Progress on our goals to protect kids, first responders

Rep. Tim Brennan October 25, 2026

PA Representative Tim Brennan banner image

Dear Neighbor,

I’m happy to report back to you on even more legislation that my House colleagues and I passed recently, under priorities such as protecting your privacy and access to healthcare.

Before I get to those bills, however, I want to bring your attention to the measures we approved to protect PA kids. After holding policy hearings around the state to listen to parents, educators, and school leaders, we approved legislation to ban the use of cell phones by students in schools. After securing approval from both chambers of the legislature this week, that bill is set to become law!

We also voted to require that childcare providers keep a supply of and train their staff to properly use EpiPens (HB 928), and to require mandated reporters to report to ChildLine if they suspect the existence of child sexual abuse material, AI child sexual abuse material, or hazing (HB 2474). These two bills, as well as the following, are now awaiting Senate action to move forward:

We voted to regulate law enforcement’s use of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs), like Flock cameras, to both protect your privacy and maintain public safety. (HB 2771)
We passed HB 1827 to require health insurers (both private and Medicaid) to cover testing, treatment, and preventative measures for osteoporosis, beginning at the onset of menopause.

We approved HB 1123 to require health insurers to cover colorectal cancer screenings beginning at age 45, and HB 2826 to establish a firefighter cancer screening program.

We voted to hold Big Tech accountable by prohibiting data centers from obtaining public utilities status (HB 2674).

We’re pushing to prevent you from being overcharged as a utility customer by passing legislation to establish a user-friendly, centralized public database that would give clear information on utility rates and proposed rate increases (HB 2584).

Sincerely,

Harrisburg Update

Policy hearing on PA's Latino community

At a recent House hearing on the experiences and needs of Pennsylvania’s growing Latino community, we heard from community leaders and advocates about everything from education and workforce needs to housing, healthcare and the challenges facing working families.

Experts detailed how Latinos in the workforce continue to reap great economic benefits for PA’s economy, but that Latino workers are much more likely to be underpaid and unable to afford home ownership – and that their children are more likely to struggle in the commonwealth’s education system.

It’s important to discuss the ways that PA’s growing Latino community is strengthening our commonwealth overall, including through contributions to their neighborhoods and the workforce.
Hearing like this, where we listen directly to the people experiencing these challenges, help us better understand what is working and where we need to fill in some gaps.

In the District

Kinney family farmland preserved in Buckingham Twp.

Once farmland is gone, we don’t get it back. Preserving it helps protect the agricultural heritage that’s key to both our history and our future in Bucks County. 1,228 acres across 22 farms were newly preserved today by PA’s Farmland Preservation Program, and I’m proud to share that a 49-acre crop farm in Buckingham Twp., owned by the Kinney Family, is among this protected farmland.

Protecting working farms here in Bucks County means preserving our local character and keeping farmland available for future generations.

Visit to New Britain Twp. PD's station

Safe communities start with well-equipped officers and the facilities they need to do their jobs. As a member of the Pennsylvania House Law Enforcement Caucus, I appreciate the important role that state support plays in helping local departments meet their needs.

I recently joined Township Supervisor Cynthia Jones, Rep. Brian Munroe, and staff from Sen. Steve Santarsiero’s office to tour the New Britain Township Police Department and learn about their proposal for a new standalone station, including how accreditation standards and operational needs factor into its design.

I appreciate the opportunity to work with local partners to support the officers who keep our communities safe.

Visit from A Woman's Place

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to honor survivors, remember lives lost, and raise awareness about preventing abuse.

The team at A Woman’s Place recently visited my office to discuss legislative priorities that would strengthen protections for people experiencing domestic violence, including improvements to protection orders.

We can all help by listening without judgment, supporting survivors’ choices, and connecting those who need help with trusted resources like A Woman's Place.

Honoring Bucks County's fallen firefighters

It was a solemn honor to attend the Bucks County Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Doylestown and remember those who gave their lives in service to others, including Chief Edward S. Margovich of Bristol Township’s Third District Fire Company.

We must never forget the sacrifices that firefighters make or the families and fellow firefighters who carry their loss.

Supporting those who serve also means protecting their health. I’m proud to cosponsor House Bill 2394, passed by the House, which would provide free annual cancer screenings for career and volunteer firefighters when their insurance doesn’t fully cover the cost. Early detection can save lives.

Oscar Hammerstein Museum project underway

The renovation of Oscar Hammerstein’s historic home at Highland Farm is officially underway!

I was proud to join the Museum board, supporters and partners for the groundbreaking of the Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center in Doylestown Township – and to have worked with Sen. Santarsiero to help secure state funding for the project.

Highland Farm is where Hammerstein wrote many of the songs and musicals that helped shape American musical theater. Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The King and I, The Sound of Music -- all were written right here in Doylestown. Preserving this special place will allow future generations to experience that history while creating a home for the arts, education and creativity.

Manufacturing Day at Bromiley

I enjoyed visiting John R. Bromiley Company in Chalfont for its Manufacturing Day open house and seeing firsthand how this family-owned business has been producing precision parts for industries like aerospace, medical technology, and electric power right here in Chalfont for 50 years. Just as important, I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the career paths available in modern manufacturing. Connecting students and job seekers with these opportunities is an important part of building a strong local workforce and supporting our community’s future.

Porchfest

As always, I had a blast at this year's Porchfest in Doylestown! This year the event featured almost 90 bands across 28 of our neighbors’ porches.

Thank you to the hosts and organizers for consistently making this a wonderful experience for our community.

It's flu shot season!

Thank you to Grundy Hall for inviting us to meet with residents at their annual flu shot clinic! It was wonderful to connect with so many neighbors and a good reminder that a simple step like getting a flu shot can help keep our community healthy as we head into the fall season.

FYI

Vote by mail reminder

You can be confident that if you’re a registered voter in PA, you can vote by mail safely and securely. You may return your completed mail ballot in the mail, at a designated drop box, or in person at one of Bucks County’s ballot drop-off locations.

Completed mail-in and absentee ballots must be received by the Bucks County Board of Elections by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Good jobs available with SEPTA

SEPTA currently is hiring for more than 50 critical positions for a variety of roles across the authority, including vehicle equipment mechanics, elevator/escalator repair specialists, plumbers, engineers, occupational health specialists, and transit police officers. Employees earn competitive pay and great benefits including: medical, dental, prescription, life insurance, and retirement plans. You can learn more about careers at SEPTA and apply in the Careers section of the SEPTA website.