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House sends Burns bill to Senate; measure would provide in-state tuition for students in deployed military families

(May 24, 2023) Rep. Frank Burns

“Military families can’t control the dynamics of their lives when engaged in serving our nation,” Burns said. “Students shouldn’t be penalized for their families having to answer the call of duty. My bill would make sure they aren’t.” Read more

 

Bill increasing maximum fines for illegal trash dumping passes House

(May 24, 2023) Rep. Donna Bullock

HARRISBURG, May 24 – A bill sponsored by state Rep. Donna Bullock, D-Phila., that would increase the maximum fines for illegally dumping trash in the commonwealth passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by a vote of 122-79. The legislation would increase the maximum fine for a first offense of misdemeanor of the third degree to $2,000; second and subsequent offenses of misdemeanor of the third degree to $5,000; a first offense of misdemeanor of the second degree to $10,000; and $20,000 for second and subsequent offenses of misdemeanor of the second degree, as well as potential imprisonment. “Some of these offending companies treat fines for illegally dumping trash as the cost of doing business. We cannot allow that to continue to be the case,” Bullock said. “More than just being an eyesore, illegal dumping does long term damage to the environment and health of community ecosystems and costs taxpayers money with the strain it puts on municipalities.” Cleaner blocks are safer blocks, Bullock said. According to a 2015 report from The World Bank, removing garbage from streets has a positive impact on communities and leads to lower rates of crime. A 2022 WHYY article reported that a group of community organizations were working together to enact positive change in Philadelphia by cleaning up communities. The bill will go to the Read more

 

Anti-hate crimes legislation clears Judiciary Committee, heads for House consideration

(May 24, 2023) Rep. Dan B. Frankel, Rep. Napoleon Nelson

HARRISBURG, May 24 – Legislation to expand and strengthen Pennsylvania’s anti-hate crimes statutes was approved by the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday, marking the first legislative step forward in two decades to address the universally recognized increase in hate-based crimes. Reps. Dan Frankel and Napoleon Nelson, original sponsors of the four-bill package, applauded their committee colleagues' support and vowed to keep advocating for the legislation until it becomes law. “Hate crimes are on the rise, and every day that Pennsylvania’s laws are left unequipped to deal with them is a day that those who would use violence and intimidation to diminish our vulnerable communities are further emboldened,” Frankel said. “Today, the House Judiciary Committee voted for a commonwealth that stands with vulnerable communities and aspires to promote diversity and tolerance.” Frankel noted that once the bills become law, Pennsylvania will join the majority of states that acknowledge the growing scourge of attacks on Americans for who they are, how they look or who they love. Nelson said, “This legislative package is of vital importance. As hate crimes increase across the country, we must protect those who are most vulnerable. I’m happy to have sponsored these pieces of legislation and look forward to doing more to ensure that everyone – regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual Read more

 

Freeman land bank legislation approved by committee

(May 24, 2023) Rep. Robert L. Freeman

“Expanding access to this transformative resource would revitalize affected neighborhoods and business districts, as well as encourage economic development and improve quality of life in all municipalities, big and small,” said Freeman. Read more

 

Philadelphia House Delegation lauds passing of gun safety bills

(May 24, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, May 24 – The Philadelphia House Delegation today expressed satisfaction on the passing of two pieces of legislation aimed at implementing extreme risk protection orders and regulating universal background checks. The firearm safety bills were approved by the House and sent to the Senate. The state House passed H.B. 714 which would expand background checks for firearm purchases. It was introduced by state Rep. Perry Warren. The second bill H.B. 1018 would provide emergency protection for gun owners who are at risk of harming themselves or others. Rep. Jennifer O’Mara is prime sponsor of this legislation. ERPO, or “red flag,” laws temporarily disarm people in crisis to disrupt spontaneous acts of violence against themselves or others. Philadelphia House Delegation Chair Morgan Cephas said that the passing of the bills represents a major step forward in the delegation’s quest for public safety. “Having two gun reform bills pass this House is certainly cause for celebration, however we know there is much more work to be done. Our city, as well as the whole commonwealth, is in crisis and we need the General Assembly to recognize there are commonsense ways to help all Pennsylvanians while not infringing on their rights. “We will continue to work in the House for passage of safe storage and lost-and-stolen reporting -- two of the biggest priorities of our delegation Read more

