HARRISBURG, June 25 – A bill that would further empower counties in criminal justice oversight passed the state House Monday, announced its sponsor, state Rep. Napoleon Nelson. Specifically, H.B. 1509 would remedy a gap in Pennsylvania law by which Montgomery County cannot appoint a county jail oversight board. It is the only county without this option. The bill would also create the option of adding public members to prison oversight boards statewide. “Over 70,000 Pennsylvania residents are incarcerated, nearly half of them in county jails, prisons or correctional facilities,” said Nelson, D-Montgomery. “These residents and their families retain the right to proper jail governance while incarcerated. Well-appointed oversight boards are a critical measure to ensure and protect that right.” Oversight boards can consist of county commissioners along with other designated officers. They exert significant influence over how county prisons operate. “The added transparency and accountability are the keys to effective reform. Including an array of members on a board that are elected officials and members of the public ensures that the board reflects as many concerns and values as possible,” Nelson said. “This can lead to initiatives that support inmate reintegration and reduce recidivism rates. An expanded board can also enhance monitoring and reporting functions, Read more
HARRISBURG, June 25 – Pennsylvanians could see increased access to contraceptive care under a proposal that passed the state House today. House Bill 1140 , introduced by state Rep. Leanne Krueger, D-Delaware, would require health insurance policies to cover all forms of contraceptive care without any out-of-pocket costs to consumers. “Nine out of 10 women of reproductive age have used some form of contraception at some point in their lives, but many contraceptives are still difficult to access,” House Insurance Committee Chair Patty Kim said. “I’m proud to vote to protect access to contraceptives so that women in Pennsylvania can choose the right time to start a family. “No one right method of contraceptive care is right for everyone, and this bill keeps women in control of their own sexual and reproductive health.” Contraceptives are used to prevent unintended pregnancies and to treat a wide variety of medical conditions, including very serious ones. Despite these benefits, no Pennsylvania law requires health insurers to cover contraceptive care. House Bill 1140 now heads to the Senate for consideration. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 25 – Landmark legislation that would add state-level protections for contraceptive access ( H.B. 1140 ) was approved by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives today, according to the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Leanne Krueger. Krueger, D-Delaware, said efforts by extreme, anti-choice legislators and activists to deny people’s access to safe, proven and FDA-approved contraceptive methods to prevent pregnancy and treat other medical conditions prompted the need for this legislation that she has introduced every session since 2020. She said the legislation became more crucial when the U.S. Supreme overturned Roe v Wade in its 2022 Dobbs decision and gave each state the authority to decide women’s reproductive rights. "Contraception is health care, plain and simple, and no one but a woman and her doctor should decide what medical care she has the right to receive," Krueger said. “Pennsylvania currently has no protections in state law for contraceptive access, so attacks at the federal level jeopardize our access. This bill received unanimous approval in committee and passed with a bipartisan vote of 133-69 in the House. Today’s vote is an important first step to ensuring access to contraception for all Pennsylvanians who need, want and deserve it.” The bill would require all health insurance policies in Pennsylvania to provide coverage for all FDA- approved Read more
“Children need a secure and legal parent-child relationship for so many aspects of their overall well-being and their stability in life,” Sanchez, D-Montgomery, said. Read more
“We should do everything in our power to help our veterans,” Pielli said. “That same attitude should be extended to the families of veterans. That’s why my colleagues, Representative Dan L. Miller and Representative Joe Webster, and I worked to create House Bill 1963. This simple change will make the lives of veterans and their families that much easier after this abrupt and unfortunate change. As a veteran, I’ve come to learn that when our men and women serve our great nation, their family also serves. This legislative consideration is the least we can do for our veterans and their families.” Read more
HARRISBURG, June 20 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, announced that the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has scheduled an additional in-person public input hearing in Montgomery County that he had requested so more PECO Energy Company customers can offer input on the company’s proposed rate increases for electric and natural gas distribution services. The Limerick Township in-person hearing has been scheduled for: Thursday, June 27 – Limerick Township, Montgomery County Hearing starts at 6 p.m. Limerick Township Building 646 W. Ridge Pike Limerick, PA 19468 If the rate increase request is fully approved, the total monthly bill for a residential electric customer using 700 kWh would increase $16.67 from $135.85 to $152.52 (12.3%) in 2025 and by an additional $2.70 in 2026. For natural gas customers, the proposed increase would result in an increase from $97.98 to $114.13 per month (16.5%) for customers using Ccf per month. The increases would generate an additional $464 million, including a one-time credit of $64 million that would reduce the increase for 2025 from electric rates and $111 million from natural gas rates. In April 2024, the PUC voted to suspend and investigate proposed rate increases by PECO Energy Company for both electric and natural gas distribution services. The hearing in Limerick will be part of their investigation into the impact of the rate hikes. “I am very glad that the PUC in its role as a Read more
