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In this Update:
Harrisburg Happenings
Royalty descended upon the State Capitol Complex for the 2nd Annual Fair Queen Advocacy Day, an event hosted by the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs that brings together fair queens from across the Commonwealth to celebrate and advocate for Pennsylvania’s deep agricultural heritage. Throughout the day, the queens met with legislators, attended committee sessions, and were recognized during the Senate session. The Pennsylvania Fair Queen Program is a time-honored tradition designed to promote agricultural awareness and highlight the important role women play in sustaining the industry. I was proud to welcome several outstanding young women from the 46th Senatorial District who are carrying that mission forward:
Each of these queens serves as a remarkable representative of her community – poised, passionate, and deeply committed to agriculture. Although Miss Charlotte Magon, The Washington County Agricultural Fair Queen, was unable to attend, she was missed by all. I also want to extend my appreciation to advisors Melanie Longstreth and Dawn Mankey, along with the Pennsylvania Fair Queen Program and the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs, for their continued dedication to preserving and promoting this proud tradition. You can watch my introduction of these wonderful young ladies on the Senate floor by clicking or tapping the image above.
The Connellsville Clay Target Team visited Harrisburg as guests of Senator Pat Stefano, and this incredible group was being recognized as the 2025 PA State High School Clay Target League 5-Stand and Skeet State Champions. The Connellsville team gives boys and girls in grades 6–12 an opportunity to participate in a non-traditional sport through the PA State High School Clay Target League. Two students from Waynesburg Central High School are members of the Connellsville team. AJ Diamond, an 8th grader, who is pictured on the far right of me is the High Gun Varsity Male and High Gun Overall Champion with an amazing score of 97! Benjamin Horne, a senior, who is pictured to my immediate right was the 2nd Place Varsity Male in Skeet and 2nd Place Varsity Male in Five-Stand! Congratulations to all the athletes and coaches on this outstanding achievement, you’re representing your schools and our region with pride. You can watch my introduction of the team, along with AJ and Benjamin, by clicking or tapping the image above.
I recently joined PCN’s Capitol Preview to discuss the ongoing state budget impasse and several key issues facing our Commonwealth. We need responsible leadership and common-sense budgeting that puts Pennsylvanians first, not more political gridlock. Along with the budget impasse, I also discussed the rising cost of health care and the need to reform Medicaid reimbursements, why sudden minimum wage hikes could hurt nonprofits and rural communities, my legislation to streamline permitting for data centers, and efforts to ensure fairness in how natural gas impact fees are distributed. You can watch the entire show by clicking or tapping the image above. Greene County Chamber Honors Local Leaders at Annual Banquet
The Greene County Chamber of Commerce recently held its Annual Membership Banquet at the beautiful Valley View Farm Venue in Waynesburg. A big congratulations to the 2025 McCracken Legacy Award winner, 4 Seasons Lawn & Garden. The Hoy family has been a staple in the community for years and is more than deserving of this prestigious award. In addition, we celebrated five Distinguished Service Award winners. Albie Reinhart, Andrew Corfont, Wayne Hart, Renee Jones, and Pam Snyder have all led exemplary lives of service to their community, their careers, and their families. Congratulations to you all, and thank you. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the team at the Chamber. Melody, Sarah, and Mandi are tireless champions of Greene County and work day and night to make a positive impact on the businesses they serve. Finally, a special thank you to the Orndorff family for sharing their beautiful venue with the community they love so much – we are all blessed. Bill Requiring Parental Notification of School Weapons Incidents Set to Become Law
Legislation requiring school districts to notify parents and school employees of any incidents involving possession of weapons on school property is set to become law. Under current law, school districts are not required to inform parents or guardians about incidents when a weapon is brought onto school grounds or to related activities. The changes in Senate Bill 246 apply to public, nonpublic and private schools. The bill, which first passed the Senate in May, received strong bipartisan support from the General Assembly and now awaits the governor’s signature. New Protections Against Telemarketers Approved by Senate
The Senate approved legislation to better protect Pennsylvanians from scammers and other deceitful telemarketers. Senate Bill 992 prohibits telemarketing calls being made on Sundays and either before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on every other day of the week. It also expands the law to cover text messages, voicemails and “ringless” voicemails – tools often used by telemarketers to evade existing restrictions. In addition, it establishes penalties for both telemarketers and the companies that hire them for illegal activity. The bill would also prohibit the use of artificial intelligence or fake caller IDs to deceive or defraud consumers. A violation of the law carries a civil penalty of up to $1,000 or $3,000 if the person contacted is age 60 or older. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Votes to Eliminate Unnecessary Boards and Commissions
Legislation to streamline state government operations by eliminating outdated, unnecessary and inactive boards, commissions and advisory committees was passed by the Senate. Senate Bill 755 would eliminate 13 government entities that are expired, dormant, no longer have any members or are unnecessary. Examples include the Greater Pennsylvania Council that has been long dormant; the Senior Citizen Advisory Committee, whose duties were all assumed by a different committee; the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Commission, which expired in 1987; and the Climate Change Advisory Committee, which has produced no specific beneficial outcomes while continuing to expend taxpayer dollars. Many of the commonwealth’s nearly 400 boards, commissions and advisory committees do not publicly share information about their duties, meetings or other activities, raising concerns about transparency. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Make Your Voice Heard Tuesday on Election Day
Tuesday, Nov. 4 is Election Day, the last chance of the year for voters to weigh in on races for local, county and judicial positions. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For those voting by mail, county election offices must receive completed ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Find your polling place and other voter information here. Internship Opportunity for Students Interested in Public Policy Careers
College students interested in careers in public policy can apply for summer internships in Harrisburg through the James A. Finnegan Fellowship Foundation. Internships are awarded through an essay contest. Applicants must write between 1,500 and 2,500 words about a controversial policy currently under consideration by the General Assembly. The 2026 contest asks applicants to write about the pros and cons of data centers, and what the state’s role should be. Applicants have until Jan. 23, 2026 to submit their essay and other materials to the foundation. The winners will receive a cash prize and placement in paid state government summer internships in Harrisburg for eight to 10 weeks. Coming Together for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month was a time of reflection and unity. Senators from both sides of the aisle took part in October’s Rock the Ribbon campaign to acknowledge the strength of those impacted and the continued importance of awareness. Please share this information with a friend or family member. It could save their life.
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