 

Conklin introduces legislation to fortify school safety

(May 24, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

"By providing first responders with access to up-to-date, detailed building layouts, we would empower them to better navigate the chaos of these crises and speed lifesaving intervention," Conklin said. Read more

 

Rep. Jessica Benham: Federal agency could help Alzheimer’s patients

(May 24, 2023) Rep. Jessica Benham

Last summer, my grandmother passed away after years of living with Alzheimer’s disease. If you’ve lost a loved one to this disease or know someone who has, then you’re familiar with the long and cruel journey both the patient and their families have walked. Read more

 

Rep. Bizzarro: Republicans need to stop the blame game and work with us for the people

(May 24, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

So, after controlling the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for 24 of the last 28 years and controlling the state Senate nonstop since 1995 — 1995! — and delivering a record of failure the Washington Generals would mock, Republicans are claiming they want sanity and compromise. Read more

 

Finance Committee approves Property Tax/Rent Rebate expansion legislation

(May 23, 2023) Finance

Taking the first significant step toward increasing income limits for Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for the first time in 16-plus years, the Finance Committee passed legislation Tuesday to do just that. Read more

 

Bill ensures people with disabilities receive more equal representation

(May 23, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

“People with disabilities drive, and – like many of us – they have concerns and needs,” Bizzarro said. “Unfortunately, until this bill is signed into law, people with disabilities do not always have a seat at the table when it comes to PennDOT’s Medical Advisory Board. This bill would provide more equal representation, and it would ensure the needs and concerns of drivers with disabilities are heard at the state level.” Read more

 

Bill updating Pennsylvania Soil & Plant Amendment Act passes House

(May 23, 2023) Rep. Christopher M. Rabb

HARRISBURG, May 23 – A bill sponsored by state Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., updating the Pennsylvania Soil & Plant Amendment Act to realign it with the Pennsylvania Fertilizer Act passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by vote of 201-0. Last year, when the state Fertilizer Law was updated, the registration and tonnage reporting of fertilizer fell out of alignment with the soil and plant amendment program. The bill would realign the product registration process and tonnage reporting with that of fertilizer. It also would change registration requirements so that a company who paid the registration fee under the fertilizer law would not have to pay the fee under the soil and plant amendment law; however, the product would still need to be registered to show that it is a dual-purpose product. “This is a modest but mighty adjustment to improve this statute,” Rabb said. “Bills often go into effect in an imperfect state and we can always be working to improve them.” The bill now goes to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration. Read more

 

Ciresi introduces bill to simplify and make predictable the cost of recording documents

(May 23, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, May 23 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, today announced the introduction of legislation (H.B. 1244) that will make predictable the cost of recording documents charged by Recorders of Deeds. “My legislation would simplify the recordation process, eliminate the potential for user error, and guarantee predictability for fees, which will benefit consumers, lenders, businesses, attorneys, and others who record documents in the Commonwealth,” Ciresi said. The current method for calculating the cost of recording is dependent on page count, number of names, number of parcels, and number of marginal document references. According to Ciresi, the last-minute addition or removal of a page, or a miscalculation, can lead to the incorrect amount being included for a filing and subsequent rejection, causing uncertainty, delays, and potential harm to those involved in the transaction. In 2016, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee conducted a review of the fees collected by recorders of deeds. Its findings included: (1) “Fees charged by County Recorders of Deeds are difficult to predict because they can vary based on factors such as the number of pages and the number of names that need to be indexed” and (2) “Many states are moving toward predictable recording fees to avoid delays and penalties at settlement.” “Not only does the current method create potential for surprises Read more

 

Freeman bill would provide voters with earlier information on campaign contributions

(May 23, 2023) Rep. Robert L. Freeman

"The change would provide earlier disclosure and greater transparency on who is contributing to candidates for the General Assembly," said Freeman. Read more

