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In this Update:
Senate Votes to Eliminate Unnecessary Boards and Commissions
Legislation I was proud to co-sponsor that would streamline state government operations by eliminating outdated, unnecessary and inactive boards, commissions and advisory committees was passed by the Senate. Senate Bill 755 would eliminate 13 government entities that are expired, dormant, no longer have any members or are unnecessary. Examples include the Greater Pennsylvania Council that has been long dormant; the Senior Citizen Advisory Committee, whose duties were all assumed by a different committee; the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Commission, which expired in 1987; and the Climate Change Advisory Committee, which has produced no specific beneficial outcomes while continuing to expend taxpayer dollars. Many of the commonwealth’s nearly 400 boards, commissions and advisory committees do not publicly share information about their duties, meetings or other activities, raising concerns about transparency. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Veterans Appreciation Luncheon
Veterans and their family members are invited to an appreciation luncheon on Thursday, November 6th at the American Legion Social Hall in Blair County. This is a FREE event, but RSVPs are required, so please call my office at 814-695-8386 to register. PA Pro-Life Leader Conference
This year’s Pennsylvania Pro-Life Leader Retreat and Conference was incredible. Pro-life advocates, elected officials, and organizations from across the state spent the day sharing the exciting things they have been up to and prayerfully considering how they can best work together to advance the cause of life. We were blessed to also have Jay and Tiffany Gilbert, founders of the pregnancy resource center Voices for the Unborn in Pittsburgh, with us to moderate and provide an opening and closing message. I’m already looking forward to next year.
Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week
This week, I spoke on the Senate floor to introduce Senate Resolution 181, recognizing October 25 through 31 as Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week in Pennsylvania, more commonly known as Butterfly Children Awareness Week. National Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week, which begins October 25 and ends October 31 each year, was first declared in 2006 by the 109th Congress. Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a group of rare disorders caused by a mutation in one of 18 genes. People with EB share the lifelong challenge of extremely fragile skin that blisters and tears from minor friction or trauma. Wounds caused by EB may be widespread, heal slowly and are prone to life-threatening infections. 50% of one’s body may be covered in bandages due to EB. Some typical complications may include infections, anemia, corneal abrasions, cancer and more. Epidermolysis Bullosa effects approximately 200 children every year in the United States, which is estimated to be 1 out of every 20,000 births. There is currently no cure for EB. With skin as fragile as butterfly wings, EB patients are known as “Butterfly Children.” For those struggling with this life-changing disease, this resolution will help to bring awareness and support to affected individuals and families across the commonwealth. You can click the image above to watch my remarks. Transportation Committee Examines Car Insurance Lapses
The Senate Transportation Committee, which I chair, held a hearing to question the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) about fixing alleged lapses in car insurance. Every month, PennDOT suspends more than 15,000 vehicle registrations based on an alleged lapse in coverage, and almost a third of those suspensions are rescinded once PennDOT receives proof of car insurance. An overhaul is needed to improve PennDOT’s verification process. The purpose of the hearing was to help us find a better solution to fix these F-stops without placing an undue burden on those who are properly maintaining coverage. The committee received testimony from several individuals including PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll and the president of Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania. Every motor vehicle owner in Pennsylvania is required by law to have car insurance without any lapse in coverage. While auto insurance companies are required to tell PennDOT when they have canceled an insurance policy, the new insurance company is not required to notify PennDOT of the new coverage. When PennDOT receives a notice of cancellation or termination from the insurer, PennDOT sends letters to the vehicle owner, prompting them to provide acceptable proof of coverage, such as emailing frinsurance@pa.gov. Failure to respond to the letters can result in, and is not limited to, a three-month registration suspension or a $500 civil penalty. If the person fails to respond to the second letter, PennDOT automatically imposes the three-month registration suspension. The vehicle owner may also have to pay a restoration fee of $112. A person may appeal the suspension imposition in court. The hearing’s outcome emphasized online verification as a proposed legislative fix to alleged lapses in car insurance. According to testimony received, PennDOT continues to undergo a massive system modernization and any online verification system would need to account for these modernization efforts and timelines. Video of the hearing can be viewed here. Bill Requiring Parental Notification of School Weapons Incidents Set to Become Law
