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In this update:
Student Government Seminar Features 300+ of the Best and Brightest from Southern York County
We had more than 300 students attend our fifth annual Senator for a Day event, which is the largest for any student government seminar hosted at the Capitol! Young men and women from all over southern York County came to Harrisburg to craft legislation, debate bills in committee, and vote for proposals in general session! One thing I learned this year: Pennsylvania’s future is in great hands. The students were thoughtful, respectful, and wise beyond their years. I would like to thank all those who made this event possible. We had staff from multiple senate offices and committees, as well as numerous government affairs professionals. Most importantly: Thank you to all the teachers, school staff, and parents for all their hard work in preparing these students for success. Stay tuned over the coming days and weeks for photos and videos of students engaging in the legislative process! Guest Chaplain Reverend Dr. Easter Smart
We were blessed to have Reverend Dr. Easter Smart of Centre Presbyterian Church in New Park deliver the opening prayer for Senate session. In addition to her wise and thoughtful words, she accompanied by her guest, Mary Anderson Linkous, who serves as session clerk and church administrator. Mary is the daughter of former State Rep. John Hope Anderson. The Centre congregation was founded in 1780 by Scottish immigrants, and their sanctuary has been home to generations of worshippers since 1888. It is such an honor to have this historical church in the 28th district! Click here to watch her opening prayer and introduction. In the District
Last weekend, I was honored to present Bernice Quesenberry, founder of Chasing the Rainbows, with Senate Resolution 387 that designated October as “Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania. With one in four pregnancies ending in loss, Chasing the Rainbows ensures that no mother, no family grieves alone. And this resolution ensures that their pain is recognized, their babies are honored, and a clear message is sent: Every baby loss matters. Click here to watch our recent podcast with Bernice. You can listen to the podcast on Spotify and Apple, as well!
I had a wonderful time visiting SEYCo Nursery School in Stewartstown! I had the pleasure of reading to some truly delightful, very well-mannered, and inquisitive children and see first hand the great things happening there.
This week, the team at the Susquehanna National Heritage Area hosted peers from various national heritage areas from across the country. I was honored to join other officials to help kick off the festivities and showcase this incredible heritage area that is in our own backyard. House Failures Hurt Pennsylvania
As our legislative session nears its end, it is important to note the failures of the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. From making Pennsylvania an affordable place to live, to keeping our children and streets safe, House Democrats turned a blind eye time and time again. Rising energy costs have put added pressure on Pennsylvania families and businesses and must be addressed. On multiple occasions, House Democrats failed to concur with the Senate. We passed the largest tax cut in Pennsylvania’s history, which would have eliminated the Gross Receipts Tax on electric bills, and saved consumers more than $1.7 billion over the first year. The House never approved it. The Senate passed a bill to increase electric generation. Again, House Democrats failed to act. Twice, the Senate passed legislation (Senate Bill 1293 and Senate Bill 9) to protect women’s sports in public schools and colleges. The House Democrats refused to even allow a vote. Worst of all, House Democrats failed to ensure safety on our streets following a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling which left second-degree murderers without sentencing guidelines. Twice, the Senate passed thoughtful, bipartisan legislation. Instead of passing the bill as is, the House destroyed it by allowing convicted murderers to be set free for health issues like acid reflux, among other atrocious additions. Click here to watch my podcast on this topic. Senate Republicans will continue to work for the people of Pennsylvania, to ensure our home remains a safe and affordable place to live and raise a family. New Law Will Safeguard Taxpayers from Bad Contracts
When your government signs a contract, it should reflect what is in the best interest of the taxpayer. I am pleased to share that legislation I authored at the suggestion of Attorney General Dave Sunday to ensure proper safeguards in contracts was signed into law after unanimously passing both the Senate and House. Every single year, the commonwealth enters into thousands of procurement contracts to keep our state running. These agreements should be straightforward and designed to secure the best value possible. Unfortunately, over time, we have seen specialized, non-standard, and biased terms creep into these agreements that do not protect the public interest. This new law puts taxpayers first. You can read more about this new law here. Bill Protecting Cats, Dogs Now Law