 

PLBC celebrates 50 years as a formal caucus with K. Leroy Irvis Day of Action

(May 23, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, May 23 – The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus held its second annual K. Leroy Irvis Day of Action today in honor of the first Black speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and to celebrate its 50th year as a formal legislative caucus. “Today is a joyous day. It is a reminder of the hard work this caucus has done over the last 50 years and the hard work still left to do,” State Rep. Donna Bullock, D-Phila., chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, said. “We honored our past by remembering the life and legacy of former Speaker K. Leroy Irvis, and we invested in our future by presenting scholarships to the bright and promising young men and women who earned them with their scholarly prowess.” Following a 10 a.m. news event on the front steps of the Speaker K. Leroy Irvis building, Black Pennsylvanians — youth, community leaders, small business owners, clergy and advocacy organizations — gathered for a series of panels on the state of Black Pennsylvania, labor, cannabis and voter disenfranchisement. As part of the day of action, the PLBC congratulated the following recipients of the 2023 PLBC James Roebuck Scholarship: Mamadou Bah, Upper Merion High School; Kayla Banks, Cheltenham High School; Jayant Bullet, Cumberland Valley High School; Makalya Coleman, George Washington Carver High School; Ellyssa Elliot, Reading High School; Read more

 

Human Services Committee moves two bills out of committee

(May 23, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, May 23 – Today, the PA House Human Services Committee voted two bills out of committee to address mental health initiatives and funding for programs as well as funding for kinship care legal assistance. The first bill ( H.B. 849 ), introduced by state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, would take recommendations from the Behavioral Health Commission on Adult Mental Health on how to appropriate $100 million in one-time ARPA funds. As part of the 2022-23 budget (through Act 54 of 2022), the General Assembly established the Behavioral Health Commission on Adult Mental Health, a 24-person commission tasked with providing recommendations to the General Assembly on how to appropriate $100 million in one-time ARPA funding to address adult behavioral health needs in Pennsylvania. The commission, composed of experts in the behavioral health field, advocates, providers, and legislators, met over the course of four weeks for a total of 17 hours to create a set of recommendations they believe would be the first step towards true change for all Pennsylvanians. H.B. 849 would take the following recommendations from the commission and turn them into actionable legislation, as well as expand these efforts to address the needs of struggling youth: $37 million towards workforce development. $23.5 million to improve the criminal justice system and public safety systems. $39 million to expand access and service delivery. $500,000 to evaluate the Read more

 

Warren: State House passes gun background-check bill, red-flag legislation

(May 23, 2023) Rep. Perry Warren

HARRISBURG, May 23 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Monday passed historic legislation that would expand background checks for firearm purchases and provide emergency protection for gun owners who are at risk of harming themselves or others, said state Rep. Perry Warren, who sponsored the background-check bill. The bills, which are now with the Senate for consideration, are: H.B. 714 to enact universal background checks, passed 109-92. H.B. 1018 to create extreme risk protection orders, passed 102-99. “It has been a long time coming, but with a new direction in Harrisburg, we took two really big steps this week toward better protecting the public in the face of a growing gun violence epidemic,” said Warren, D-Bucks. “I’m proud to have sponsored the universal background check bill and happy to see it received bipartisan support in the House. We have a responsibility as representatives to do everything we can to make gun sales the safest and most comprehensive they can be in Pennsylvania." Federal and current state laws require checks for most sales by licensed gun dealers, but they do not cover all types of guns or those sold by unlicensed sellers, including online, at shows and to strangers. Warren’s bill would require checks on all avenues of sales and for long-barrel firearms, as well. “I hope that the Senate has the foresight to move this popular and much-needed Read more

 

Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry votes on worker focused legislation