KENNETT SQUARE, June 20 – New state funding of $75,000 will help Kennet Area Community Service support homeless prevention programs and housing stability in southern Chester County, state Rep. Christina Sappey and state Sen. John I. Kane announced today. The funding comes from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency under the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement fund. KACS will use the state funds to support homeless prevention, housing stability, diversion, emergency housing, rapid rehousing and eviction prevention as part of its Emergency Assistance Program for families and individuals experiencing housing crisis in the southern Chester County region. “The impact that KACS makes towards the betterment of lives in southern Chester County cannot be overstated,” Sappey said. “I am pleased to see this funding approved to help support homeless prevention and housing stability, a critical issue in our area. I will continue to support the work KACS does in any way possible.” "KACS continues to be a beacon of hope in southern Chester County,” Kane said. "This funding will be a real game changer, empowering KACS to be that helping hand to families when they need it most. This will make a real and tangible difference for our families giving KACS the backing to continue their impact.” "KACS is grateful to receive this essential Read more
HARRISBURG, June 14 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, today announced $1.58 million in PA Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund awards for affordable housing and homelessness prevention projects in his legislative district. “I am very glad that these deserving projects have been funded in this round of PHARE grants,” Ciresi said. “Housing affordability is a major issue and a struggle for many people in our area. Everyone needs safe and secure housing in order to thrive. I believe this funding will help strengthen the social net in our communities, build strong families, and set individuals on the way to financial success.” $80,000 Access Services Recovery Oriented Rapid Rehousing Access Services will use funds to support five recovery orientated rapid rehousing units. These units will be targeted to individuals exiting substance abuse recovery settings or street homeless individuals struggling to maintain sobriety due to homelessness. $125,000 College Student Basic Needs Program Affordable Housing Scholarship Fund – TriCounty Community Network on behalf of the College Student Basic Needs Program The College Student Basic Needs Program will use the funds to assist under-resourced college students experiencing housing and food insecurity to stay in school, succeed academically, graduate and obtain better paying employment. One program provides housing scholarships for rental assistance to avoid Read more
ROYERSFORD, June 7 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi today spoke against the negative impact of Aqua Pennsylvania’s recent proposed wastewater rate hike on Limerick Township ratepayers and advocated for legislation that would require public hearings and clearer language on rate increases in public notifications for the sake of transparency and fairness. “Aqua Pennsylvania is proposing a 19% rate increase in Limerick Township following the near doubling of rates in the township less than three years ago,” Ciresi said. “If the rate increase is approved by the Pennsylvania Utilities Commission, customers would see a significant bill increase at a time when they’re already struggling.” The most recent hike is proposed from $78 to $93 for 3,870 gallons per month. This comes less than three years after 5,000 households in Limerick Township saw a near 100% increase in wastewater rates. Ciresi’s remarks also highlighted the dangers of privatization, as Aqua Pennsylvania will be raising rates in one district to make capital improvements in another district. He drew parallels between the rate hikes and the satirical plot of the Tony winning Musical Urinetown, in which people are faced with wastewater rates that are so high, using the bathroom becomes a privilege. “The sobering truth is that without better safeguards in place, privatizing something as essential as water is sending us down a Read more
HARRISBURG, June 7 – State Rep. Paul Friel this week introduced a bill ( H.B. 2393 ) that seeks to change the way that Pennsylvania handles food processing residue – addressing the hazards this waste can cause for rural and agricultural communities by updating the process and putting appropriate guardrails in place. Food processing residue, also known as FPR, is the leftover product created by commercial food processing. Food processing residues can include vegetable peelings, raw meat scraps, and liquid-like cleaning wastewater that includes blood, fat, hair and feathers, and a variety of other vegetable and animal byproducts and chemicals used to process them. While FPR can be used to fertilize the soil, it can create numerous problems if care is not taken. For example, some areas of Pennsylvania have seen groundwater contamination. Many other areas find themselves dealing with consistent, noxious odors. Compounding the issue, surrounding states have heavily restricted or banned the use of FPR, making Pennsylvania a target for cheaply offloading the commercial waste. “This bill – a bipartisan legislative solution to the problem – is the result of working with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, the departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, affected community members, farmers, conservation experts and industry stakeholders. The goal is to make sure that FPR is used responsibly, contributing Read more
HARRISBURG, June 6 – Building on their strong record of propelling initiatives aimed to assist Pennsylvania families, state Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, and state Rep. Gina H. Curry, D-Delaware, announced today that their legislation that would create a state program providing “Welcome Baby” kits to new moms and parents passed the Pennsylvania House. House Bill 2137 would establish a new state program to help ease the financial and emotional stress new moms and parents face by providing them with maternal and newborn supply kits and connecting them to additional support programs available at the state and county levels. “I believe that the arrival of a newborn should be a time of joy and hope, not stress and uncertainty,” said Mayes, D-Allegheny. “Our legislation would ensure that these families receive the support they need during this transformative time. “The Maternal and Newborn Supply Kit program addresses the social determinants of health like having a low income which can impact a person’s health outcomes. For new moms and parents, these kits are part an answer to combat the driving forces of maternal mortality and morbidity and a lifeline for struggling new families.” I stand firmly committed to advocating for policies that provide parents with the necessary resources to nurture their child from day one.” “Welcoming Read more
