May. 20, 2019 /
![On the Eve of Primary Election Day, Dowling Highlights the Importance of Voting as He Introduces His Absentee Ballot Legislation]()
HARRISBURG – Recognizing the importance of voting and the right citizens have to cast their vote, Rep. Matt Dowling (R-Fayette/Somerset) has introduced legislation that would extend the deadline for accepting absentee ballots in the Commonwealth.
May. 17, 2019 /
![Oberlander, House Speaker Welcome U.S. Energy Official to Western PA]()
BEAVER – The vast potential of energy and economic opportunity was highlighted at a roundtable discussion with U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary Mark W. Menezes held by the House Majority Policy Committee at the Beaver County Courthouse in Beaver on Thursday, according to Policy Chairman Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest).
May. 16, 2019 /
![Stephens Introduces Legislation to Eliminate Water Surcharges for PFAS Removal]()
HARRISBURG—Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery) has introduced legislation to eliminate local surcharges that ratepayers are paying to remove PFAS from local drinking water supplies.
May. 15, 2019 /
![House Republican Leaders’ Statement on Rep. Sims]()
HARRISBURG – House Republican leaders are issuing the following statement:
“Rep. Brian Sims’ actions reflect the worst in how people should behave and treat one another in a civil society. No one should ever be subjected to any form of harassment or intimidation because they choose to exercise their constitutional rights to pray or peacefully advocate.
May. 15, 2019 /
![Ryan Legislation Setting 10-Year Limit on State Tax Collections Passes Finance Committee]()
HARRISBURG – The House Finance Committee today voted unanimously to approve legislation authored by Rep. Frank Ryan (R-Lebanon) to establish a 10-year time period for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (DoR) to collect assessed Personal Income Tax and Corporate Net Income Tax. Under current law, there is no time period for the DoR to collect assessed Personal Income Taxes.
May. 15, 2019 /
![Murt Bill to Increase Lottery Profits for Seniors Passes House]()
HARRISBURG—The House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee has unanimously passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Thomas Murt (R-Montgomery/Philadelphia), chairman of the committee, to increase lottery profits by lowering the rate of return of lottery games. The increased profits would go to programs for seniors that are funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery.
May. 15, 2019 /
![Boback Bill Provides Veterans Benefit to Traveling Hunters and Anglers]()
HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania hunting and fishing licenses would become portable for the men and women who serve and who have served our country under legislation authored by state Rep. Karen Boback (R-Luzerne/Lackawanna/Wyoming).
May. 14, 2019 /
![Bipartisan Vote Sends Down Syndrome Protection Bill to Senate, Turzai Says]()
HARRISBURG –Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) today announced House passage of legislation to protect the lives of unborn children who have been diagnosed with Down syndrome.
May. 14, 2019 /
![House Takes Steps to Protect Babies with Down Syndrome, Klunk Says]()
HARRISBURG – Renewing its commitment to protecting children with Down syndrome, the House today approved Rep. Kate Klunk’s (R-Hanover) Down Syndrome Protection Legislation.
May. 14, 2019 /
![Kauffman Leads Committee in Advancing Legislation to Protect Homeowners, Minors and Victims of Sexual Extortion]()
HARRISBURG – The House Judiciary Committee today approved three House bills to increase the safety of Pennsylvania homeowners, minors and those who are the targets of sexual extortion, reported Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), chairman of the committee. One of the bills is being sponsored by Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Franklin/Fulton), also a member of the committee.
May. 14, 2019 /
![Committee Approves Wentling Bill to Help Curb Predatory Animals]()
HARRISBURG – To assist hunters of predatory animals that are mainly active at night, the House Game and Fisheries Committee approved House Bill 1188, introduced by Rep. Parke Wentling (R-Crawford/Erie/Lawrence/Mercer). Wentling’s bill would give the state Game Commission the authority to allow hunters to use thermal and night vision equipment.
May. 14, 2019 /
![Bipartisan Bill to End Child Marriage Moves Out of Committee]()
HARRISBURG – State Reps. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton/Franklin) and Perry Warren (D-Bucks) announced that legislation that would prohibit child marriage in Pennsylvania before the age of 18 was approved by the House Judiciary Committee today and can now be considered by the full House.
May. 14, 2019 /
HARRISBURG – The state House Health Committee today approved legislation introduced by state Rep. Jim Cox (R-Berks/Lancaster) that would help health care professionals identify and treat patients who previously overdosed on opioids.
May. 14, 2019 /
![Boback, Toohil Push for Passage of Foster Care Legislation]()
HARRISBURG – The challenges faced by young people as they age out of foster care was the focus of an informational hearing conducted by the House Children and Youth Committee today. Rep. Karen Boback (R-Luzerne/Lackawanna/Wyoming), who chairs the committee, and Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne), who serves as committee vice chair, also held a news conference with stakeholders to discuss legislation that would make improvements to Pennsylvania’s foster care system.
May. 14, 2019 /
![Struzzi Health Care Legislation Passed by Health Committee]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana) today announced that the House of Representatives’ Health Committee has passed two pieces of legislation authored by him – House Bill 1214 and House Resolution 268.
May. 14, 2019 /
![Human Services Committee Approves Ortitay Bill To Clarify Minors’ Mental Health Treatment Procedures]()
HARRISBURG — The House Human Services Committee today reported out legislation authored by Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) to more clearly define current law on who can provide consent in order for a minor to receive mental health treatment.
May. 14, 2019 /
![House Approves Ecker Bill to Improve the Legislature’s Standing in Court]()
HARRISBURG – The House approved House Bill 1021, part of a two-bill package, introduced by Rep. Torren Ecker (R-Adams/Cumberland) to allow the House and Senate to take a more active role in legal proceedings when a law is challenged as being unconstitutional.
May. 14, 2019 /
![House Education Committee Passes Charter School Reform Package]()
HARRISBURG – Yesterday, the House Education Committee, chaired by Rep. Curt Sonney (R-Erie), passed four charter school reform bills which seek to deal with a range of issues relating to charter school administration and expansion.
May. 13, 2019 /
![Barrar’s Bill to Trade PA National Guard Reenlistment for College Education Passes House]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation drafted by Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) that would offer a free college education in exchange for a Pennsylvania National Guard member’s six-year reenlistment received unanimous support from the full House today. The education could be shared with the member’s spouse and/or child.
May. 13, 2019 /
![Boback, Toohil to Discuss Foster Care Legislation at Capitol News Conference]()
WHAT: House Children and Youth Committee Chairman Karen Boback (R-Luzerne/Lackawanna/Wyoming) and Vice Chairman Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) will host a news conference to discuss legislation that would improve Pennsylvania’s foster care system. Boback’s measure, House Bill 856, would reinstate the extension of permanent legal custodian and adoption assistance subsidies. Toohil’s proposal, House Bill 1326, would create a program to help foster care youth with obtaining driver’s education, training and costs associated with maintaining an auto insurance policy. House Bill 1276, sponsored by Rep. Dave Hickernell (R-Lancaster/Dauphin), would create a program to assist foster care youth with the challenges of accessing higher educational opportunities.