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In this Update:
Introducing the Problem Gambling Caucus
This week, I joined colleagues from both sides of the aisle to officially launch Pennsylvania’s new Bipartisan Problem Gambling Caucus, which I’m proud to serve as Senate Chair. Gambling has changed dramatically in recent years with sports betting and online casinos now available right on our phones. We need to make sure our consumer protections are keeping up, especially when it comes to young adults and those most vulnerable to gambling addiction. This isn’t about putting an end to legal gambling. It’s about taking a closer look at the challenges we’re facing, encouraging responsible gaming, and finding common sense ways to better protect Pennsylvanians. I’m excited to get to work with my colleagues and make progress on this issue. There’s a lot of work ahead of us, and I’m looking forward to getting started. To watch my remarks from Wednesday’s press conference, click here. Housing Summit With the PA Chamber of Business and Industry
Great discussion this week at the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry’s Housing Summit. I joined Representative Abby Major, Representative Brandon Markosek, and Dr. Jenny Schuetz of Arnold Ventures for a conversation about the housing challenges facing Pennsylvania, the progress we’ve made and the work still ahead. One of the biggest steps we took last year was including legislation for a 20-year LERTA tax abatement, creating new opportunities to turn blighted properties into much-needed housing. As Chairman of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, my focus remains on improving housing attainability, increasing our housing stock, and cutting through unnecessary red tape that makes it harder to build and renovate homes. Thank you to the PA Chamber for hosting an important conversation. Check Presentation at The Tacony Boat Launch
It was great to start my day at the Tacony Boat Launch, where I was proud to present a check for $500,000 in state funding to support upgrades to the site and improve public access to the Delaware River. As one of just three public river access points in Philadelphia, the Tacony Boat Launch is an important part of our Northeast waterfront. This investment will help enhance the space and make it an even better place for families to enjoy for years to come. A special thank you to Stephanie Phillips, Executive Director of Riverfront North Partnership, for her continued dedication to improving our riverfront and connecting our neighborhoods to it. I appreciate all the work she does for Northeast Philadelphia. Thank you as well to Representative Pat Gallagher for working with me to secure this funding for our community! Pink Walk at St. Hubert’s
It was an honor to join the St. Hubert’s community with Representative Pat Gallagher for their annual Passionately Pink Walk in support of breast cancer awareness and research. We walked alongside students, faculty, and staff who came together to raise an incredible $12,000 this year. It’s hard not to be moved by the generosity and spirit of this school community, especially when you see so many young people rallying behind a cause that has touched so many families. A special thank you to St. Hubert’s President Dr. Lizanne Pando for her leadership and everything she does for these young women. St. Hubert’s can always count on me, my staff, and the community, to show up and support them. This school has a special place in our community, and I’m grateful to have been part of such an inspiring tradition. Electrician Licensure Bill Heads to Governor’s DeskI am happy to share that Senate Bill 1260, legislation I am proud to cosponsor, has officially been signed into law! This legislation establishes statewide licensing standards for electricians and electrical contractors in Pennsylvania, creating consistent qualifications and requirements for professionals around our Commonwealth. Electricians perform essential work that families and businesses rely on, and they deserve a system that recognizes their qualifications wherever they work in Pennsylvania. Clear licensing framework can expand opportunities for workers and help ensure consumers receive safe, high-quality service from qualified professionals. Modernized Electric Security Systems Bill Signed Into LawI am happy to announce that my legislation, Senate Bill 1269, establishing clear statewide standards for electrified security systems used by commercial and industrial properties has been signed into law! Senate Bill 1269 would allow businesses to utilize modern perimeter security systems while maintaining strict safety standards and local oversight. Electrified security systems are installed behind traditional perimeter fencing and connected to monitored alarm systems that immediately alert security personnel when a breach occurs. Similar systems are already authorized in 29 states. These measures will help businesses deter theft and vandalism, improve worker safety, and support faster emergency response when alarms are triggered. Somerton Youth Organization Check Presentation and Homecoming
