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Is this Update:
Harrisburg Happenings
Trade unions, employers and energy producers joined lawmakers at the Capitol to celebrate new reforms cutting red tape and blocking the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) electricity tax – moves that will unleash Pennsylvania’s economic potential and help create jobs. Both reforms were enacted with the 2025-26 state budget. Pennsylvania’s permitting process has been a deterrent to businesses moving to or expanding in Pennsylvania, costing our state countless jobs. The new law cuts red tape, establishes clear timelines for permit reviews and creates a real-time online tracking system. In addition, key permits will be deemed approved if a state agency moves too slowly. Participating in RGGI, a multi-state electricity tax Gov. Tom Wolf attempted to implement via an illegal regulation and which Gov. Josh Shapiro pursued through the courts, would have increased electricity rates for families and businesses, eliminated energy and manufacturing jobs, forced Pennsylvania power plants to close and created serious threats to grid reliability. You can watch my remarks following the conclusion of the press conference by tapping or clicking the image above. You can watch the entire press conference here.
The Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee advanced Senate Bill 1096 this week. I was grateful for the opportunity to offer comments in support of Senator Judy Ward’s important legislation during the meeting. For rural communities like those I represent, deteriorating small bridges and “tar-and-chip” roadways have created real safety concerns and costly detours for emergency responders and local families. SB1096 takes a meaningful step toward addressing these long-standing infrastructure challenges by investing in the repair and modernization of rural roads and bridges across the Commonwealth. I appreciate Senator Ward’s leadership on this bill, and I’m pleased to see it reported out of committee. You can watch my comments by tapping or clicking the image above.
This week I sent a formal letter to Attorney General Dave Sunday and Auditor General Tim DeFoor calling for a thorough review of Pennsylvania’s licensing, REAL ID, and the governor’s automatic voter registration systems following troubling reports surrounding the recent arrest of an Uzbek national facing terrorism-related charges abroad. According to federal authorities, this individual obtained a PA Commercial Driver’s License. This raises serious questions about how our verification processes function and whether the proper safeguards are in place to prevent individuals who pose potential risks from obtaining state-issued credentials. I will continue working with my colleagues to determine whether legislative action is needed to strengthen these safeguards. Our first responsibility is to protect the safety of our communities and uphold the integrity of the systems residents rely on every day. You can read the letter in its entirety here. $2.4 Million State Grant for Amwell Township Waterline Extension Project
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority (SPWA) has been awarded a $2.4 million state grant to support a major waterline extension project serving residents of Amwell Township, Washington County – a project Representative Tim O’Neal and I both strongly supported. The project will extend a water main from SPWA’s existing system on Amity Ridge Road (S.R. 0019). Once completed, the system will deliver a reliable source of quality drinking water to 58 homes in this rural area of Washington County. This announcement reflects the diligent, persistent work of Amwell Township officials and the strong partnership they built with us at the state level. They identified a critical need, communicated it clearly, and worked with us every step of the way to secure this investment for their community. Rep. O’Neal agreed, emphasizing the importance of providing modern infrastructure to rural communities. “I was pleased to work with Sen. Bartolotta to secure funding for this critical water line extension project,” O’Neal said. “This investment will bring clean, reliable drinking water to dozens of families in Amwell Township and improve fire protection with the installation of new hydrants. It’s a meaningful step forward in strengthening our infrastructure and supporting the health and safety of our rural communities.” The funding was provided through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation Abandoned Mine Lands and Acid Mine Drainage Grant Program. Pictured with me (L-R) is Representative Tim O’Neal; Dee Frazee Sr., Supervisor; Scott Hartley, Vice Chair; and Wayne Montgomery, Chair Good Luck Peters Township Football!
*Photo Credit: Tri-Color Photography Wishing the Peters Township School District Varsity Football Team the very best of luck as they play at Acrisure Stadium tonight at 8:00 p.m. for the WPIAL 5A Championship! Your hard work, discipline, and heart have brought you to this moment, and our entire community is behind you. Enjoy every second under those lights and leave it all on the field! Go Indians – bring home that championship! AI and Children: Legislation to Keep Kids Safe
The Senate approved legislation to better protect young people against the increased threats posed by child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) generated using artificial intelligence (AI). Senate Bill 1050 would require all individuals classified as mandated reporters to notify authorities of all instances of CSAM they become aware of, including those produced by a minor. A mandated reporter includes teachers, childcare workers, health care providers and others responsible for caring for children. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. The Senate previously passed key legislation to combat the issue of sexually explicit materials created through AI by passing Act 125 of 2024 and Act 35 of 2025, which addressed deepfakes and sexual deepfakes. In addition, Senate Bill 1090, the Safeguarding Adolescents from Exploitative Chatbots and Harmful AI Technology (SAFECHAT) Act, was approved by the Senate Communications and Technology Committee. Read about that measure here. New Law Will Preserve Prescription Access for Seniors
Legislation to prevent thousands of Pennsylvania seniors from losing access to life-sustaining prescription medications is set to become law following final passage by the Senate. House Bill 923 would extend the practice of excluding Social Security cost-of-living adjustments when calculating income eligibility for the PACE and PACENET programs. The exclusion, currently set to expire at the end of 2025, will be extended through Dec. 31, 2027 when the bill is signed by the governor. Without the extension, 10,039 PACENET enrollees would lose their coverage. Additionally, 12,594 PACE enrollees would move to PACENET, losing their lower copayment and their PACE-paid Part D premium. Bill to Ensure Disabled Veterans Receive Free Hunting Licenses Passes Senate
The Senate passed legislation that would close an unintended gap in Pennsylvania’s existing free hunting license program for disabled veterans. Under current law, only veterans who suffered injuries during combat and were deemed 100% disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are eligible for free hunting licenses. Partially disabled veterans may purchase discounted licenses. Those who suffered service-connected injuries outside of combat — in training, non-combat operations, peacetime duties or other hazardous activities — are not currently eligible for a discount. Senate Bill 1020 would expand eligibility so that all 100% disabled veterans qualify for a free hunting license, regardless of how or where their service-connected injuries occurred. It would also maintain discounted licenses for partially disabled veterans. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Attorney General’s New Elder Exploitation Section Expands Protections for Older Pennsylvanians
An expansion of protections and services for seniors, focused on deterring financial theft and holding offenders criminally responsible, was announced with the launch of the Office of Attorney General’s Elder Exploitation Section by Attorney General Dave Sunday. The section will primarily focus on cases involving financial exploitation, deception and theft from older residents — typically perpetrated by relatives, caregivers or appointed conservators and powers of attorney. These are complex cases, involving meticulous review of financial records and other documents. Municipal police departments may not have the resources required to take on these investigations. The Elder Exploitation Section will have the resources, and expects referrals to come from police departments, county, state, and federal agencies and other sources. National Diabetes Awareness Month
Diabetes affects about 38 million Americans, including adults and youth. A disease that occurs when your blood sugar is too high, diabetes can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart, and it is linked to some types of cancer. The good news is that taking charge of your health may help you prevent diabetes health problems. Find out more here.
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