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In this update:

• Treasurer Garrity Waives PA College Savings Fees
• Survey on Second-Degree Murder
• New Tools to Solve Violent Crimes
• Red-Tape Slashed for Cosmetologists
• Budget Boosts College Tuition Assistance
• In the District
• August Mobile Office Hours
• Upcoming PennDOT Maintenance Projects

Treasurer Garrity Waives PA College Savings Fees 

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced asset-based fees for the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program’s Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) will be waived for the fifth year in a row.

PA 529 GSP account owners will not see any asset-based fees on their quarterly statements for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, resulting in $5.9 million in savings. This fee waiver is funded through surplus earnings of the GSP fund.

The PA 529 GSP allows families to save at today’s tuition rates to meet tomorrow’s tuition costs. Families can choose from a variety of tuition levels to save from community college to Ivy League. PA 529 GSP account earnings are based on tuition inflation rates.

Survey on Second-Degree Murder

Second-degree murder is a horrific crime – these are homicides committed while the defendant was also committing another violent felony such as rape, arson, robbery, burglary or kidnapping. Those who commit such an act deserve a punishment that matches.

In March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that our current sentencing structure for second-degree murder (life without parole in every case) is unconstitutional. The justices gave the General Assembly 120 days to enact legislation correcting the situation.

The Senate successfully passed strong bipartisan legislation to address this issue – twice. The Senate’s legislation is supported by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, Pennsylvania District Attorneys, the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, and the Pennsylvania State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police.          

Unfortunately, the leadership in the House of Representatives refused to allow a vote on this bipartisan legislation, instead passing a weak bill on a near party-line vote. That bill has several serious problems. It could allow more than half of all inmates, including those on death row, to qualify for release from prison under an overbroad, ill-defined “medical release” program that is riddled with loopholes.

I want to know your thoughts on this very serious issue. Please click here to take my survey on second-degree murder.

New Tools to Solve Violent Crimes 

Law enforcement agencies will be able to access new tools to boost clearance rates for homicide and other violent crime cases through a new state law.

The Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act was enacted with the new state budget. The law establishes a grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to help police hire and retain detectives and investigators, and upgrade technology used to analyze evidence.

Solving more violent crimes will help make communities safer by getting offenders off the streets while also serving as a deterrent to would-be criminals who know their crimes will not go unanswered.

Red-Tape Slashed for Cosmetologists

Legislation to streamline licensing for the cosmetology workforce has been signed into law, a major step in addressing Pennsylvania’s ongoing workforce shortages.

Act 43 of 2026 authorizes Pennsylvania to join the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, an interstate agreement that makes it easier for licensed cosmetologists, who provide treatments for hair, skin and nails, to obtain a multistate license and work in participating states without unnecessary red tape. It also ensures cosmetology professionals in active-duty military families face no burdensome licensure requirements in compact states.

Pennsylvania is the 13th state to enter the compact, joining neighboring states Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Read more about this new law here.

Budget Boosts College Tuition Assistance 

Non-teaching school employees, including paraprofessional, clerical, transportation, food service, custodial, security and health workers, play key roles in keeping our local schools running.  

If you know an incredible non-teaching employee, you can nominate them for a Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award. Find details and a nomination form at the state Department of Education website.

Nominations for 2026 close Aug. 30.

In the District

National Night Out is one of my favorite events of the year! It was a wonderful evening with our police departments building positive relationships with community members! A huge thank you to all our first responders and to those who donated to make this amazing community event possible!

Last week, I held a Scam Jam seminar with community leaders and law enforcement professionals to help local citizens understand and avoid fraud and scams. I would like to thank the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, Pennsylvania State Police, York County District Attorney Tim Barker, AARP Pennsylvania, and MidPenn Legal Services for making this night possible!

I was grateful to attend the Red Sand Project, an event hosted by the YWCA York to raise awareness about human trafficking. The red sand symbolizes those who too often “fall between the cracks” in society.

As co-chair of the Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus, I remain committed, along with our Republican and Democratic members, to strengthening penalties for traffickers and expanding resources for survivors. We see you, we stand with you, and we will not stop fighting to end this heinous industry.

I joined the Southern York County Fire Camp earlier this week and recognized some of our amazing up and coming firefighters! Thank you to all the volunteers, donors, and fire companies who make this great opportunity possible!

August Mobile Office Hours

Thursday, August 20 
9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 
Penn Township Municipal Building 
20 Wayne Ave., Hanover, PA 17331

In addition to our monthly office hours, I will be hosting a Coffee & Conversation from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. in the parking lot of the Penn Township Municipal Office. The coffee is on me (no, I don’t bill taxpayers for the coffee). I 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.