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In this update:
Celebrate National Coffee Day with Me at B. Leigh’s
Join me for a special Coffee and Conversation to celebrate National Coffee Day next week! I’ll be at B. Leigh’s Coffee in Stewartstown on Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 10-11:30 a.m. for some conversation and a fresh cup, my treat! B. Leigh’s Coffee is located at 20 S. Main St., Stewartstown, PA 17363. While you’re out and about, don’t miss the opportunity to join Explore York’s Coffee Crawl! Discover some of the best coffee spots in York County, support local businesses, and enjoy a rewarding experience as you complete the trail. I look forward to seeing you in Stewartstown on Tuesday! Senate Approves RGGI Electricity Tax Repeal
The Pennsylvania Senate approved legislation to repeal the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) electricity tax enacted unilaterally through an executive order by the Wolf administration in 2019. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. RGGI, a multi-state compact, would increase electricity rates for consumers, cut energy and manufacturing jobs and lead to the closure of Pennsylvania power plants. No new investments in baseload generation have come to Pennsylvania in the five years since the Wolf administration attempted to enter the state into RGGI. Govs. Tom Wolf and Josh Shapiro have faced sharp criticism for pushing Pennsylvania to participate in RGGI despite bipartisan objections from the General Assembly. Last year, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled Pennsylvania’s entrance into RGGI may only be achieved through legislation duly enacted by the General Assembly, not merely through rulemaking by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Environmental Quality Board (EQB). This ruling has been appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court by Shapiro, and that appeal remains pending. Senate Bill 1058 will repeal the CO2 Budget Trading Program regulation that was put into effect by DEP and EQB. Bill to Establish Safe Exchange Zones Passes Senate
The Senate passed the Denise Williams Act, which would create a grant program to be used to establish Safe Exchange Zones throughout Pennsylvania. The bill advances to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 173 is named in memory of Denise Williams of Cambria County, who went to purchase an item found on Facebook Marketplace and was brutally murdered during the exchange. This legislation would help establish safe areas for individuals to exchange goods purchased through an online marketplace, carry out child custody exchanges and conduct similar interactions. These zones will be equipped with video surveillance and be located either within 100 feet of a law enforcement office or near a public area with an active public presence. The establishment of Safe Exchange Zones will be voluntary and contingent upon approval of the participating law enforcement agencies. Honoring Bob’s Sno Balls: A Red Lion Tradition
What a joy it was to join the celebration of Bob’s Sno Balls, a cherished Red Lion institution! Last weekend, friends, family, and generations of loyal customers came together to honor Bob Houser, the beloved “Sno Ball man,” for his 60 years of serving cool, sweet treats to the community. A special thank you to Bob’s wife, Ginny, who was also recognized with beautiful flowers for her support and for crafting the delicious syrups that have made the treats so memorable. Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement! You can mind more about this event here on my Facebook. Senate Passes Juvenile Justice Reform Bills
The Senate passed bills to reform the state’s juvenile justice system by implementing Juvenile Justice Task Force Report recommendations to help streamline the expungement process, provide fair and impartial legal representation for juveniles and improve accountability and oversight in juvenile court proceedings. The two bills now head to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 169 would update the juvenile court system by requiring disposition review hearings every three months instead of nine. The hearings are designed to ensure juveniles receive necessary services and treatment, assess their threat to the community and decide if they should remain in placement or be released under supervision. The court would also set the date for the next review hearing. Senate Bill 170 would modify the expungement of juvenile records by reducing the waiting period for expungement from five years to two years for most misdemeanors, while maintaining the five-year period for felonies, misdemeanor firearm offenses and indecent assault. The bill would also standardize the expungement process by requiring the chief juvenile probation officer to initiate expungements for eligible individuals, with the district attorney having the opportunity to object. Exceptions to expungement, such as for sex offenses and cases with subsequent convictions or pending proceedings, would remain unchanged. PA Senate Urges Congress to Pass the TREAT PTSD Act
The state Senate adopted a measure urging Congress to provide lifesaving therapy to Americans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Senate Resolution 311 calls on Congress to pass the Treatment and Relief through Emerging and Accessible Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act, also known as the TREAT PTSD Act. The TREAT PTSD Act would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense to provide veterans suffering from PTSD with access to a lifesaving therapy known as stellate ganglion block (SGB). SGB works by applying an injection into the bundle of nerves that send signals of fight or flight to the body. The treatment relieves feelings of stress quickly for those with PTSD and provides them with a renewed chance to heal. This procedure has been used for nearly 100 years for pain conditions, including shingles and phantom limb pain. The federal legislation, House Resolution 3023, is now before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Health. Olympic Archer Casey Kaufhold Recognized in PA Senate
This week, my colleague, Sen. Scott Martin, had the honor of recognizing 20-year-old Olympic bronze medalist Casey Kaufhold in the Senate of Pennsylvania! Representing the USA, Casey earned her bronze medal in the mixed teams archery event at the Paris Olympics alongside teammate Brady Ellison. While Casey is originally from Lancaster County, her family owns a farm right here in Southern York County! Casey’s making Pennsylvania proud, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for this talented archer! South Central York County Senior Center Hosts Car, Truck, and Bike Show
The South Central York County Senior Center’s 2nd Annual Car, Truck, and Bike Show was a success, featuring an impressive array of vehicles and the popular Rose Fire Company Pit Beef sale. Congratulations to all the winners, whose vehicles were selected by fellow entrants in categories including Car, Truck, Bike, Kid’s Pick, and Best of Show. A special shoutout to Chuck Cusimano for bringing his “Cyclops Cruiser,” a remarkable big wheel trike. You can find more photos from this event here. Examining Financial Scams Impacting Seniors
This week, two committees hosted a public hearing to examine how to best address a rising concern across the nation – seniors impacted by financial scams. The hearing featured leadership from several state agencies, as well as representatives for senior advocacy groups and financial institutions. The hearing’s focus is to stop money from leaving banks and credit unions to nefarious actors posing as individuals authorized to make cash withdrawals from bank accounts. Oftentimes, bank tellers can flag instances where a senior may be taken advantage of by a bad actor. Legislation is being evaluated that would make employees of financial institutions reporters of alleged illegal activity. We had a robust discussion to find the best path forward to not only empower these employees who may notice unlawful activity occurring, but how to address instances when it is a false alarm. Dr. Andrew Woods Serves as Guest Chaplain
It was a pleasure to have Dr. Andrew Woods from Community Evangelical Free Church in Spring Grove and his daughter, Summer, at the state Capitol this week. Dr. Woods delivered a thoughtful opening prayer as our guest chaplain and Summer had a unique opportunity to experience the Senate in action. You can find Dr. Wood’s opening prayer here. Welcoming Fall with Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce
Congratulations to the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce for hosting a successful 1st Annual Snack Town Fall Fest last weekend! Attendees enjoyed a delightful mix of great food, beverages, crafts, live music, and exciting activities for the kids. The event was a perfect celebration to welcome the beginning of Fall. You can find more photos from the fest here. September is College Savings Month
Saving for your child’s higher education can be daunting, but starting early – even if you are only able to set aside a little – can make a big difference. You can prepare for your child’s future and enjoy tax advantages using the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program. The two plans, the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan and the PA 529 Investment Plan, do not impact Pennsylvania state financial aid eligibility. Both plans can be used to pay for education costs like tuition and fees, books, supplies, and room and board at technical schools, community colleges, four-year institutions and apprenticeship programs. Upcoming PennDOT Maintenance Projects
Most weeks PennDOT shares with me its maintenance schedule for the week ahead. When it becomes available, you can view the full list here to see if it will impact you and your family.
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