It was a great fall morning last Saturday celebrating Homecoming Weekend with the Somerton Spartans! I was proud to present the Somerton Youth Organization with $180,000 in state funding for improvements to their facilities, including upgrades to the snack bar, HVAC, gym padding, and field equipment Having played at SYO myself growing up, I know exactly how important youth sports are to our Northeast Philly neighborhoods. Organizations like Somerton Youth teach kids the value of teamwork, build lasting friendships, and bring families and neighbors together. They’re a big part of what makes our community so special. It was a pleasure to have Representative Martina White join me! A big thank you to Somerton Youth Organization President Joe Konopka and all the coaches, parents, and volunteers who dedicate so much time to this organization. St. Cecilia’s Check Presentation and Fall Festival
It was great stopping by St. Cecilia’s Fall Festival in Fox Chase! I was proud to present the school with $37,900 in state funding for electrical upgrades to help bring air conditioning to their classrooms. For more than 100 years, St. Cecilia has been a part of the Fox Chase community, educating generations of Northeast Philly kids. I’m glad we were able to secure this funding to make some improvements for their students and teachers. It was good to see so many families out enjoying the fall weather and supporting the school! A big thank you to Sister Catherine Irene Masino, Father Chris Walsh, the faculty, staff, and everyone who helped make this year’s festival a success! Citation Presentation for Wayne Miller
It was great to stop by Sprinkler Fitters Local 692 to celebrate the retirement of Wayne Miller! Wayne has spent more than 50 years working in the trades and standing up for the hardworking men and women who help build and maintain our city. It was great to see so many people come out to recognize Wayne and his years of service. Congratulations on a well-deserved retirement and thank you for everything you’ve done for Philadelphia’s building trades! Economy League’s GPLEX 2026 Summit
It was great to join civic, business and community leaders from across our region at Girard College for the Economy League’s GPLEX 2026 Summit! I had the opportunity to speak about the importance of working together across lines of difference, finding common ground, and the unique perspective I bring to the Pennsylvania Senate. One thing I’ve learned is that we can accomplish a lot more when we’re willing to listen to one another and work toward solutions, even when we don’t always see eye to eye. At the end of the day, we all want to see Philadelphia and our surrounding region succeed. Thank you to the Economy League for bringing everyone together and for the opportunity to be part of a great conversation! Trunk or Treat at New Foundations
I had a great time stopping by New Foundations Charter School’s Trunk or Treat! There were some pretty creative costumes and decorated trunks, and it was great to see so many families out celebrating Halloween! A big thank you to the staff, volunteers, and everyone who helped put together such a fun afternoon for the kids! Second Office Opening!
I am excited to share that our second district office in Rhawnhurst is officially open! Our Parkwood office isn’t going anywhere – we’re simply adding another location so our team can be more accessible and help even more of our neighbors across Northeast Philadelphia. Whether you need help with a state-related issue, have a question, or just want to stop in and talk with our team, we’re here to help! Our new office’s address is 8400 Bustleton Avenue Unit 301, Philadelphia, PA 19152. Their phone number is 215-608-9002. We are excited to become part of the Rhawnhurst community and continuing to serve you! Veteran Office Hours
We will be hosting Veteran Office Hours at my district office on November 10th! A Veteran Service Officer will be on hand to assist veterans and their families with benefits, claims, and available resources. Please bring your DD-214 paperwork to the office hours. Fighting for Affordable Energy
Rising energy costs have put added pressure on Pennsylvania families and businesses and must be addressed. This legislative session, I made it a priority to prevent new energy taxes and support energy development that strengthens reliability and helps bring costs down. As part of the 2025-26 budget agreement, I worked with my colleagues to eliminate Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) – a multi-state pact that would have added more than a billion dollars in new electricity taxes. I also supported Senate passage of legislation eliminating the gross receipts tax on electric bills, which would save ratepayers more than $1.7 billion over the first year. Unfortunately, the House of Representatives never approved the tax cut we added to House Bill 1667. Because lack of energy development drives up costs, the Senate passed legislation to reduce Pennsylvania’s electric generation shortfall and expand energy development. Senate Bill 704 directs the state departments of Community and Economic Development and Environmental Protection to work together to identify suitable sites for natural gas electric generation projects. The House also failed to act on this measure. I will continue fighting for lower energy prices, supporting policies which will cut your costs. Senate Votes to Provide Lifetime No-Contact Orders for Victims
