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In this Update:
My Bill to Help Fire Departments, VFWs and American Legions is Now Law
My legislation to help Pennsylvania fire departments, VFWs and American Legions generate more revenue to keep serving their communities was included in a package of bills passed by the General Assembly and has now been signed into law. My legislation, Senate Bill 995 was included in Senate Bill 398. The measure would raise the aggregate prize limit for small games of chance conducted by a licensed eligible organization in any seven-day period from $35,000 to $60,000. The measure would also allow fire companies with a Small Games of Chance license to conduct online raffles as well as permit organizations to retain 50% of their small games of chance income, up from the current 40%. Read more about Senate Bill 398. Another bill in this effort, Senate Bill 416 would allow eligible nonprofit organizations to accept electronic payments, including credit cards, debit cards and payments through platforms such as PayPal and Venmo, for raffle tickets. Current law limits these transactions to cash or checks, which makes it harder for organizations to accommodate supporters who increasingly pay electronically. Read more about Senate Bill 416. Celebrating 100 Years of the Lebanon Community Library
I was proud to celebrate the Lebanon Community Library’s 100th year anniversary. Since its founding on November 11, 1926, this nonprofit has given generations of Lebanon County residents free access to information, learning and opportunity. I was honored to join the library’s fundraiser this week and present a Senate citation recognizing its century of promoting education. As a former board member, I know how much this library means to our community. Fighting for Affordable Energy
Rising energy costs have put added pressure on Pennsylvania families and businesses and must be addressed. This legislative session, I made it a priority to prevent new energy taxes and support energy development that strengthens reliability and helps bring costs down. As part of the 2025-26 budget agreement, I worked with my colleagues to eliminate 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. I also supported Senate passage of legislation I originally sponsored eliminating the gross receipts tax on electric bills, which would save ratepayers more than $1.7 billion over the first year. Unfortunately, the House of Representatives never approved the tax cut we added to House Bill 1667. Because lack of energy development drives up costs, the Senate passed legislation to reduce Pennsylvania’s electric generation shortfall and expand energy development. Senate Bill 704 directs the state departments of Community and Economic Development and Environmental Protection to work together to identify suitable sites for natural gas electric generation projects. The House also failed to act on this measure. I will continue fighting for lower energy prices, supporting policies which will cut your costs. Senate Votes to Provide Lifetime No-Contact Orders for Victims
A measure to provide lifetime no-contact orders for victims of certain serious or violent offenses was approved by the Senate. Under current law, victims must go to court to renew no-contact protections each time they expire. Without renewal, an offender may once again attempt to contact the victim, even though the conviction, and the harm that made the protection necessary, has not changed. Unwanted contact can retraumatize victims, especially survivors of rape and other sexually violent offenses, including offenses involving the abuse or exploitation of children. Senate Bill 1484 allows a judge, upon the request of the victim or prosecutor, to issue a permanent order prohibiting the defendant from contacting the victim. The order could be terminated or modified at the victim’s request or if the underlying conviction is overturned, dismissed or otherwise legally invalidated. Read more about this bill, known as “Kayleigh’s Law.” New Law Protects Animals from Painful Experimentation
Legislation to protect dogs and cats from painful, taxpayer-funded experiments has been approved by the General Assembly and signed into law. The protections in Senate Bill 381, the Beagle Bill, would make Pennsylvania the 18th state to grant dogs and cats an opportunity to be adopted into a loving home after experiments are over, prohibit the sale of cosmetics that have been newly tested on animals, prevent the expenditure of commonwealth funds on painful experiments and more. Read more about protecting animals and increasing transparency through the Beagle Bill. Stronger Reporting Requirements for AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material
The Senate voted to better protect young people against the serious threats posed by child sexual abuse materials generated using artificial intelligence (AI). The bill was approved by the House of Representatives and is has been signed into law. House Bill 2474 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, childcare workers, healthcare providers and other individuals responsible for caring for children. The legislation, which was introduced in April, mirrors the language in Senate Bill 1050, a bill the Senate passed in November 2025. The legislation also adds hazing to Pennsylvania’s mandatory reporting guidelines. Hazing is not currently considered child abuse under Pennsylvania law when one child commits that crime against another. Read more about this legislation. House Fails to Protect Fairness in Women’s Sports
The Senate passed not one, but two bills to preserve opportunities for female athletes at public schools and colleges but the House of Representatives refused to vote on either. Senate Bill 1293 would require public schools and colleges to label sports teams as male, female or coed. The legislation states only biological females can join teams designated for women. The bill would also allow students to take legal action if they are harmed by violations of this rule. It’s similar to Senate Bill 9, which, like Senate Bill 1293, was passed by the Senate with bipartisan support. Since 2020 in Pennsylvania, men have stolen first place from female athletes 98 times and unjustly took second or third place 76 times. I’ll be working again to pass this commonsense measure in the next legislative session. How PA Makes Breast Cancer Detection and Care Accessible
Pennsylvania has two significant laws to make early breast cancer detection and follow-up care more accessible. Act 1 of 2023 is a comprehensive breast cancer supplemental screening and genetic testing law now fully in effect for individuals with increased risk factors who are insured under Pennsylvania law. It provides coverage for the following at no cost:
Act 52 of 2025 is a diagnostic breast imaging law that includes no-cost diagnostic mammograms, breast MRIs and ultrasounds for individuals of average risk or higher with state-regulated insurance. The law will be fully implemented by January 2028. When in full effect, it will provide coverage for the following at no cost:
Learn more about no-cost breast imaging in PA. Congratulations to Palmyra Girl Scout Troop 11102
Congratulations to the Girl Scouts of Troop 11102, who recently celebrated moving up to the next level of Scouting: Daisies becoming Brownies and Juniors becoming Cadettes. The troop held its Bridging, Investiture and Rededication Ceremony on October 1 at Palmyra Middle School to kick off the new membership year. Girl Scouts bring together girls of different ages, giving them the chance to learn from one another, build lasting friendships and develop important life skills. Local Events
Friday, October 23, 6:30 p.m.: Mount Gretna Halloween Parade Friday, October 23, 7-9 p.m.: Pumpkin Walk at Quittie Creek Nature Park Friday, October 23, 3:30-8 p.m.: Ephrata Shadows Historic Ghost Walk Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: 7th Annual Fall Fest Saturday, October 24, 4:30-7:30 p.m.: 6th & Chestnut Fall Block Party Saturday, October 24, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Lebanon High School Fall Craft & Vendor Show Sunday, October 25, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: TCG Card Show at Lebanon Expo Saturday, October 31, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Fall Craft Show at Ono Fire Hall Saturday, November 14, 5-8 p.m.: Candlelight Tours at Conrad Weiser Homestead
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