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Nearly $7 Million in NAP Funding Awarded in 23^rd District

Nearly $7 million in funding to assist low-income individuals, combat food insecurity and improve distressed areas has been awarded in Lycoming, Sullivan and Tioga counties through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP).

The NAP allows businesses, communities and organizations to work together to revitalize our neighborhoods and improve access to job opportunities, quality education and affordable housing.

Read more about the projects in Lycoming County on my website.

Read more about the projects in Sullivan County on my website.

Read more about the projects in Tioga County on my website.

Edward J. Smith VFW Post 3428 Celebrates Rededication

The Edward J. Smith VFW Post 3428 in Muncy celebrated its continued commitment to veterans, their families and the community with a rededication ceremony on Oct. 18. Established in Jan. 1936, the Post honors a World War I serviceman whose regiment served under constant fire in France’s Argonne Sector in 1918.

 As a fellow veteran, I understand the bonds formed through military service and the importance of ensuring those who have served have a strong network of support. I’m grateful to everyone who has helped sustain this Post and continues to carry its mission forward.

Union Co. Township Officials Hold Fall Convention

I had a great evening at the Union County Township Officials Fall Convention on Oct. 15 in West Milton. It was great to connect with so many local officials and hear about the issues most important to our region. Our township officials play an important role in keeping our communities running by maintaining our local roads, managing budgets and overseeing land use. I appreciate working together to serve the residents of Union County.

Keystone Historic Preservation Grants Available to Local Communities

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is offering Keystone Historic Preservation Grants to support local efforts to preserve and protect historic resources.

Construction grants range from $5,000 to $100,000, while planning grants range from $5,000 to $25,000. Both require a 50% match. The application portal opens Dec. 1, 2026, with applications due March 1, 2027.

Informational webinars for prospective applicants are scheduled for Nov. 11 (construction) and Nov. 13 (planning), both at 3 p.m. For eligibility requirements and application guidelines, visit PHMC’s website.

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 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, which I sponsored, 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.

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.”

Senate Bills to Help Local Nonprofits Are Now Law

Two bills were signed into law this week to help local nonprofits, including American Legion posts, VFWs and fire companies, by expanding fundraising opportunities, allowing organizations to retain more of the money they raise and providing additional ways to accept raffle ticket payments.

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, restricting organizations’ ability to accommodate supporters who increasingly rely on electronic payment methods. Organizations would still be required to verify raffle ticket purchasers are at least 18 years old. The bill does not authorize online gaming or live drawings. Read more about Senate Bill 416.

Senate Bill 398 would allow fire companies with a Small Games of Chance license to conduct online raffles, with restrictions ensuring that participants are in Pennsylvania and at least 18 years old, through a pilot program ending Dec. 31, 2027.

In addition, the bill would permit organizations to retain 50% of their small games of chance income, up from the current 40%. The remainder would continue to be donated to public interest purposes. The bill would also increase the 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 first increase since 2013. Read more about Senate Bill 398.

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 legislation has now 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 Democrats Fail 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, where Democrats hold the majority, 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:

• Supplemental screening breast MRI
• Supplemental screening breast ultrasound
• BRCA-related genetic testing and genetic counseling

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:

• Diagnostic mammograms
• Diagnostic breast MRI
• Diagnostic breast ultrasound

Learn more about no-cost breast imaging in PA