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In this Update:
Our Rochester Office Will Serve as a Toys for Tots Drop Off SiteNow through December, my Rochester District Office will be serving as a donation drop off for Toys for Tots. We will be accepting new, unwrapped toys from those wishing to donate to assist families in need and help them give their children a brighter holiday experience. Those interested in dropping off a donation can stop by Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thank You to All Our Veterans for Their Unwavering Service
Our recent annual Veterans Salute Breakfast was a wonderful success! Thank you to everyone who joined us to recognize and celebrate the brave men and women who have served our country. Your stories and service continue to inspire us all. Pro-Growth 2025-26 State Budget Now Complete
The Senate approved a bipartisan state budget plan, now signed into law, that will help grow Pennsylvania’s economy and make key improvements to the spending plan Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed earlier this year. The $50.1 billion budget approved by the Senate and the House cuts nearly $1.4 billion in spending from Shapiro’s proposal, utilizes billions in lapsed funding in state agencies and special funds in the best interests of taxpayers, protects Pennsylvanians from the devastating consequences of Shapiro’s proposed electricity tax and incentivizes job growth across the commonwealth by implementing key reforms to the permitting process and maintaining important tax cuts. The agreement includes new money to promote student achievement and empower families, including a $50 million expansion of the state’s popular Educational Improvement Tax Credit program to support more school choice opportunities for families in disadvantaged schools. Additional funding is also included for the Ready to Learn Block Grant program ($562 million increase), Basic Education ($105 million increase), Special Education ($40 million increase) and Pre-K Counts ($9.5 million increase). Lastly, the plan protects and promotes Pennsylvania’s farmers by including key provisions to ensure the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System can continue to identify potential outbreaks of avian influenza and providing a $7 million increase for Farmer’s Market Food Coupons and a $4 million increase for the State Food Purchase program. Through these critical reforms, we have prevented Pennsylvanians from being affected by the 7.5% spending increase the governor’s original proposal would have imposed as well as avoiding a broad-based tax increase. After months of intense negotiations, we were able to agree on a more reasonable, fiscally responsible solution that invests in our schools, our workforce and our farmers all while protecting Pennsylvania taxpayers. Find more details about the final 2025-26 state budget plan here. RGGI Electricity Taxes Eliminated from State Budget
As part of the budget agreement, the illegal regulation mandating Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) – a multi-state pact that would have added more than a billion dollars in new electricity taxes on Pennsylvania families and job creators – was eliminated. Stopping the RGGI electricity tax is a huge win for every consumer of electricity in PA. Families continue to feel the strain of inflationary pressure and do not need to see any additional increases in their household bills. Eliminating RGGI also clears a major hurdle that prevented energy providers from investing in our commonwealth and paves the way for the kind of energy growth that will expand our economy to prevent significant new cost burdens. The more severe consequences of this tax, including the closure of Pennsylvania power plants, job losses and the threat of rolling blackouts in the years ahead, have now been avoided as well. Highlights in the 47th
Congratulations to Pittckleball on their ribbon cutting and demo day yesterday! Pittckleball offers a variety of packages and beginner classes for wellness and recreation. They have indoor pickleball courts, table tennis, spa, and so much more in the Monaca mall! Harrisburg Happenings
Recently, The Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of PA (AICUP) hosted their Capitol Mascot Day and the 47th District was well represented by Geneva College! Lindsay Courteau, associate vice president of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement; Tara Verrico, director of Financial Aid; and President Dr. Calvin Troup from Geneva College stopped by my Harrisburg office to chat about all the great work they are doing back in Beaver Falls!
A few weeks back, PA Pork celebrated Pork Month with a Pork and Policy Breakfast! Sen. Judy Schwank and I sponsored Senate Resolution 161 designating October as “Pork Month” in PA. Currently, we have 2,777 swine farms and an industry that supports 14,051 jobs and contributes $1.14 billion to our state’s economy. Our pork industry continues to be a strong national competitor as it ranks 12th in production – raising just under 1.5 million hogs annually. Budget Makes PA Competitive Through Sweeping Permitting Reform
The new budget includes new permitting reforms that will continue the significant progress we’ve made in recent years to cut red tape and prevent endless layers of bureaucracy from limiting business and job growth statewide. The reforms will require a wide variety of environmental permits to be deemed approved after a certain period of time, ensuring applicants will know the time frame for consideration of their application and can appeal any permits that are denied. This provides certainty to the process and ends the current practice of dragging out the permitting process for months without resolution. In addition, the reforms will require permit tracking for applicants across all state agencies, adding transparency to the process. Legislation Advances Cracking Down on AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material
Legislation to better protect young people against the serious threats posed by child abuse materials generated using artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing in the Senate. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 1050, which would require mandated reporters to report all instances of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) they become aware of, including those produced by a minor. This applies to teachers, child care workers, health care providers and other individuals responsible for caring for children. There has been a startling increase in the amount of AI-generated CSAM being created and shared in recent years, including troubling cases in school settings. Law enforcement officials and child advocacy organizations shared their support for the measure during a public hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee. Keystone Scholars Offers November Incentive to Start Saving for College
State Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced a statewide incentive for Keystone Scholars this month which will give children a head start on education savings. Families who claim their child’s $100 scholarship from Keystone Scholars in November and open and link their own companion PA 529 College and Career Savings Program account will get an additional $50. Keystone Scholars provides a $100 scholarship for every child born in Pennsylvania since 2019. This money grows alongside the child and will be available to use after their 18th birthday to help pay for costs associated with four-year degrees, community college, technical training, apprenticeships and credential programs. To learn more, visit pa529.com/keystone. State Police Will Help Ensure Your Child Car Seat is Properly Installed
Throughout November, certified Pennsylvania State Police technicians are setting aside dates to help ensure child car seats are safe, secure and properly installed. Caregivers will receive instruction on the proper installation and have seats installed, learn how to properly harness a child in a seat and check seats for recalls. Find the nearest free car seat check here. If none are scheduled locally or you can’t make it, check your local state police station for free monthly child seat fittings. Oh Say, Can You Sing? The PA Farm Show National Anthem Contest
Think you’ve got what it takes to sing the National Anthem at the Farm Show? The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is looking for singers to kick off each day of the 2026 edition of the nation’s largest indoor agricultural exposition. Submit your original video entry by Nov. 24 to be considered. Winners will be selected by fan voting on Facebook. You must be available at least one day of the Farm Show, which runs from Jan. 10 through Jan. 17. You can find details about eligibility, video requirements, voting and how to apply here.
Please contact me to provide input on any state-related matter, or to receive help in dealing with a state agency. |
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