Press Releases
Senator Flynn Celebrates Major Wins in New Budget for Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA - July 11, 2024 - Senator Marty Flynn is proud to announce the passage of a historic budget that delivers significant investments in education, economic development, public safety, and support for vulnerable populations in Pennsylvania. This budget...
Session Proceedings :: July 11, 2024
Senator Sharif Street Lauds Passage of “Historic” 2024-25 Pennsylvania Budget
Philadelphia, PA, July 11, 2024 — Today, the Senate passed the 2024-25 PA Budget, which Senator Sharif Street (SD-3) lauded as "historic" in its investments in the people of Pennsylvania. Despite missed opportunities to increase the minimum wage, end cannabis...
Sen. Lisa Boscola Applauds Budget Investments in Economic and Workforce Development, Disappointed in Lack of Significant School Property Tax Relief
HARRISBURG, PA – July 11, 2024 – Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton) shared her views on the passage of the State budget as it heads to the Governor’s desk. A longtime advocate for school property tax reform, Boscola said, “while every school district in the 18th...
Governor Shapiro Signs Act 53 of 2024, Senator Jay Costa’s LOOP Legislation, into Law
HARRISBURG, PA − July 11, 2024 − Today, Governor Josh Shapiro signed SB 219, State Senator Jay Costa’s Longtime Owner Occupant Tax Exemption Program (LOOP), into law. Now Act 53 of 2024, this program will allow Pittsburgh’s mayor and city council to exempt or defer...
Sen Tartaglione, Senate Democrats Fight Senate Subpoena Overreach
Harrisburg, PA − July 10, 2024 − Today, Senator Christine Tartaglione and Senate Democrats voted along party lines in the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee to oppose a motion to have the Senate’s Secretary issue a subpoena to the Secretary of...
Senator Lindsey M. Williams Applauds Senate Passage of Pharmacy Reform Legislation
Harrisburg, Pa. −July 10, 2024 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny) released this statement today following Senate passage of HB 1993: “I was happy to vote for HB 1993, which will reform Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). This legislation will save...
State Senator Jay Costa’s LOOP Legislation Passes House, Awaits Governor’s Signature
HARRISBURG, PA − July 10, 2024 − Today, State Senator Jay Costa celebrates the passage of the Longtime Owner Occupant Tax Exemption Program (LOOP) in the House of Representatives, which will protect homeowners living in areas with rapidly...
Brewster Blight Legislation Heads to Governor’s Desk
Harrisburg, July 8, 2024 – A bill aimed at helping local communities battle blighted and abandoned properties has been approved by the state House and now heads to the governor’s desk, state Sen. Jim Brewster announced today. Brewster’s Senate Bill...
State Senator Jay Costa’s LOOP Legislation Passes Senate, Heads to the House
HARRISBURG, PA − July 3, 2024 − Today, State Senator Jay Costa celebrates the passage of the Longtime Owner Occupant Tax Exemption Program (LOOP), which will protect homeowners living in areas with rapidly increasing property values that increase property taxes....
Senators Saval, Hughes, Cappelletti, and Kearney Announce Intention to Introduce Bill Preventing Criminalization of Homelessness
Harrisburg, PA − July 2, 2024 − Today State Senators Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia County), Vincent Hughes (D–Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties), Amanda Cappelletti (D–Delaware and Montgomery Counties), and Tim Kearney (D–Delaware County) announced their intention...
Senator Lisa M. Boscola Welcomes Passage of Legislation to Aid Local Restaurants
HARRISBURG, PA – July 2, 2024 – Senator Lisa M. Boscola (D-Northampton) was joined by a nearly all members of the Pennsylvania Senate today to pass legislation that will make updates to the state Liquor Code. The legislation, sponsored by Representative Matthew...
Senator Hughes’ Community Garden Legislation Heads to Governor Shapiro’s Desk for Signature
Harrisburg, PA – July 2, 2024 − Yesterday, Senator Hughes’ Senate Bill 645 passed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The bill passed in the Senate on June 27, 2024. The legislation will now head to Governor Shapiro for signature and final passage....
Senator Kane: Property Tax and Rent Rebate Payments will begin July 1st
June 27, 2024 – Beginning Monday, thousands of additional Pennsylvania senior citizens are getting more money back in their pockets through the expanded Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program. The first batch of payments through the program, which assists eligible...
Senator Anthony Williams’ Bill to Eliminate Licensing Prerequisites for Natural Hair Braiding in PA Passes Senate
HARRISBURG – June 27, 2024 – This week, Sen. Anthony Williams’ bill, SB1031, passed through the Senate during an afternoon session. Sen. Anthony Williams has spearheaded the effort to eliminate excessive and burdensome licensing requirements for natural hair braiding....
Senator Haywood’s Statement on Stand with Israel Act
HARRISBURG – June 27, 2024 − Senator Haywood releases this updated statement on his vote against SB 1260 that would prohibit the PA State Treasury or Commonwealth pension funds from boycotting or divesting from Israel and companies doing business with Israel. The bill...
