Jan. 21, 2020 /
![Gaydos Discusses Association Health Plan Legislation Before Insurance Committee TODAY]()
WHAT: An informational meeting of the House Insurance Committee on H.B. 2200 (Gaydos), providing a mechanism for employers to join together and negotiate for discounted health insurance coverage in the same way large businesses purchase group insurance benefits. This would reduce costs for small businesses and help employers attract and retain a talented workforce.
Jan. 17, 2020 /
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HARRISBURG – An active first year in office has earned state Rep. Jim Rigby (R-Johnstown) a deputy chairmanship on the House Majority Policy Committee.
Jan. 17, 2020 /
![James Introduces Legislation to Encourage Remediation of PA’s Toxic Waste Areas]()
HARRISBURG – To encourage clean-up of toxic waste areas that pollute local waterways, Rep. Lee James (R-Venango/Butler) introduced legislation to add a member of the coal refuse energy and reclamation industry to the Mining Reclamation and Advisory Board (MRAB).
Jan. 17, 2020 /
![Child Custody and Parental Rights Focus of House Judiciary Committee]()
WHAT: Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, will hold a voting meeting of the committee to consider the following legislation:
Jan. 17, 2020 /
![Lawmakers, Advocates Highlight Efforts to Fight Human Trafficking]()
WHAT: A press conference to detail and answer questions about a package of bills to fight human trafficking. The package is designed to guarantee the safety of victims, protect their privacy and make it safer for them to testify against their abusers. Since 2007, there have been more than 1,200 human trafficking cases in the Commonwealth.
Jan. 16, 2020 /
![Sonney to Host Education Committee Public Hearing on Cyber Education]()
WHAT: Rep. Curt Sonney (R-Erie), chairman of the House Education Committee, and members of the committee will hold a public hearing on cyber education and Sonney’s House Bill 1897, which would require all school districts in the Commonwealth to offer full-time cyber education programs accountable to local communities.
Jan. 16, 2020 /
![Sonney, Topper and Schroeder to Unveil Bill Package to Reform PASSHE]()
WHAT: Rep. Curt Sonney (R-Erie), chairman of the House Education Committee, will host a press conference to unveil a package of three bills designed to improve and reform the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).
Jan. 16, 2020 /
![Causer Introduces Forestry Bills]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) has introduced two measures related to the forestry industry, including one that aims to bring transparency to the process of establishing forest conservation easements.
Jan. 16, 2020 /
![ERE Chairman Metcalfe Warns Top RGGI Officials: Legislative Approval Trumps Wolf’s Lack of Authority]()
HARRISBURG — House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chairman Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) sent the following letter (excerpted below) to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Inc. Executive Committee confirming that Gov. Tom Wolf lacks the authority to enter Pennsylvania into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) without legislative approval:
Jan. 15, 2020 /
HARRISBURG – After many months of deliberation, Rep. Rosemary Brown (R-Monroe/Pike) announced today that her hands-free cellphone legislation, House Bill 37, was passed by the House with a vote of (120-74).
Jan. 15, 2020 /
![Rowe Votes for Bill to Save Polk and White Haven State Centers, Applauds Passage]()
HARRISBURG – State Rep. David Rowe (R-Snyder/Union) voted in favor of Senate Bill 906, which passed the House today with bipartisan support. The bill institutes a moratorium on the scheduled closing of the Polk and White Haven State Centers.
Jan. 15, 2020 /
![House Passes Bill to Prohibit Closure of White Haven State Center, Says Toohil]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation that would prohibit the scheduled closures of the White Haven and Polk state centers by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services was passed overwhelmingly by the House of Representatives today in a vote of 139-55, according to Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne), who spoke in support of the measure.
Jan. 15, 2020 /
![Mehaffie Introduces Legislation to Authorize Expedited Partner Therapy]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tom Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) and Rep. Michael H. Schlossberg (D-Lehigh) introduced a bill this week to authorize Expedited Partner Therapy as an option for those diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection.
Jan. 15, 2020 /
![Bill Halting Closure of State Centers for at Least Five Years Passes House, James Says]()
HARRISBURG – After dedicated opposition to the governor’s call to close Polk State Center, Rep. Lee James (R-Venango/Butler) announced that legislation passed the House today to prevent the closure of any state centers until at least five years from the bill’s passage, but not before a sensible plan for closure is created.
Jan. 15, 2020 /
![House Passes Bill to Increase River Safety, Gillespie Says]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-Hellam) today announced that the House of Representatives has passed his bill, House Bill 1003, which would strengthen the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s (PFBC) ability to enforce the marking of low head or run-of-the-river dams.
Jan. 15, 2020 /
![Rader’s Bill to Help Communities Maintain Parks and Recreational Property Advances to Senate]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation that would allow local governments to better maintain municipal-owned lands used for parks and recreational purposes to benefit residents, sponsored by Rep. Jack Rader (R-Monroe), was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives on Wednesday. House Bill 908 now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Jan. 15, 2020 /
![Bernstine Bill to Access Information Prior to a Public Meeting Passes House]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) that would amend the Sunshine Act to require a public agency to post public meeting agendas no later than 24 hours prior to the start of a meeting passed the House today.
Jan. 15, 2020 /
![Rigby Calls on State Senate to Act on Emergency Responder Legislation]()
HARRISBURG – When state Rep. Jim Rigby (R-Johnstown) returned home from session last fall, news of House passage of a series of “Helpers and Heroes” bills for emergency responders was very well received. Still, he knew the process was merely a third of the way done.
Jan. 14, 2020 /
![House Advances Schmitt Bill to Remove Antiquated Law]()
HARRISBURG – As part of efforts to remove outdated laws from the books, the House passed legislation by Rep. Lou Schmitt (R-Blair) to repeal an archaic 163-year-old law that is no longer relevant.
Jan. 14, 2020 /
![House Passes Stephens’ Bill Targeting Repeat DUI Offenders]()
HARRISBURG—A bill sponsored by Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery) to improve public safety by targeting repeat DUI offenders was approved by the state House.