A measure to provide lifetime no-contact orders for victims of certain serious or violent offenses was approved by the Senate. Under current law, victims must go to court to renew no-contact protections each time they expire. Without renewal, an offender may once again attempt to contact the victim, even though the conviction, and the harm that made the protection necessary, has not changed. Unwanted contact can retraumatize victims, especially survivors of rape and other sexually violent offenses, including offenses involving the abuse or exploitation of children. Senate Bill 1484 allows a judge, upon the request of the victim or prosecutor, to issue a permanent order prohibiting the defendant from contacting the victim. The order could be terminated or modified at the victim’s request or if the underlying conviction is overturned, dismissed or otherwise legally invalidated. Read more about this bill, known as “Kayleigh’s Law.” Senate Bills to Help Local Nonprofits Are Now Law
Two bills were signed into law this week to help local nonprofits, including American Legion posts, VFWs and fire companies, by expanding fundraising opportunities, allowing organizations to retain more of the money they raise and providing additional ways to accept raffle ticket payments. Senate Bill 416 would allow eligible nonprofit organizations to accept electronic payments, including credit cards, debit cards and payments through platforms such as PayPal and Venmo, for raffle tickets. Current law limits these transactions to cash or checks, restricting organizations’ ability to accommodate supporters who increasingly rely on electronic payment methods. Organizations would still be required to verify raffle ticket purchasers are at least 18 years old. The bill does not authorize online gaming or live drawings. Read more about Senate Bill 416. Senate Bill 398 would allow fire companies with a Small Games of Chance license to conduct online raffles, with restrictions ensuring that participants are in Pennsylvania and at least 18 years old, through a pilot program ending Dec. 31, 2027. In addition, the bill would permit organizations to retain 50% of their small games of chance income, up from the current 40%. The remainder would continue to be donated to public interest purposes. The bill would also increase the prize limit for small games of chance conducted by a licensed eligible organization in any seven-day period from $35,000 to $60,000 — the first increase since 2013. Read more about Senate Bill 398. New Law Protects Animals from Painful Experimentation
Legislation to protect dogs and cats from painful, taxpayer-funded experiments has been approved by the General Assembly and signed into law. The protections in Senate Bill 381, the Beagle Bill, would make Pennsylvania the 18th state to grant dogs and cats an opportunity to be adopted into a loving home after experiments are over, prohibit the sale of cosmetics that have been newly tested on animals, prevent the expenditure of commonwealth funds on painful experiments and more. Read more about protecting animals and increasing transparency through the Beagle Bill. Stronger Reporting Requirements for AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material
The Senate voted to better protect young people against the serious threats posed by child sexual abuse materials generated using artificial intelligence (AI). The legislation has now been signed into law. House Bill 2474 would require mandated reporters to report all instances of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) they become aware of, including those produced by a minor. This applies to teachers, childcare workers, healthcare providers and other individuals responsible for caring for children. The legislation, which was introduced in April, mirrors the language in Senate Bill 1050, a bill the Senate passed in November 2025. The legislation also adds hazing to Pennsylvania’s mandatory reporting guidelines. Hazing is not currently considered child abuse under Pennsylvania law when one child commits that crime against another. Read more about this legislation. How PA Makes Breast Cancer Detection and Care Accessible
Pennsylvania has two significant laws to make early breast cancer detection and follow-up care more accessible. Act 1 of 2023 is a comprehensive breast cancer supplemental screening and genetic testing law now fully in effect for individuals with increased risk factors who are insured under Pennsylvania law. It provides coverage for the following at no cost:
Act 52 of 2025 is a diagnostic breast imaging law that includes no-cost diagnostic mammograms, breast MRIs and ultrasounds for individuals of average risk or higher with state-regulated insurance. The law will be fully implemented by January 2028. When in full effect, it will provide coverage for the following at no cost:
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