Bi-Partisan Bill to Protect State Investments in Israel Passes Senate
HARRISBURG − June 27, 2024 − Senate Bill 1260, a bill to protect state investments in Israel, passed the Senate today. The bi-partisan legislation is sponsored by Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28) and seeks to send a strong...
Senator Hughes’ Legislation to Support Philadelphia Community Gardens Passes in the Senate
Harrisburg, PA− June 27, 2024 – Today, Senator Hughes’ Senate Bill 645 passed in the Senate with a final vote of 42-7. The bill makes it easier for Philadelphia residents to eventually own vacant and blighted land that is being used as a community garden....
Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus Statement on the U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Abortion under EMTALA in Moyle v. United States
Harrisburg — June 27, 2024 — The co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus Sen. Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery), Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Rep. Gina H. Curry (D-Delaware) and Rep. Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery) issued the following statement in...
Senator Nikil Saval’s Statement on His Vote Against Senate Bill 1260
Harrisburg, PA − June 27, 2024 − Today State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) issued the following statement with regard to his vote against Senate Bill 1260: “In the wake of the horror of the deadly attack on Israel on October 7, and of the ongoing devastation of...
Costa, Stefano Bill Allowing Community Service Alternatives to Driver’s License Suspension Passes Senate Committee
HARRISBURG – June 26, 2024 – The Senate Transportation Committee voted today in favor of a bill sponsored by Sens. Pat Stefano (R-32) and Jay Costa (D-43) that would provide an alternative solution for Pennsylvania drivers who are unable to pay the fees of their...
Sen. Judy Schwank to Introduce Legislation to Approve a CRIZ for Reading
Reading, PA — June 26, 2024 — Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) recently announced her intent to introduce legislation that would designate a City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) for the City of Reading and implement programmatic changes. The CRIZ program was...
Senator Lisa M. Boscola Applauds Passage of Legislation to Cover Biomarker Testing
HARRISBURG, PA – June 26, 2024 – Senator Lisa M. Boscola (D-Northampton) welcomed the unanimous passage of House Bill 1754 out of the Pennsylvania Senate yesterday. The bill, based on legislation co-sponsored by Boscola and Senator Devlin Robinson (R-Allegheny),...
Bill to Protect State Investments in Israel Moves Out of Senate Committee
HARRISBURG − June 25, 2024− Senate Bill 1260, a bill to protect state investments in Israel, was voted out of the Senate State Government Committee today. The bi-partisan legislation is sponsored by Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Kristin Phillips-Hill...
Sen. Lindsey M. Williams’ Career and Technical Education Funding Bill Unanimously Passes Senate Education Committee
Harrisburg, Pa. − June 25, 2024 − Today, Senator Lindsey M. Williams’ Career and Technical Education Funding Bill passed the Senate Education Committee unanimously. Senate Bill 366 is co-prime sponsored by all six Senate members of the Basic Education Funding...
Senate Democratic Leaders, Jay Costa and Vincent Hughes, Issue Statement Affirming Caucus Commitment to Women’s Reproductive Freedom and Autonomy
Harrisburg − June 24, 2024 − Today, Senator Jay Costa, Senate Democratic Leader, and Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, issued the following statements to recognize the second anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade and Senate...
Women’s Health Caucus and Reproductive Rights Advocates to Rally on the second-year mark of the Dobb’s Decision
Harrisburg, PA – June 24, 2024 – Members of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC) were joined by Planned Parenthood, Department of Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh, and advocates in Harrisburg today, on the second-year mark of the Dobbs Decision that...
Senator Lindsey M. Williams Becomes First PA Legislative Office Certified as Recovery Friendly Workplace
Pittsburgh, Pa. − June 24, 2024 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams announced that her Senate District 38 has been certified as a Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW). This is the first legislative office in Pennsylvania to receive this distinction, which is earned...
New Report Signals Community Groups are a Key Driver in the Reduction of Gun Violence in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA − June 21, 2024 − Senator Vincent Hughes brought together anti-violence community groups, gun violence advocates, and lawmakers to highlight the impactful work of community violence intervention and the need for more state funds to support their...
Sen. Lindsey M. Williams Encourages Seniors to Apply for Farmers Market Nutrition Program
Pittsburgh, Pa. − June 20, 2024 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams encourages Allegheny County seniors aged 60+ to apply for the Farmers Market Nutrition Program beginning June 25, 2024. Income-eligible seniors will receive a set of five $10 vouchers that can be used to...
Senator Lindsey M. Williams Condemns Supreme Court Decision Against Workers
Pittsburgh, Pa. − June 14, 2024 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams released this statement following the Supreme Court decision restricting the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) ability to protect workers exercising their rights. "As someone who was illegally fired...
Senator Nikil Saval Arrested for Protesting Aramark’s Treatment of Philadelphia Stadium Workers
Philadelphia, PA − June 12, 2024 − Following his arrest at a rally in protest of Aramark’s treatment of Philadelphia stadium workers, today State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) issued the following statement: “The labor of UNITE HERE workers is a crucial part of...