Pennsylvania will hold its Primary Election next Tuesday, May 19, and it’s important to make your voice heard.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Primary Election Day. Completed mail-in and civilian absentee ballots must be received by your county election office no later than 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19. Allegheny County has approved ballot return sites for voters to return a mail-in ballot without relying on the mail, and you can read more about them here.

For more information about the Primary Election, including poll locations, please visit the Allegheny County Board of Elections website.

Drivers take note: Beginning June 6, you can be cited for driving while using a hand-held device in Pennsylvania, even while stopped at a red light or traffic jam. “Paul Miller’s Law” went into effect last year, but in the first year police could only issue warnings. June 6 marks the date when drivers convicted of distracted driving will be subject to a $50 fine. There are exceptions for contacting emergency officials and hands-free technology.

Signed by Gov. Shapiro in 2024, “Paul Miller’s Law” was named for a 21-year-old Scranton man who was killed in a 2010 crash involving a truck driver who was using a cell phone.

I was proud to have Matt Keller from my team present Michael Armstrong and Amere Turner with a House citation for their heroic actions on April 15, 2026. These young men alerted a sleeping resident of a fire, and the resident was able to escape safely. Their actions, according to McKeesport Fire Chief Kevin Kovach, saved this person’s life.

Eligible Allegheny County residents over 60 can receive $25 in vouchers for fresh, local produce. Unlike in previous years, you can now apply online and have vouchers mailed directly to your home. If you’d prefer a paper application, just stop by my office so my staff can help you apply.

Learn more about eligibility and apply online here.

Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program helps older friends and neighbors stay in their homes while affording life’s necessities, and applications are now open. The program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and people with disabilities 18 or older. Rebates range from $380 to $1,000, and the deadline for applying is June 30.

Learn more about the program here. My staff are available to help with applications, so don’t hesitate to contact my district office.

Applications are open for grants and loans from the state’s Business in Our Sites program for the acquisition and development of key sites for future use by businesses, private developers, and others. Entities that may apply include municipalities, redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities, industrial development authorities, and private developers (for construction loans only). The application deadline is June 30.

For more information about the program, visit here.

The fifth annual 529 Day Promotion is running May 1 through May 31, and PA families who contribute at least $10 to their PA 529 account during May could be eligible to win one of six regional awards of $5,529 to boost their education savings! The PA 529 College and Career Savings Program is a tax-advantaged way for families to save for a variety of education, including technical training, college, apprenticeship, credential program, and K-12 expenses.

There are two PA 529 plans for families to choose from: the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP), which helps families save at today’s tuition rates to cover tomorrow’s tuition expenses, and the Morningstar Gold-Rated PA 529 Investment Plan (IP), which offers a variety of investment options to choose from.

For the official rules and to learn more about how to make an eligible contribution, visit pa529.com/529day.

Pennsylvania is offering two opportunities for artists to showcase their work this year through statewide programs—one from the PA Game Commission and one from the state Department of Aging and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

The Game Commission’s Wildlife Art Contest highlights Pennsylvania shorebirds and supports wildlife conservation. The deadline is July 31, and more information is available here.

The Older Artists of PA Showcase invites artists age 60+ to apply for inclusion in a Capitol exhibition this August 2026. The deadline is May 24, and more information is available here.

Lead is toxic to humans, especially children, yet the paint in many old homes still has it. If you have young children or a pregnant person in a home built before 1978, check out Allegheny County’s Lead Safe Homes program. It offers free lead-paint testing and treatment to qualifying homeowners, renters, and landlords.

For more information, call the Lead Safe Homes Hotline at 412-227-5700 or visit www.alleghenycounty.us/leadsafeprogram.

I enjoyed attending the recent Eradicate Hate game between the South Allegheny Gladiators and their local police officers. It was great to see our first responders out in the community, connecting with and supporing such an amazing group of young athletes. Events like this truly highlight the power of teamwork, respect, and community spirit!

My team and I are here to assist with a variety of state government-related services, so please don’t hesitate to visit the district office at Tube City Center in McKeesport, call us at 412-664-0035, or visit my website, www.repgoughnour.com.  

Pennsylvania State Capitol

117-A East Wing

Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-1018

District Office

409 Walnut St. First Floor

McKeesport, PA 15132-2524

(412) 664-0035

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