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It’s Time to Bring Back a Pennsylvania Tradition

I’m introducing legislation with Sen. Lisa Boscola to restore the opening day of rifle season to the first Monday after Thanksgiving – where it stood for more than 50 years before the Pennsylvania Game Commission moved it to a Saturday.

The Saturday opener has hurt rural communities, our region’s economy, small businesses and local traditions. It’s time to bring rifle season back to where it belongs.

Read more HERE.

Meeting with Pennsylvania’s Chemical Industry

I recently joined the Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council (PCIC) for their quarterly Board of Directors meeting held at Williamsport’s Pennsylvania College of Technology.

We had a great discussion on Pennsylvania’s energy sector and bipartisan legislation I sponsored to restrict the use of firefighting foams containing polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a longtime priority for PCIC.

Pennsylvania’s chemical industry is an important piece of the puzzle in crafting energy and environmental policy and PCIC members play a key role in representing that industry. 

Read more HERE.

America250PA Kick-Off Tour Continues

The America250PA team made stops in Lycoming and Sullivan counties as part of their journey across the commonwealth to kick off the countdown to America’s 250^th birthday.

America250’s mission is to plan, encourage and coordinate Pennsylvania’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, highlighting the commonwealth’s pivotal role in the nation’s founding and its ongoing contributions.

They’re visiting every county in Pennsylvania on the Kick-Off Tour, bringing communities together to celebrate this historic milestone. 

Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program Now Accepting Applications

Eligible Pennsylvanians can now apply for a Grow PA Scholarship Grant for the 2026-27 academic year. Applications are available at pheaa.org/growpa.  

This program offers grants of up to $5,000 per year for in-state students who pursue a degree or certification in an in-demand occupation and administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).

Courses of study that qualify for the grant include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice and other programs as approved by PHEAA. The full list is available here.

To qualify, applicants must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in that occupation after graduation for 12 months for each year they received the grant.

Please note: Applicants who received this grant last year MUST reapply to receive the grant again for the upcoming academic year.

Hearings on Proposed State Budget Set to Begin

Senate hearings begin this week on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2026-27 state budget, a plan that spends too much and steers the state ever closer to a massive tax increase.

The Senate Appropriations Committee will question department heads as we seek to reduce the size of the $53.3 billion spending plan that would increase spending by $2.7 billion – a 5.4% increase. It would take $4.6 billion out of the state’s Rainy Day Fund, which is made up of emergency reserves that protect against future tax hikes.

The committee begins two weeks of hearings today. I’ll post recaps of each week’s hearings in this e-newsletter so you know what’s being planned for your tax dollars.

Senate Approves Measure to Prohibit Student Cellphone Use in PA Schools

To curb classroom distractions and improve academic performance and social development, the Senate passed bipartisan legislation to require Pennsylvania public schools to adopt policies prohibiting student cellphone use during the school day.

Senate Bill 1014 ensures districts retain local control by giving them the flexibility to choose how to implement and enforce the standard in a way that works best for their communities, including deciding where phones must be stored.

School administrators, teachers and parents across Pennsylvania have increasingly expressed concern about the proven link between smartphones and anxiety, depression, cyberbullying and reduced classroom engagement. The measure was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

2026 Adult Trout Stocking Schedule Available

Looking forward to trout season? The 2026 adult trout stocking schedule is now available online from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

It’s searchable by county, lists the waterways in alphabetical order, and indicates stocking dates, meeting locations for volunteers and the species of trout that are planned to be stocked at each location. In 2026, Pennsylvania’s statewide Opening Day of Trout Season will be held on Saturday, April 4. A single, statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day will take place on Saturday, March 28.

The commission will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 684 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling, about the same number as previously.

Career and Technical Education Month

Career and technical education (CTE) prepares students to enter high-demand fields, including health care, manufacturing, public safety, information technology, skilled trades and more.

More than 75,000 Pennsylvania students are enrolled in CTE, where they can develop essential skills through a combination of classes and hands-on learning, allowing them to apply academics to real-world problems.

Career and Technical Education Month shines a spotlight on the importance of CTE programs, the opportunities they provide in crucial fields and their role in making the commonwealth more economically competitive and a place where young Pennsylvanians can settle and prosper.

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