children of color—particularly Black children—often receive less attention because they are disproportionately classified as runaways . That designation can prevent AMBER Alerts from being issued, reducing the law enforcement and public resources devoted to recovery efforts and limiting media coverage of their disappearances. Lack of media coverage of missing Black children -- just 7% according to one study -- has a devastating impact on the chances of recovery of missing Black children. Media attention raises public awareness and puts law enforcement on alert , resulting in them contributing critical resources to finding children. “Despite making up a significant percentage of missing child cases, Read more
HARRISBURG, June 3 – Legislation to direct the Office of Attorney General to conduct a public education campaign about artificial intelligence and to improve AI consumer literacy in Pennsylvania overwhelmingly passed the House today (198-3), said the bill’s prime sponsors, House Communications & Technology Committee chairs Reps. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, and Jason Ortitay, R-Washington/Allegheny. “AI safety starts with informed users,” Ciresi said. “As AI becomes increasingly common in across our daily life, it’s important that we know how to interact with AI safely and responsibly and be educated consumers of online content. Informed public awareness of the risks of AI—from misinformation and hallucinations, emotional dependency, to potentially harmful advice, and more--is essential as we enter this new technological age.” Ciresi believes that while AI has an incredible potential to increase productivity and lead to breakthroughs across countless fields, it is also a Pandora’s box of risks—including bias in outputs, data collection and privacy issues, and “deepfakes” and misinformation—that requires greater public awareness. “Many people don’t yet have a full understanding of AI,” said Ortitay. “As it is becoming a part of everyday life, this legislation will help improve public awareness. Although AI offers significant benefits, it can also be misused. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 2 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today passed state Rep. Carol Kazeem’s H.B. 1045 , which would require school nurses and staff to complete training approved by the state Department of Health to help them recognize the signs and symptoms of a seizure and how to provide first aid treatment. Currently, state law makes epilepsy training optional for school staff. “More than 129,000 Pennsylvanians have epilepsy, and many of them developed the brain disorder during childhood,” said Kazeem, D-Delaware. “Some even had their first seizure during the school day, far from the safety of their homes and their parents’ loving care. My legislation would increase the safety of our students and give their parents peace of mind by requiring that school nurses and other school personnel have the training that would enable them to quickly identify the signs of an epileptic seizure and provide the correct treatment.” Kazeem noted that incorrect treatment of a seizure can result in serious injury and even death. Kazeem’s legislation, developed in collaboration with the Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania, would ensure that school nurses and school professional employees who have direct contact with students complete training approved by the state Department of Health every two years to identify the signs of epileptic seizures and provide seizure first aid. The bill is with the state Senate Read more
State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, today joined officials from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania American Legion to unveil dedicated parking spaces for veterans at turnpike service plazas. Read more
ELVERSON, May 18 – State Rep. Paul Friel and Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll today celebrated the early reopening of St. Peters Road (SR 4041) in St. Peters Village. Portions of the road had been destabilized and closed due to major erosion between the roadway and French Creek in Warwick Township. “This has been a long-standing safety hazard for our community, and getting both lanes of St. Peters Road fully reopened is a massive win for our residents and local businesses,” said Friel, D-Chester. “I am thrilled we could restore the road and ensure that this historic gem is open to all who enjoy its trails, shops, restaurants and natural beauty." Friel noted that he has enjoyed spending time in St. Peters since he was young and still visits regularly. He said he was pleased to see so many people from the community during the ribbon cutting this morning. "This place is a part of our community and a part of me since I was literally in high school,” he said. “So, I know the importance of our little hamlet here. “I'd like to thank Secretary Carroll and the folks at PennDOT for all they did to get this project moving. I also want to extend my deep appreciation to the Loftus Construction team. This was a thorough and well-executed rebuild – I am thoroughly impressed with the work they have done here. The new and improved road will serve St. Peters Village and our Read more
HARRISBURG, May 6 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recognized the critical service that public works employees provide in emergency settings by overwhelmingly passing legislation (196–5) Tuesday that would extend to them the same state death benefits that first responders who lose their lives on the job receive. According to the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, the impetus for H.B. 1485 was to provide parity for public works employees who lose their lives on the job protecting Pennsylvanians -- just as the state does for first responders. “Public works employees are the ‘silent arm of public safety’ -- they’re the first on the scene of an emergency and the last to leave,” Ciresi said. “Our families, our homes, and our lives are safe because these public workers risk their lives daily under all kinds of conditions. It’s past time to give them the recognition and respect they deserve, as we do for first responders.” House Bill 1485 is modeled after a similar law passed in New Hampshire in 2022. The legislation now moves to the state Senate for consideration. Read more
Mothers need more than flowers for Mother’s Day; they need policies in place that will make life easier for working families and prospective parents. Read more
HARRISBURG, May 5– The PA House Communications & Technology Committee today voted to approve two bills that would establish guardrails for the use of artificial intelligence in advertising and healthcare, and a third bill that would set limits on the sound levels of commercial advertisements in video streaming services. Read more
The House today approved a bipartisan bill sponsored by state Reps. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, and Danillo Burgos, D-Phila., that makes strides toward protecting children and addressing the youth mental health crisis. Read more
HARRISBURG, April 29 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation ( H.B. 2179 ) introduced by state Rep. Christina Sappey that would clarify what subjects must be included in the public notices of proposed ordinances for second class townships. Sappey serves on the House Local Government Committee and introduced the bill after learning about a shade tree ordinance that was overturned in Lancaster County because of ambiguous language in the public notice. Sappey's bill would clarify what subjects must be included in the brief summary of an advertised proposed ordinance. The summary would need to include a description of the following, as applicable: An adoption, amendment or repeal of a tax, fee, charge or assessment. An adoption, amendment or repeal of a regulation that provides for an offense or civil or criminal penalty. A provision or covenant that provides for the payment or disbursement of funds for goods, services or contractual obligation; restricts funds to a specific purpose or obligation; or pledges funds for a specific purpose or obligation. “This legislation also would require advertisements to include references to the township office where copies of the proposed ordinance may be viewed, and to the publicly accessible website where the full text of the ordinance may be viewed, if one exists,” Sappey said. “If a summary meets the obligations outlined Read more
HARRISBURG, April 28 – The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee on Monday unanimously advanced two bills that would protect individuals cooperating with first responders in the event of a drug or alcohol overdose, announced state Reps. Paul Friel and Emily Kinkead, who sponsored the bills. House Bills 1944 and 1945 would protect people, such as college students, from endangerment charges if they are administering aid to a person suffering an emergency overdose. “Strengthening medical amnesty, particularly on college campuses, empowers students to prioritize safety over fear, fostering a community where looking out for one another is the norm, not a liability,” said Friel, D-Chester. “When students trust they won't face punishment for seeking help, they are far more likely to intervene in emergencies, saving lives.” “Every second matters in an emergency. In these critical moments, no one should have to weigh saving a life against the risk of being charged with a crime,” said Kinkead, D-Allegheny. “These bills make it clear that if you render aid to a person experiencing a medical emergency as a result of consuming drugs or alcohol, you should be protected. “Advancing this legislation is a step toward ensuring people, especially young people, are empowered to do the right thing without fear of life-altering consequences.” The representatives heard during a March Read more
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