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In this update:
Honoring Veterans
This past weekend, I had the privilege of participating in the 14th Annual Fallen Heroes Ride to honor 1Lt Daren Hidalgo, SSGT Benjamin Hines, SGT Christopher Wrinkle, and his trusty companion, SSGT Tosca K9. This year, the memorial happened to also fall on the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, where 156,000 allied soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, so people they never met, who shared a different language and culture, may be free from tyranny.
The fourth annual Women Veterans Day Commemoration to honor the service, sacrifice, and contributions of women who served in the U.S. military was held this week at the state Capitol. The event was hosted by my good friend and colleague, Senator Tracy Pennycuick, who is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army. PASSED! Fighting Against Human Trafficking
Legislation to give investigators and prosecutors new tools to fight human trafficking in Pennsylvania was unanimously passed by the Senate this week. The Pennsylvania Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus, which I co-chair, is working in bipartisan fashion to deliver meaningful solutions to address the scourge of human trafficking in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 45 will help local law enforcement agencies and the state attorney general investigate and prosecute human trafficking by increasing penalties for several related crimes, including promoting prostitution, promoting prostitution of a minor, exploiting prostitutes, and patronizing prostitutes. The bill also consolidates crimes related to human trafficking within the Crimes Code, giving the attorney general concurrent jurisdiction so these crimes, which are frequently the basis for large-scale human trafficking organizations, can be prosecuted more effectively. It now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. If you believe you may have information about a trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. Read more about our latest action to combat human trafficking here. PASSED! Restricting Dangerous Fentanyl Additive
The Senate passed legislation to combat the increasing illicit use of the veterinary anesthesia medetomidine by regulating it as a Schedule III controlled substance. Senate Bill 866 provides law enforcement and public health officials with another tool to combat dangerous drug adulterants while including clear exemptions to ensure veterinarians can continue using the medication in the care and treatment of animals. Medetomidine has rapidly overtaken xylazine as a common adulterant in Pennsylvania’s illicit drug supply. While medetomidine was not detected in samples collected in early 2024, it was found in approximately 80% of adulterants sold as fentanyl in Pennsylvania by April 2026. The drug is estimated to be significantly more potent than xylazine and can cause severe cardiovascular complications, even after naloxone has been administered. The General Assembly passed legislation to make xylazine a Schedule III drug in 2024. The bill now advances to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about the measure here. LBFC: Audits & Awards
The Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, which I chair, met this week to vote to release a performance audit of the Access to Justice Account, to ensure civil penalty fees are appropriately accounted for and spent for the intended purpose, ensuring transparency and accountability for taxpayer dollars. I was also pleased to share with my colleagues that for the 11th year in a row, our committee was nationally recognized for our efforts, this time with the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Certificate of Impact award for our review of Act 44 School Safety Initiatives. Happy Flag Day!
Flag Day, observed each year on June 14, honors the adoption of the American flag in 1777. As America approaches its semiquincentennial, Flag Day carries added significance, encouraging Americans to look back on the nation’s early story while considering the responsibilities of citizenship today. Pennsylvania holds a distinctive place in that story. As the site of the signing of both the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation (in York County), and the U.S. Constitution, the commonwealth helped shape the foundation of the nation whose flag we honor. Welcome, Rep. Margetas
This week, newly elected Representative George Margetas was sworn in to represent the 196th House District. I look forward to working with him, for what I hope is many years to come, on the issues that matter most to the citizens of York County! If you reside in the 196th District, please be sure to follow him on Facebook by clicking here! PA Guard Military Family Education Program
As students begin preparing for the fall semester, Pennsylvania National Guard members are reminded their families could be eligible for assistance to offset the cost of higher education. The Military Family Education Program is for Guard members who completed an initial service obligation on or after July 1, 2019, and is eligible to reenlist in the PA National Guard for a period of six years. The grants can be used for a degree-granting or certificate-granting curriculum, course of study, or training program required for entrance into a specific career at an approved Pennsylvania institution of higher learning. Read more details and find applications here. Entries Accepted for PA Agriculture Photo Contest
Pennsylvania residents have until June 30 to submit entries in the 2026 Pennsylvania Agriculture Photo Contest. Submit up to four original photos highlighting the people, places, traditions, and beauty of agriculture across our region or the commonwealth. Winning photos will be displayed in the Pennsylvania Capitol Complex during the first weeks of September. The categories are On the Farm, PA Fair Season, Agritourism, and Conservation. Click here for rules and how to submit your photos. Familiar Faces in the Capitol
It was a pleasure to have Laurissa Metz, a rising junior at Joyful Road Academy, job shadow this week! Laurissa participated in several meetings and met some of our other elected officials here in Harrisburg. After high school, Laurissa plans to pursue a degree in political science and eventually run for office. See her introduction on the Senate floor by clicking here!
This week was Scouting America’s Report to the Commonwealth and I was happy to see some Boy Scouts from York County who are members of Troop 76! ICYMI: Podcast with the PA Fish and Boat Commission
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer joins me on “Kristin’s Corner” – a podcast I host to talk about important state and local topics. We discuss the latest on all things boating and fishing, as well as upcoming collaborations with our office. You can listen to our discussion on Apple, Spotify and YouTube. Previous topics include our regional energy crisis, eminent domain, and protecting girls’ sports! You can find them here. June Mobile Office Hours to Feature PA Fish & Boat Commission Conservation Officer
Thursday, June 18 Join us in Penn Township later this month to meet with a Waterways Conservation Officer from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission! Watch my PSA with Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer The conservation officer will be available to help answer general questions regarding boating and water safety, launch permits, and fishing regulations. The office can also provide details on when and where you can cast a line or launch your boat in Pennsylvania. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and to get better acquainted with your Waterways Conservation Officers. 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. |
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