(May 23, 2023) Rep. Jason Dawkins

HARRISBURG, May 23 – During a voting meeting Tuesday, the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee reported two pieces of legislation, HB967 and HR60 , out of committee and to the House floor. The bill would increase protections for hotel employees by requiring hotel employers provide devices which serve as “panic buttons” for employees working alone servicing guestrooms. “The hotel and hospitality industry experiences some of the highest rates of workplace sexual assault and harassment. Due to the isolated nature of the work, certain guests feel empowered to take advantage of the unequal power imbalance and act in crude and criminal ways,” Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., majority chair of the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee, said. “And we have duty to those hospitality workers to take this issue head on and legislate the protections they need and deserve. Hospitality workers should be able to feel secure and protected in their working environment.” The resolution would designate June 5 through June 9, 2023, as “Union Organizing Week” to honor the workers who fought for their right to organize and bargain collectively at the workplace. “We are fighting for the working people of Pennsylvania in this committee,” Dawkins said. “And we will continue to celebrate working people while I’m majority Read more

 

State House committee OKs $100M for PA mental health needs

(May 23, 2023) Rep. Mike Schlossberg

“Approximately 1.7 million Pennsylvanians live in a community that does not have enough mental health professionals. Five Pennsylvanians take their own life every day. The time for hearings and studies is over! We know the problems. We have solutions. It is time to act, and act swiftly,” said Schlossberg. Read more

 

House committee unanimously approves Solar for Schools legislation

(May 23, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, May 23 – The House Consumer Protection, Technology, and Utilities Committee voted unanimously today in support of House Bill1032, state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler’s Solar for Schools legislation. Solar for Schools would provide grants to install solar to public k-12 schools, community colleges, and career technical schools across Pennsylvania. The program would fund 50% of the cost of project construction. Federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act would cover 30- 50% of the remaining installation costs, with school districts responsible for the remaining 0- 20%, plus costs associated with operation and maintenance. The vote comes on the heels of Fiedler’s tour of solar arrays at various schools across Pennsylvania. "I've been able to see firsthand the value that solar arrays bring by reducing costs for school districts and taxpayers, limiting our carbon footprint, and creating new jobs,” Fiedler, D-Phila., said. “I am thrilled Solar for Schools passed the committee. This legislation merges labor and environmental priorities to improve our environment and bring new jobs to our commonwealth.” Committee Chair Robert Matzie, D-Beaver, commended the legislation after voting in favor of the bill. “Solar for Schools is a solid bill that will help school districts and taxpayers save money,” Matzie said. “As chairman of the committee, I was happy Read more

 

Bill to boost funding for road and bridge projects advances in Pa. House

(May 23, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Legislation designed to use the state’s gas tax revenue in its entirety for road and bridge work is advancing in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Read more

 

House sends Burns bill to Senate; measure would provide in-state tuition for students in deployed military families
May 24, 2023

Bill increasing maximum fines for illegal trash dumping passes House
May 24, 2023

Anti-hate crimes legislation clears Judiciary Committee, heads for House consideration
May 24, 2023

Freeman land bank legislation approved by committee
May 24, 2023

Philadelphia House Delegation lauds passing of gun safety bills
May 24, 2023

Conklin introduces legislation to fortify school safety
May 24, 2023

Rep. Jessica Benham: Federal agency could help Alzheimer’s patients
May 24, 2023

Rep. Bizzarro: Republicans need to stop the blame game and work with us for the people
May 24, 2023

Finance Committee approves Property Tax/Rent Rebate expansion legislation
May 23, 2023

Bill ensures people with disabilities receive more equal representation
May 23, 2023

Bill updating Pennsylvania Soil & Plant Amendment Act passes House
May 23, 2023

Ciresi introduces bill to simplify and make predictable the cost of recording documents
May 23, 2023

Freeman bill would provide voters with earlier information on campaign contributions
May 23, 2023

PLBC celebrates 50 years as a formal caucus with K. Leroy Irvis Day of Action
May 23, 2023

Human Services Committee moves two bills out of committee
May 23, 2023

Warren: State House passes gun background-check bill, red-flag legislation
May 23, 2023

Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry votes on worker focused legislation
May 23, 2023

State House committee OKs $100M for PA mental health needs
May 23, 2023

House committee unanimously approves Solar for Schools legislation
May 23, 2023

Bill to boost funding for road and bridge projects advances in Pa. House
May 23, 2023