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In this update:
Senate Approves Measure to Protect Children from Harmful AI Chats
The Senate approved legislation to establish commonsense safeguards for children interacting with artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. The bill will be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 1090 would require robust, age-appropriate safeguards to prevent content generation that encourages self-harm, suicide or violence against others, and directs users to appropriate self-harm crisis resources whenever high-risk language is detected. Heartbreaking stories have been reported of vulnerable individuals, including minors, who have used AI chatbots to cope with trauma, mental health, depression, and anxiety. Multiple families have alleged in lawsuits that chatbot responses contributed to their teen’s death by suicide. Legislation Expanding First Responder Training Passed by Senate
Legislation to help alleviate the shortage of emergency responder instructors across Pennsylvania was approved by the Senate. Senate Bill 782 would allow retired public school and state employees who previously worked part-time as certified EMS, fire or police instructors to return to that work without losing their pension benefits. Retirees would not earn additional benefits. The measure was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Dallastown Teacher Selected as Business Educator of the Year
It was an honor to recognize Mrs. Maggie Guttridge in the Senate for being named the 2025 Pennsylvania Business Education Association Educator of the Year. Through her work in business, computer, and information technology education, Mrs. Guttridge is equipping her students at Dallastown Area High School with real-world skills, confidence, and a strong foundation for future success. Mrs. Guttridge was joined by her husband, Chris, their children, Grady and Mila, and Dallastown Area High School Principal Dr. Misty Wilson. You can find the video of Mrs. Guttridge being recognized here. Senate Acts to Protect Vehicle Choice in Pennsylvania
Legislation preserving Pennsylvanians’ ability to choose their preferred vehicle by prohibiting state mandates on specific vehicle purchases was approved by the Senate. Senate Bill 990 protects consumer choice, encourages innovation and helps prevent higher costs associated with uniform mandates. The bill supports a comprehensive approach to transportation that includes gas and diesel-powered vehicles, hybrids, electric vehicles and emerging technologies, allowing new advancements to develop and compete. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Students Selected for Big 33 Football Classic
It was a pleasure to see four outstanding students from the 28th District recognized at the Capitol this week for their selection to the Big 33 Football Classic. Please join me in congratulating Vivian Earnest, Red Lion Area School District Cheerleader, Abigail Sellman, Spring Grove Area School District Cheerleader, David Czapp, Spring Grove Area School District Football Player; and Kalleigh Smith, Kennard Dale High School Cheerleader. The Big 33 Classic is one of the most prestigious high school football events in the country, bringing together top athletes and cheerleaders from across Pennsylvania. We are proud to see these students representing our community on such a well-respected stage, and I wish them the best of luck in this year’s Big 33 Classic. You can find more photos from the event here. North Hills Elementary Students Visit the Capitol
Students from North Hills Elementary School in the Central York School District visited the Capitol this week to get a firsthand look at how state government works. It is always a pleasure to welcome students to Harrisburg and see their excitement as they learn more about the legislative process and the role of state government. If you have not toured the Capitol, I highly recommend it! You can schedule a tour here. Recognizing the Need for Government Transparency
National Sunshine Week highlights the importance of open government and the public’s right to access information. This week, I highlighted several of my ongoing efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in Pennsylvania. That includes legislation to ensure organizations like the Pennsylvania School Boards Association are subject to the same transparency standards as other publicly funded entities, as well as efforts to pull back the curtain on local newspaper advertisements that local governments are mandated to publish. I fully believe in leading by example. That is why I made the decision to publicly post all office expenses on my website so taxpayers can see exactly how their dollars are being spent. I am proud that this effort helped lead to the Pennsylvania Senate adopting a similar practice, expanding access to this information statewide. A free and accessible flow of information is essential to good government. From strengthening Right-to-Know protections to supporting local journalism and increasing financial transparency, these initiatives are focused on making sure you have a clear view into how decisions are made. The Office of Open Records continues to provide helpful resources for residents looking to better understand Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law and Sunshine Act, including how to file a request for public records. Transparency is not optional. It is fundamental to building trust, and I will continue working to ensure government remains open, accountable, and responsive to the people it serves. ICYMI: School Property Tax Elimination Town Hall
For many homeowners across Pennsylvania, rising school property taxes continue to place a growing strain on household budgets. Throughout my time in public service, I have consistently worked to advance policies that provide meaningful property tax relief for families and seniors who are increasingly being taxed out of their homes. The effort to eliminate school property taxes has been debated in Harrisburg for many years. In fact, the last time legislation to eliminate school property taxes came before the Pennsylvania Senate, prior to my time in office, the vote ended in a 24–24 tie and ultimately failed when the lieutenant governor cast the deciding vote. Since then, lawmakers have continued working to refine proposals and build the bipartisan support needed to reach an agreement that will deliver meaningful relief to homeowners while ensuring stable funding for our schools. I have long supported a proposed constitutional amendment to ELIMINATE school property taxes. You can read more about that plan here. As part of that ongoing effort, Sen. Dawn Keefer introduced Senate Bill 962, alongside House Bill 1649 introduced by Rep. Wendy Fink, which proposes eliminating school property taxes and replacing the lost revenue with increased and expanded income and sales taxes. You can learn more here. The Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office recently reviewed the proposal and showed it generates enough revenue for the tax shift to work. You can read the report here. To help citizens learn more and ask questions, I will be co-hosting a School Property Tax Elimination Town Hall with Sen. Dawn Keefer, Rep. Wendy Fink, and Rep. Mike Jones. Saturday, March 28 Citizens are encouraged to RSVP by calling 717-244-9232 or visiting the registration link. This event is an opportunity to learn more about the proposal, understand how it could affect your household, and share your thoughts as we continue working toward meaningful property tax relief for Pennsylvania homeowners. Thanks for Joining Coffee and Conversation
Thank you to everyone who made it to my coffee and conversation at Noni’s Table! I truly enjoy getting to see familiar faces and meeting new ones. Looking ahead to next month, I’ll be joining Rep. Kate Klunk for a Coffee with Kate on April 8 from 9:30-11 a.m. at Ghouls and Grinds in Hanover. Because of space limitations at that location, registration will be encouraged in advance. You can RSVP by calling Rep. Klunk’s office at 717-630-8942 or clicking here. Hope to see you there! Upcoming PennDOT Maintenance Projects
Most weeks, PennDOT provides me with its upcoming maintenance schedule. While my team and I aim to keep this information up to date, please note that the page may not always reflect the latest changes. For the most accurate details, I recommend checking back on Friday afternoons or over the weekend, as we usually receive updates from PennDOT on Fridays. You can view the full list here to see if any roadwork might impact you and your family. On Deck
The Senate of Pennsylvania reconvenes on Monday, March 23, at 1 p.m. Follow me on X for the latest updates on session convening times. You can watch Senate votes and view our agenda here.
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