News Releases

The inter-branch and bipartisan Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Task Force on Tuesday released a comprehensive final report with policy recommendations that protect public safety, increase accountability, achieve savings for reinvestment, and improve outcomes for youth, families, and communities.   [Read More]

The Senate unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Sens. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35) and Pat Browne (R-16) that would create a smoother transition to high school graduation for students who are experiencing homelessness or are in foster care.  [Read More]

Press conference announcing the release of the Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Task Force’s final report, including policy recommendations to strengthen the state’s juvenile justice system on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 9 a.m. in the Media Center, State Capitol, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.   [Read More]

Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte) and Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) issued the following statement today regarding the hospitalization of former Pennsylvania Governor and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge:  [Read More]

Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) issued the following statement today regarding the Senate’s passage of House Bill 1154.  [Read More]

The Senate today passed legislation to statutorily implement allowances provided to the restaurant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to expanding consumer access to spirit-based Ready-to-Drink cocktails, according Senator Mike Regan. Listen  [Read More]

The Senate today (June 16) approved a House Bill that will ease the bureaucratic burdens that currently make it difficult for small communities to hold festivals, parades, and other events on PENNDOT maintained roadways, according to Senator Scott Hutchinson, who introduced a companion bill.  [Read More]

Speaking on the floor of the Senate, Senator Elder Vogel, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, today (June 15) discussed Senate Resolution 141, his legislation marking June 2021 as “Dairy Month” in Pennsylvania. Listen   [Read More]

The Senate today (June 15) approved a bill introduced by Senator Dan Laughlin (R-49) to improve safety in state-regulated daycare facilities, a measure he introduced in response to a tragic fire that claimed the lives of five young children in Erie on August 11, 2019.  [Read More]

The House Consumer Affairs Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) that would address major challenges with expanding access to high-speed internet in unserved and underserved areas in the Commonwealth. Listen  [Read More]

The Senate today unanimously approved legislation that would extend the Pennsylvania Heart and Lung Act to several law enforcement entities not currently included in the law, according to Senator Mike Regan (R-Cumberland/York), prime sponsor of the bill and Chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee.   [Read More]

A bill that clarifies when deaths from a contagious disease must be reported to county coroners – including COVID-19 deaths – sponsored by Senator Judy Ward (R-30) was approved today by the state Senate Local Government Committee.   [Read More]

Senate Bill 445, sponsored by Senator Bob Mensch (R-24), was unanimously passed by the House of Representatives today (June 15). This legislation would give individuals renewing either their vehicle registration or driver’s license an option to donate to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.   [Read More]

plan supported by state Senator Judy Ward (R-30) that will allow voters to decide if the Pennsylvania Constitution should be amended to require identification each time a voter casts a ballot was approved today by the Senate State Government Committee. LISTEN:  [Read More]

The Senate passed legislation sponsored by Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-46) clarifying that employers may recoup medical expenses paid to an employee for a workplace injury when a settlement or award of damages is obtained against a third party for the same injury. Listen  [Read More]

The Senate today (June 14) approved, by a solid 35-15 bipartisan, veto-proof vote, a bill introduced by Senator Joe Pittman (R-41) that would require Legislative approval of the Governor’s proposal to have Pennsylvania join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).   [Read More]

The bipartisan Special Committee on Election Integrity and Reform released a report today detailing its findings and recommendations to strengthen Pennsylvania’s election system.   [Read More]

The House Health Committee approved legislation sponsored by Senators Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28) and Judy Ward (R-30) that would ban the state – as well as any county, local municipality, school district and publicly-funded university – from requiring a proof of vaccination.  [Read More]

The Senate voted today to end Gov. Tom Wolf’s disaster emergency and preserve critical waivers for measures like telemedicine and health care staffing, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte) and Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland).  [Read More]

The Senate of Pennsylvania approved legislation today that would prohibit the state, as well as counties, municipalities, school districts and colleges that are subsidized by state taxpayers from requiring proof of vaccination, according to the bill’s sponsors, Senators Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28) and Judy Ward (R-30). AUDIO (Phillips-Hill)  [Read More]

Senator Chris Gebhard today took the oath of office to begin his first term in the Senate serving the 48th District. The current term will conclude in December of 2022.   [Read More]

In honoring the 2020-21 Pennsylvania state Champion Girls Wrestlers, Senator Scott Martin (R-13) and Rep. Ann Flood (R-138) highlighted the growth of girls wrestling in Pennsylvania and the movement of making it a PIAA-sanctioned sport.   [Read More]

Legislation authored by Senators Camera Bartolotta (R-46) and Elder Vogel (R-47) that would expand property tax relief for Pennsylvania’s disabled veterans was unanimously approved by the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.   [Read More]

Pennsylvania Senator Scott Martin (R-13) was joined by Pennsylvania Rep. Ann Flood (R-138) Olympic Gold Medal winner and World Champion Wrestler Bruce Baumgartner, supporters of girls wrestling and the State & National Champions at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 9, to highlight the growth of girls wrestling in Pennsylvania and the movement of making it a PIAA sanctioned sport.   [Read More]

An amendment by Senator Judy Ward (R-30) would prohibit the state Secretary of Health from unilaterally using laws such as the Disease Prevention and Control Act to limit Pennsylvanians.  [Read More]