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In this Update:
Improving Public Safety
Public safety is one of my top priorities, and the Senate has taken many important steps this year. We passed new laws closing a legal loophole to require sports officials and nonprofit volunteers and employees convicted of sexual assault to register as sexual offenders, and improving the enforcement of Protection from Abuse petitions. To boost fire protection, we enacted measures targeting Pennsylvania’s volunteer firefighter shortage, fixing issues with emergency services funding and making it less cumbersome for firefighters to obtain their certification. Legislation passed by the Senate and awaiting action in the House of Representatives includes a bill prohibiting non-monetary bail for the most dangerous individuals and cracking down on thieves using new technology to steal vehicles by spoofing key fobs. I’ll keep working hard to make our communities safe. You can review other measures we passed to increase public safety and address other subjects here. Free Financial Aid Workshops for Educators
PHEAA’s Higher Education Access Partners provide workshops both virtually and in-person throughout the Commonwealth. The workshops provide you with up-to-date information on financial aid for postsecondary education, give a general understanding of the financial aid process, and examine the available financial aid programs that make higher education more affordable for families. Join PHEAA for a free workshop to learn more about:
Please register at least 1 week prior to the date of the workshop you wish to attend. Upon registration, you will receive an email confirmation with workshop location, directions and parking information. At the end of the workshop, they will provide a link to the quiz that is required to receive Act 48 credits. To qualify, you must complete the quiz within 10 days of the workshop. If you meet the workshop attendance requirements and successfully complete the quiz, they will submit your hours to the PA Department of Education. On Wednesday, September 24, at Penn State Altoona, there will be an in-person workshop from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. For more details, click here. Senate Acts to Help Charitable Organizations Raise Funds
More Pennsylvanians are using cashless payments for transactions, so we approved legislation to allow charitable organizations to accept electronic payments, such as credit cards and Venmo, to raise funds. Senate Bill 416 would allow nonprofits such as volunteer fire companies, youth sports leagues, churches and veterans’ groups to accept electronic payments for raffle tickets. Under current law, nonprofits are limited to accepting only cash or checks for these transactions, which has made it harder to raise funds in today’s increasingly cashless society. The legislation also adds safeguards to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of digital payment methods. Organizations must still comply with the Small Games of Chance Act. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Social Media Safety and Parental Awareness Week in Pennsylvania
It’s Social Media Safety and Parental Awareness Week in Pennsylvania – the first initiative of its kind in the U.S. A Senate resolution would address the alarming rise in online child exploitation and help schools, parents and community leaders promote education and prevention of internet dangers to children. Some resources include:
The resolution builds on recent legislative efforts to protect children from threats online. Act 125 of 2024 criminalized the creation and distribution of an intimate or sexual deepfake of a person and classified explicit deepfakes of minors as child sexual abuse material. Act 35 of 2025 classified digital impersonation and deepfakes as a form of criminal forgery giving law enforcement new tools to combat online abuse. Summer Boating Safety: Life Jackets Save Lives
Boating is a popular pastime across Pennsylvania, particularly in the summer. While it comes with some risk, there is one step we can take to help keep the danger away from the fun. Approximately 80% of boating fatalities happen to boaters who are not wearing a life jacket. Under state law, all boats must have a regulation life jacket on board for each person. Children ages 12 and younger must wear a life jacket in all canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and boats 20 feet long. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission lists detailed information about proper use of life jackets, and what state law requires, to help you enjoy the waterways safely. August is Back to School Month
As we head into the late stretch of summer, children and parents across our area are preparing for the return to school. It’s a time filled with lots of excitement and more than a little nervousness. Please keep an eye out for more child pedestrians along the roads, particularly around bus stops. Here’s to a new year of learning and making memories! Out and About the 30th DistrictOrbisonia Rockhill Homecoming Parade I had a fun time participating in the Orbisonia Rockhill Homecoming parade. This event has a great showing of support from the community, and everyone always looks forward to it.
Philips Continues to Invest in Mifflin County I joined Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, Mifflin County Commissioner Noah Wise and other local representatives at Philips in Reedsville for the announcement of a $150 million investment and expansion of this facility. Jeff DiLullo, Chief Regional Leader for Philips North America; Jeff Cohen, Global Business Leader of Philips Ultrasound; and Willem Appelo, Chief Operations Office spoke on the continued investments into Mifflin County and the expansion of this site. The invitees received a site tour of Philips new expanded facility. This is the 5th such expansion at this location. Philips is a top 5 employer in Mifflin County employing approximately 600, adding roughly 120 new jobs. Philips is the #1 Cardiovascular care manufacturing facility. The expansion consisted of Systems and Transducer warehouses, allowing them to create the entire ultrasound system at this facility.
Broadband Expansion in Juniata Township, Blair County It was an exciting day in Juniata Township, Blair County, as the community celebrated the ribbon cutting on the successful completion of a project to bring high-speed broadband internet service to area residents. Alleghenies Broadband, Inc. (ABI) in partnership with Crowsnest Broadband announced the completion of this project financed partially through funding from the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) with support from Blair County. Congratulations to all the project partners!
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