One Million Signature to Raise the Wage in PA Read more
Read my email update from June 12, 2026 Read more
Legislation cracking down on nonconsensual sharing of intimate images advances to Senate Read more
Legislation establishing penalties for CEOs of insurance companies responsible for harm Read more
Read my email update from June 5, 2026 Read more
New state grant funding opportunities Read more
Read my email update from May 29, 2026 Read more
State grant supports Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank rehabilitation Read more
If you have not yet made a plan to vote in the May 19 primary election, time is running out! For those planning to vote by mail, all mail ballots must be requested by 5 p.m. on May 12. Read more
“When sexually explicit images are shared without consent, our current law leaves many victims without recourse,” said Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny, who serves on the committee. “It only applies if the perpetrator is a current or former intimate partner and acted with intent to harass or annoy. Most of these cases are now committed by strangers who seek to profit from or humiliate the victim. This bill closes these loopholes and ensures meaningful protection for those who have their privacy and dignity violated.” Read more
New state grant programs now accepting applications Read more
HARRISBURG, April 28 – The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee on Monday unanimously advanced two bills that would protect individuals cooperating with first responders in the event of a drug or alcohol overdose, announced state Reps. Paul Friel and Emily Kinkead, who sponsored the bills. House Bills 1944 and 1945 would protect people, such as college students, from endangerment charges if they are administering aid to a person suffering an emergency overdose. “Strengthening medical amnesty, particularly on college campuses, empowers students to prioritize safety over fear, fostering a community where looking out for one another is the norm, not a liability,” said Friel, D-Chester. “When students trust they won't face punishment for seeking help, they are far more likely to intervene in emergencies, saving lives.” “Every second matters in an emergency. In these critical moments, no one should have to weigh saving a life against the risk of being charged with a crime,” said Kinkead, D-Allegheny. “These bills make it clear that if you render aid to a person experiencing a medical emergency as a result of consuming drugs or alcohol, you should be protected. “Advancing this legislation is a step toward ensuring people, especially young people, are empowered to do the right thing without fear of life-altering consequences.” The representatives heard during a March Read more
HARRISBURG, April 27 – State Rep. Tim Briggs, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, today announced that several significant pieces of legislation have been approved by the committee and now move to the full House of Representatives for further consideration. “These bills reflect thoughtful efforts to address critical issues facing our justice system and our communities,” Briggs said. “From ensuring fairness and dignity under the law to protecting public safety and encouraging people to act in emergencies, the committee’s work demonstrates a commitment to practical, compassionate policy.” House Bill 99 (Sponsored by Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila.) and H.B. 888 (Sponsored by Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon) would abolish the death penalty in Pennsylvania for defendants who have not yet been sentenced, aligning the Commonwealth with the 23 states that have already ended capital punishment and addressing longstanding concerns about wrongful convictions, high costs and its lack of effectiveness as a deterrent. “I appreciate my colleagues on this committee for standing up to injustice,” Rabb said. “The risks of continuing the death penalty in the Commonwealth far outweigh the benefits, of which there are few, if any. It is an ineffective crime deterrent that costs tremendous resources to uphold in Pennsylvania, and we have used it to end lives of those who turned out to be innocent. There Read more
Read my email update from April 24, 2026 Read more
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New state grant programs accepting applications Read more
Read my email update from March 27, 2026 Read more
For the third time in four years, the state House has passed a bill to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage. The latest measure, which was approved on a mostly partisan 104-95 vote, would see the current minimum wage of $7.25 an hour rise gradually to $15 an hour in 2029.Another bill introduced in the House, introduced by Reps. Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) and Roni Green (D-Philadelphia), would tie the minimum wage to a cost of living increase received by lawmakers in Harrisburg.Already, Pennsylvania lawmakers receive an annual, automatic cost of living increase. Currently, rank and file lawmakers make $113,000 per year. That puts Pennsylvania’s legislature among the highest paid in the country.Kinkead and Green’s bill would annually raise the minimum wage by the same relative amount as lawmakers’ salaries.“It is shameful that state lawmakers have seen a more than 45% salary increase over the last 17 years while the minimum wage has remained unchanged,” Kinkead said in a statement. “Taxpayers are funding annual raises for elected officials. Those same taxpayers deserve to see their wages grow as well.” Read more
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Each year, no matter what they’ve accomplished in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania lawmakers get a raise.State law has required a yearly increase since 1995 as a way to prevent lawmakers from enriching themselves. The increase is based on an annual cost-of-living-adjustment that matches the federal consumer inflation figure for mid-Atlantic urban areas.Last year, that meant a 3.25% increase — making the $113,500 annual salary the highest in the nation for full-time lawmakers.Pennsylvania’s minimum wage, which has sat at $7.25 since 2009, is the lowest in the nation.Rep. Emilky Kinkead (D-Allegheny) and Rep. G. Roni Green (D-Philadelphia) want to change that by tying lawmakers’ salaries to the state’s lowest-paid workers. The two proposed a bill this week that would require the state’s minimum wage to rise at the same rate as salaries in the General Assembly. Read more
Automatic, annual minimum wage bump at same rate of lawmaker pay raises Read more
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658 Lincoln AveBellevue, PA 15202-3420
P*: (412) 321-5523
Rep. Emily Kinkead's office is accessed behind H&R Block. Turn down Florence Ave. from Lincoln Ave. and make the first left into the parking lot.
116 B East WingHarrisburg, PA 17120-2020
P*: (717) 787-5470