News Releases

Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-46) said today that Governor Wolf’s ventilator care proposal falls woefully short of what is necessary to help patients who require life-sustaining ventilation services.   [Read More]

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34) issued the following statement on the retirement of  PA House Speaker Mike Turzai:   [Read More]

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) issued the following statement regarding the retirement of Speaker Mike Turzai:   [Read More]

The Senate Majority Policy Committee will hold a public hearing to discuss the implementation of recently passed election reforms. The public is invited to attend.   [Read More]

A group of legislators and stakeholders held a rally Capitol Main Rotunda to announce a lawsuit against Governor Wolf on the proposed closures of Polk and White Haven state centers.     [Read More]

State Senator Lisa Baker has been at the forefront of juvenile justice reform efforts for more than a decade.  Now she will be an integral part of the latest push for improving the system as part of an interbranch Juvenile Justice Task Force.   [Read More]

Recognizing the sacrifices made by Pennsylvania’s disabled veterans, Senator Joe Pittman (R-41) is drafting legislation to ensure they receive the state property tax exemption they deserve. Listen   [Read More]

Senator John DiSanto (Dauphin/Perry) announced today his Senate Bill 983 which seeks to strengthen the Commonwealth’s newborn screening program to better protect infants from rare diseases.   [Read More]

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34) today welcomed Senator-elect Dave Arnold of the 48th Senatorial District to the Senate Republican caucus.   [Read More]

In an initial decision regarding a leak from the Mariner East I (ME1) pipeline in Berks County, a Public Utility Commission (PUC) Administrative Law Judge cited Senate Bill 284, sponsored by Senator Tom Killion (R-Chester & Delaware) as a potential remedy to the question of what confidential security information pipeline operators are required to share with county emergency planning officials.   [Read More]

Legislation sponsored by Senator Tom Killion (R-Chester & Delaware counties) streamlining the placement of offenders in drug treatment programs and other intermediate punishment programs, and expediting the parole process for non-violent offenders was signed by Governor Tom Wolf within minutes of the Senate concurring by a vote of 38-11 in amendments made by the state House yesterday.   [Read More]

Governor Wolf today (December 17) formally signed legislation allowing hunting on up to three Sundays each year, according to Senator Dan Laughlin (R-49), prime sponsor of the measure.   [Read More]

State Senators John Yudichak (I-14), Michele Brooks (R-50), Scott Hutchinson (R-21) and Lisa Baker (R-20) announced today that the House Health Committee passed Senate Bill 906 by a vote of 13-12. The bill establishes a moratorium on the proposed closure of Polk and White Haven State Centers.   [Read More]

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman issued the following statement following the passing of his father, former state Senator J. Doyle Corman:   [Read More]

Senators Camera Bartolotta (R-46) and Dan Laughlin (R-49) have introduced a bill that would preserve access to ventilator or tracheostomy care for hundreds of patients in Pennsylvania.   [Read More]

Legislation allowing hunting on up to three Sundays each year was signed into law today (November 27), according to Senator Dan Laughlin (R-49), prime sponsor of the measure.   [Read More]

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee approved a bill today to increase pensions for the Blind Veterans Pension Program and the Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans Pension Program, according to the bill’s sponsor, Senator Judy Ward (R-30).   [Read More]

Legislation sponsored by Senator Mario Scavello (R-40) that would increase the legal age for purchasing tobacco products from age 18 to 21 received final Senate approval today and is set to be signed into law.   [Read More]

The Senate gave final approval today to a bill that would help reduce the risk of patients falling victim to opioid addiction, according to Senator Ryan P. Aument (R-36), who authored the bill.   [Read More]

The Senate approved a comprehensive package of bills today to support survivors of sexual abuse, including legislation to reform the statute of limitations to give survivors a retroactive two- year civil window to file claims, according to Senator Wayne Langerholc Jr, (R-35) who strongly supported the bills.   [Read More]

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) issued the following statement on Senate passage of the Statute of Limitations Child Sexual Abuse Reform Package   [Read More]

Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20th, offered the following remarks in support of the statute of limitations reform efforts, and her amendment to change the time that a person between the ages of 18 and 23 has to bring a civil claim for sexual abuse from 2 years under current law to the age of 30, increase the criminal statute of limitations to 20 years for this same class of victims, up from the existing 12 years after the offense was committed, and transfer $5 million into the Crime Victims Compensation Fund to fund counseling services. Sen. Baker's remarks on HB 962 Sen. Baker’s remarks on HB 963   [Read More]

Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-46) issued the following statement today regarding passage of legislation to increase Pennsylvania’s minimum wage incrementally from $7.25 to $9.50 by January 1, 2022:     [Read More]

A bill that would prohibit the practice of selectively aborting babies based solely on a diagnosis of Down syndrome earned Senate approval today, according to Senator Scott Martin (R-13), who supported the bill.     [Read More]

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee passed a bill today that would provide a valuable new marketing tool for businesses owned by veterans, reservists and members of the National Guard, according to the bill’s sponsor, Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-46).   [Read More]