Legislation I cosponsored to protect dogs and cats from painful, taxpayer-funded experiments has been signed into law! The protections in Senate Bill 381, known as the Beagle Bill, would make Pennsylvania the 18th state to grant dogs and cats an opportunity to be adopted into a loving home after experiments are over, prohibit the sale of cosmetics that have been newly tested on animals, prevent the expenditure of commonwealth funds on painful experiments and more. The state’s most prolific four-legged lobbyist came to visit our Capitol office to encourage support for this “pawsome” legislation. Phoebe the Beagle was advocating for the measure. Phoebe was rescued from a lab in Virginia in 2022, after it was shut down for conducting inhumane testing on animals using taxpayer dollars. Read more about protecting animals and increasing transparency through the Beagle Bill. Small Games of Chance Bill Now Law
Senate measures to help local nonprofits, including American Legion posts, VFWs and fire companies, have been signed into law. This legislation expands fundraising opportunities, allows organizations to retain more of the money they raise, and provides additional ways to accept raffle ticket payments. Senate Bill 416 allows eligible nonprofit organizations to accept electronic payments, including credit cards, debit cards and payments through platforms such as PayPal and Venmo, for raffle tickets. Previous law limits these transactions to cash or checks, restricting organizations’ ability to accommodate supporters who increasingly rely on electronic payment methods. Organizations would still be required to verify raffle ticket purchasers are at least 18 years old. The bill does not authorize online gaming or live drawings. Read more about Senate Bill 416. Senate Bill 398 allows fire companies with a Small Games of Chance license to conduct online raffles, with restrictions ensuring that participants are in Pennsylvania and at least 18 years old, through a pilot program ending Dec. 31, 2027. In addition, the bill permits organizations to retain 50% of their small games of chance income, up from the current 40%. The remainder would continue to be donated to public interest purposes. The bill also increases the prize limit for small games of chance conducted by a licensed eligible organization in any seven-day period from $35,000 to $60,000 — the first increase since 2013. Read more about Senate Bill 398. PASSED! Lifetime No-Contact Orders for Victims
A measure to provide lifetime no-contact orders for victims of certain serious or violent offenses was approved by the Senate. Under current law, victims must go to court to renew no-contact protections each time they expire. Without renewal, an offender may once again attempt to contact the victim, even though the conviction, and the harm that made the protection necessary, has not changed. Unwanted contact can retraumatize victims, especially survivors of rape and other sexually violent offenses, including offenses involving the abuse or exploitation of children. Senate Bill 1484 allows a judge, upon the request of the victim or prosecutor, to issue a permanent order prohibiting the defendant from contacting the victim. The order could be terminated or modified at the victim’s request or if the underlying conviction is overturned, dismissed or otherwise legally invalidated. Read more about this bill, known as “Kayleigh’s Law.” PASSED! Mandated Reporting for AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material
The Senate voted to better protect young people against the serious threats posed by child sexual abuse materials generated using artificial intelligence (AI). The bill was approved by the House of Representatives and is headed for enactment into law. House Bill 2474 would require mandated reporters to report all instances of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) they become aware of, including those produced by a minor. This applies to teachers, childcare workers, healthcare providers and other individuals responsible for caring for children. The legislation, which was introduced in April, mirrors the language in Senate Bill 1050, a bill the Senate passed in November 2025. The legislation also adds hazing to Pennsylvania’s mandatory reporting guidelines. Hazing is not currently considered child abuse under Pennsylvania law when one child commits that crime against another. Read more about this legislation. Veteran Assistance During November Mobile Office Hours
Thursday, Nov. 5
Thursday, Nov. 19 Next month, we will be hosting Paul DeVincenzo from the American Legion. Please note, he will only be at the Penn Township office hours. We look forward to bringing these resources directly to the community and helping residents access the support they deserve. Learn more about special events that will prioritize certain state-related services throughout the year at our mobile offices. 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 Sunday afternoons. You can view the full list here to see if any roadwork might impact you and your family. |
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