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Dear Friends, Hello! Thank you for subscribing to my E-newsletter. I am honored to serve the 23rd Senate District and look forward to working with you toward building a better future for Pennsylvania! This E-newsletter serves to keep you updated on what is happening throughout Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties and what I am doing as your state senator in Harrisburg. I hope that you will find this E-newsletter helpful, and if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Gene Yaw
More Than $3.1 Million Awarded to Local Recreation Projects
More than $3.1 million in state funding has been awarded to enhance local parks and recreation facilities across the 23rd District through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ C2P2 Program. Read more about each of the projects HERE. Leading the Charge for a Healthier Chesapeake Bay
I’m honored to serve as chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Commission for 2026. Pennsylvania is being recognized as a leader on clean water, and that’s thanks to real, commonsense practices like investing in cleaner streams, supporting farmers and reducing runoff that impacts the Bay. Those efforts are paying off, with the Upper Bay healthier than it’s been in decades. As chairman, I’ll focus on building on that momentum. We’ve made tremendous progress and I’m looking forward to scaling up our efforts over the coming year. Read more HERE. PA, Ohio Officials Meet to Discuss Energy, Reliability and Affordability
Last month, energy leaders from Pennsylvania and Ohio convened at PJM Interconnection to talk about the future of our electric grid. As demand continues to rise from data centers, manufacturing and electrification, it’s critical states work together to plan ahead, protect reliability and keep energy affordable. Read more about our discussion HERE. Upcoming Regional/Rural Active Transportation WorkshopThe Pennsylvania Downtown Center and the WalkWorks Program are working with SEDA-COG, the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership and the PennDOT Local Technical Assistance Program to organize a Regional/Rural Active Transportation Workshop. Event Details: 📅 Friday, Mar. 20 🕙 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 📍Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, 90 Lawton Lane, Milton This event is FREE and will feature presentations, group discussions and a walking tour to help attendees learn about active transportation, its connections to public health and the ways municipalities, community organizations and individuals can work to improve conditions and safety for people walking, biking, using a wheelchair or accessing transit. Registration is open now and closes on Mar. 11. America250PA Scholarships Available to PA High School Seniors
Pennsylvania high school seniors planning to attend an accredited Pennsylvania college or university for the 2026–2027 academic year are eligible to apply for scholarships of $10,000 each. Apply HERE. Historical Marker Nominations Now Open
As Pennsylvania prepares to take center stage for America’s 250th anniversary this year, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) has opened the 2026 nomination cycle for the Pennsylvania Historical Marker Program, inviting communities across the Commonwealth to help identify and elevate the stories that shaped local history and the nation. Nominations may be submitted by individuals, historical societies, local governments, nonprofit organizations and community groups. All proposals are evaluated by a panel of independent historians and scholars from across Pennsylvania and approved by the agency’s commissioners. More information on the Pennsylvania Historical Marker Program, including application guidelines, is available online at PAHistoricalMarkers.com. DMVA Offers Free Assistance to Veterans to Review, Update BenefitsThe Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) reminds veterans that applying for or reviewing their veterans’ benefits should be a priority in the new year. A complete list of county veterans affairs directors, with their contact information, can be found here: County Directors. Contact information for other accredited veterans services officers can be found here: Veterans Services Officers. Anyone needing help in locating their military documentation can count on assistance by calling DMVA toll-free at 800-547-2838 or e-mailing: RA-REQ@pa.gov. PennDOT Driver License, Photo Centers Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day HolidayThe Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed TODAY, Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications, and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website. U.S. Supreme Court Hears Cases on Fairness in Female Athletics
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments in two cases involving state laws designed to safeguard women’s sports. Here in Pennsylvania, I supported the Save Women’s Sports Act, which will ensure athletic teams designated for women are reserved for biological females in Pennsylvania’s K–12 and collegiate sports. Senate Bill 9 reinforces the original intent of Title IX by ensuring female athletes are not denied scholarships, placements or opportunities due to unfair competition from biological males. It acknowledges biological realities and helps guarantee a safe, level playing field for women and girls. The bill passed the Senate in May 2025 and is awaiting action in the state House of Representatives. 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Applications Now Being Accepted
The application period is now open for this year’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, which provides rebates from $380 to $1,000 to eligible older adults and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is accepting applications for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2025. Forms and instructions are available online, and eligible Pennsylvanians are encouraged to file their applications via myPATH to ensure their rebates are processed as quickly as possible. Please reach out to my office with any questions. Your Input Wanted on Program Helping PA Seniors and People with Disabilities
Older Pennsylvanians, people with disabilities and their families can find services and support in their community through Pennsylvania Link to Aging and Disability Resources (PA Link). Public input is wanted on a plan to redesign and improve PA Link. The plan calls for developing performance metrics, expanding call center functionality, deploying volunteers for community engagement and more. The Pennsylvania Department of Aging will hold a listening session Jan. 27, and the public comment period will be open until Feb. 9. You can review the draft plan, submit comments and sign up for the listening session here. Tips for Preparing for Winter Storms and Power Outages
Winter storms are part of Pennsylvania living, and they’re made worse when the power goes out. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission offers these tips for what to do before and during winter storms:
Learn more about what to do if you lose power during the storm, how to stay safe while waiting for power to be restored and what utilities do to deal with storms here. Deadline Approaching for PennDOT “Innovations Challenge”
How can artificial intelligence (AI) improve work zone safety? That’s the latest Pennsylvania Department of Transportation “Innovations Challenge” for high school students. Students are asked to develop a concept for the use of AI in work zones to dramatically improve safety for work crews and motorists. The concept should take into consideration cost-benefit information, statewide deployment implications and public outreach. Regional winners will be invited to present their solutions to a panel of judges, who will determine the statewide winners. Teams must submit entries by Jan. 30 for a chance at a prize. Rules and submission information can be found here. Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream
Americans of all colors and backgrounds are bound by a love of liberty, a can-do spirit and other ideals that resonate strongly across the United States. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an opportunity to recommit to celebrating what brings us together and to seeing each other as fellow citizens, judged by what we do and not what we look like.
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