HARRISBURG, June 5 – Pennsylvanians who buy health insurance through Pennie would receive financial assistance to help pay premiums under a bill that passed the House today. House Bill 2234 , introduced by House Insurance Committee Chair Patty Kim, would award financial assistance to Pennie customers to help pay their premiums. Pennie provides excellent health care coverage for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians who fall outside of traditional work-related coverage options, Kim said, but many families still struggle to meet their deductibles or pay their premiums. “Pennie and the reinsurance program have been very successful – this past open enrollment period, a record 435,000 Pennsylvanians bought their health insurance through Pennie,” said Kim, D-Cumberland/Dauphin. “But many Pennsylvanians – especially those coming off Medicaid – cannot afford a Pennie plan. Many other Pennsylvanians technically have coverage through Pennie, but that coverage has a deductible in the thousands of dollars.” Additionally, more than two-thirds of uninsured people who applied for, but did not purchase, Pennie coverage said it was too expensive. Moreover, according to Federal Reserve data, 13% of adults are unable to pay a $400 unexpected expense at any given time – meaning many Pennie customers cannot afford their coverage. “House Bill 2234 has two goals in mind: Read more
HARRISBURG, June 5 – A bill that would require high school coaches to receive training on student mental health passed the House Tuesday, announced the measure’s sponsor, state Rep. Mary Jo Daley. House Bill 1367 would help ensure that students, parents and guardians, athletic coaches and extracurricular advisers are all made aware of the availability of mental health services within a school and local community. The bill would also require that athletic coaches receive mental health awareness training similar to training required of other school personnel. A recent study surveying more than 10,000 coaches found only 18% of youth coaches feel highly confident in their ability to link athletes to mental health resources, and 67% want more training and information on the subject. “School professionals already serve a big role in a student’s life, so it only makes sense that we provide critical, lifesaving training to everyone we can on school grounds. For when things are not OK, we need to know that every adult is available to identify and take the steps to help a student find solid ground,” said Daley, D-Montgomery. “It takes training to know when and how to be there for a student especially at a time when nearly half of America’s youth are, in fact, struggling with their mental health.” Specifically, the bill would: Direct the Pennsylvania Department of Education to revise standards for Read more
“Pennsylvania’s partnership with Taiwan has brought immense economic, cultural and social benefits to both sides. As we commemorate the 45-year anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act and the adoption of House Resolution 439, we reaffirm our commitment to the values of democracy, mutual respect and shared success,” O’Mara said. Read more
“Our first responders need to lean on every resource necessary in order to help others with efficiency and safety,” Curry said. “There is no time for tow truck drivers to consider every legal repercussion they may face when trying to help our police officers, firefighters and paramedics. This bill will give tow truck drivers peace of mind that, as long as they are following the directions of a police officer, they can take the necessary risks to help others without penalty.” Read more
COATESVILLE, May 22 – Chester County will receive $300,000 from the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Keystone Communities Program for the Chester County Home Modification Program which makes homes more accessible for low-income residents with disabilities. “For many of our residents with disabilities, their houses often feel like potential danger zones as they haven’t been constructed with their unique needs in mind,” Williams said. “By providing for important home accessibility improvements and upgrades that increase safety and mobility, this state grant money will help our residents truly feel safe and secure in their homes.” The Chester County Home Modification Program assists low-to-moderate-income residents of Chester County with permanent disabilities to make their current residences more accessible. The CCHMP allows for a wide range of adaptive modifications, which include, but are not limited to, ramps, lifts, door and hallway widening, kitchen and bathroom modifications, visual doorbells, audio phones and visual phone signalers. Run by DCED, the KCP encourages the creation of partnerships between the public and private sectors that support the growth and stability of neighborhoods and communities; social and economic diversity; and a strong and secure quality of life. Local governments, redevelopment and housing authorities, nonprofit organizations, community development corporations, and business, Read more
“Incentivizing employer contribution to employees’ child care expenses can help ensure workforce access to parents trying to support families,” Hanbidge said. Read more
HARRISBURG, May 20 – As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, state Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery, during a Capitol news conference today highlighted the need for school coaches to receive mental health training. Her legislation (H.B. 1367) would help to ensure that students, parents and guardians, athletic coaches and extracurricular advisors are all made aware of the availability of mental health services within a school and/or local community. The bill would also require that athletic coaches receive mental health awareness training similar to training required of other school personnel. “We expect our school professionals to be there for our children, so with modern concerns facing us, it’s imperative that we keep fresh the training resources that give our teachers and coaches the ability to do their jobs,” Daley said. “Nearly half of America’s youth struggle with mental health before turning 18. Unfortunately, teenagers might not come forward and might be fearful of seeking help because they don’t think it would be ‘mentally tough.’” “I stand today before you as someone who made a comeback from an injury that felt like the end of the world, and it likely would have been if not for the support of my coaches,” said Brynn Neidgh, a student-athlete at York Suburban who spoke in support of the bill. A recent study surveying more than 10,000 Read more
State Rep. Paul Friel has authored an open letter, co-signed by 23 additional regional members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, urging AmeriHealth Caritas PA, Keystone First, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to collectively find a solution that keeps CHOP in-network for coverage under the insurers’ Medicaid plans. Read more
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