Banning ‘gas station heroin,’ making EBT cards more secure, PRT schedule changes – and more!

Rep. Abigail Salisbury June 22, 2026 | 4:30 PM

You can read my e-newsletter in a way that’s preferable to you by visiting my legislative website here and clicking on the accessibility icon in the lower right corner.

Around the Region

Our office attended two great Juneteenth celebrations on June 13. Our district office director, Aaron (above left), hosted a table at the Braddock Juneteenth Celebration and had a chance to attend the parade.

Our staffer Leslie and summer intern Jordan, above right, hosted a table at the Swissvale celebration, which featured lots of vendors and local talent.

Leslie also recently attended a wonderful luncheon at Wood Towers organized by resident Janine Houser. Guests included Dr. Mary Buckley, Director of Social Services for the Wilkinsburg Police Department, who is pictured above with Janine (left) and Leslie (center).

Last Thursday, I joined state Rep. Emily Kinkead, state Sen. Lindsay Williams, and U.S. Rep. Summer Lee for a panel discussion at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, where we answered questions from the community on topics including food and healthcare access, housing, utilities, transportation, and economic stability.

Our staffer Simon attended the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation's June 16 dinner to honor the latest graduates of WCDC's CORE FOUR Business Planning Course. As a proud CORE FOUR graduate, I'm excited for them and looking forward to celebrating their future accomplishments!

Protecting child survivors – and other House votes

Last week in the House, I voted for – and the House passed – bills that would:

Require disclosure of AI-generated material in advertising.
Enhance security for SNAP benefits by providing chip-enabled EBT cards.
Ban the sale of the synthetic drug tianeptine, known as “gas station heroin,” which is sold under various names in gas stations, vape shops and elsewhere.
Make college more affordable by creating a new scholarship program.
Protect the youngest human trafficking victims by increasing the grading of trafficking infants (under 1 year old) to a felony of the first degree.
Expand funding to help schools pay extraordinary special education costs.
Protect Good Samaritans who help others suffering from an overdose.
Establish a Child Victim Recovery Fund, paid for by fees on offenders, to support Child Advocacy Centers across Pennsylvania.

The bills now head to the state Senate for consideration. Visit this page to read more about these and other bills we passed.

More time to weigh in on county’s paid parental leave proposal

The Allegheny County Health Department has extended the public comment period for the paid parental leave proposal by 30 days in response to residents’ requests for additional time to review and submit comments. The proposed package includes 18 weeks of fully employer-funded paid leave, with no weekly benefit limit. The new deadline to submit comments is Thursday, July 16, at 11:59 p.m.

Comments can be submitted by email at publichealthcomment@allghenycounty.us, by phone at 412-258-3258, or by letter to: Attn: Article XXIV Comments (Paid Parental Leave), Allegheny County Health Department, 542 Fourth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

PRT schedule changes

Pittsburgh Regional Transit has announced upcoming service adjustments that will take effect on Sunday, June 28. PRT adjusts schedules three times each year to better reflect current ridership patterns and improve service reliability. Riders are encouraged to review the upcoming changes carefully, as schedules and service levels have been modified on some routes. Visit this page to learn more.

Nonprofits – don’t forget to file your annual report!

Nonprofits: this is a reminder that state law requires you to file an annual report by June 30 each year—even if your organization has not changed officers. Filing online is free and takes just a few minutes. Visit this page to learn more.

In other nonprofit news, please be aware that the Community Food Solutions Mini Grant Program is now open and can provide grants of up to $7,500 to small-scale, grassroots organizations and groups working to expand access to food. Visit this page to learn more, including how to apply. The application will be open through June 29.

Visit this page for a list of all the latest state grant openings.

Speaking of addressing food insecurity, Jasper and Daisy joined me at the state Capitol last week for the Health and Fitness Caucus’ Capitol Walk-A-Thon, which benefited several statewide organizations dedicated to increasing food access.

Property Tax/Rent Rebates start going out July 1 – have you filed for yours yet?

Seniors and residents with a disability: Property Tax/Rent Rebate payments will start going out July 1! Although the deadline to apply has been extended to Dec. 31, applications are processed on a rolling basis, so the sooner you apply, the sooner you can get your rebate. You can apply online here for the fastest processing, or stop by my office for help. For help, please remember to bring the following documents:

Photo ID
Proof of all 2025 income
Proof of 2025 property taxes (homeowners) or completed PA Rent Certificate (renters)
Direct deposit information, if desired

You can learn more about the program here and read tips for filing here.

If you’re looking for a new job, mark your calendar for the Summer Opportunity Fair this Tuesday, June 23, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by EmployHER Pittsburgh, the event will feature resources to help you connect with prospective employers and make the best possible impression. Free childcare and lunch will be provided. Visit this page or scan the QR code above to register.

Please remember that our office can help with a wide range of state-related matters—from filing a Property Tax/Rent Rebate or obtaining a Senior ConnectCard, to navigating state benefits and more. Contact us to find out how we can help!