Legislation requiring school districts to notify parents and school employees of any incidents involving possession of weapons on school property is set to become law. Under current law, school districts are not required to inform parents or guardians about incidents when a weapon is brought onto school grounds or to related activities. The changes in Senate Bill 246 apply to public, nonpublic and private schools. The bill, which first passed the Senate in May, received strong bipartisan support from the General Assembly and now awaits the governor’s signature. Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grant Now Available
Registration is now open for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) annual grant workshop. The free, virtual workshop will take place on Thursday, November 6 from 9 a.m. to noon. Anyone interested in applying for a C2P2 grant in 2026 is strongly encouraged to attend. The workshop will take place virtually via a Microsoft Teams Town Hall. Attendees do not need Teams installed on their computers to access the workshop. Videos of workshop presentations will also be made available on the DCNR YouTube channel for those who cannot attend. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required to ensure participants receive the materials needed. New Protections Against Telemarketers Approved by Senate
The Senate approved legislation to better protect Pennsylvanians from scammers and other deceitful telemarketers. Senate Bill 992 prohibits telemarketing calls being made on Sundays and either before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on every other day of the week. It also expands the law to cover text messages, voicemails and “ringless” voicemails – tools often used by telemarketers to evade existing restrictions. In addition, it establishes penalties for both telemarketers and the companies that hire them for illegal activity. The bill would also prohibit the use of artificial intelligence or fake caller IDs to deceive or defraud consumers. A violation of the law carries a civil penalty of up to $1,000 or $3,000 if the person contacted is age 60 or older. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Make Your Voice Heard Tuesday on Election Day
Tuesday, Nov. 4 is Election Day, the last chance of the year for voters to weigh in on races for local, county and judicial positions. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For those voting by mail, county election offices must receive completed ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Find your polling place and other voter information here. Internship Opportunity for Students Interested in Public Policy Careers
College students interested in careers in public policy can apply for summer internships in Harrisburg through the James A. Finnegan Fellowship Foundation. Internships are awarded through an essay contest. Applicants must write between 1,500 and 2,500 words about a controversial policy currently under consideration by the General Assembly. The 2026 contest asks applicants to write about the pros and cons of data centers, and what the state’s role should be. Applicants have until Jan. 23, 2026 to submit their essay and other materials to the foundation. The winners will receive a cash prize and placement in paid state government summer internships in Harrisburg for eight to 10 weeks. Coming Together for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month was a time of reflection and unity. Senators from both sides of the aisle took part in October’s Rock the Ribbon campaign to acknowledge the strength of those impacted and the continued importance of awareness. Please share this information with a friend or family member. It could save their life. Out and About in the 30th DistrictConemaugh-Nason Comes to the Capitol It was a pleasure to have several folks with Lifepoint Health Systems, which operates Conemaugh-Nason Medical Center, stop by to speak with me about the important issues that they are facing in healthcare today. With me are Danny Rager, Nursing Director, Tony Campagna, Vice President of Operations, and Tammy Barbin, Communications Director.
Johnson Duffie Attorneys Ribbon Cutting The Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting at Johnson Duffie Attorneys at Law office located at 15 S. Wayne Street in Lewistown. Meagan C. Hopkins will be the primary attorney at this location. Congratulations to the Johnson Duffie Attorneys.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America What a pleasure to chat with Sue Liebel, the Director of State Affairs for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, on what she and her group have been up to. She and Susan B. Anthony have been staunch advocates for the Pro-Life movement all across the United States, and I am blessed to be able to work with them on advancing policy that recognizes the sanctity of life.
Butterfly Children Awareness Week Pat Snively, a friend and former employee of mine, is an advocate for individuals and families with Epidermolysis Bullosa. Pat was in attendance for session this week, when I offered Senate Resolution 181, recognizing Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week, also known as Butterfly Children Awareness Week.
Youth Unlimited Competition Winner Visits Capitol Pirmin Rauscher an 18-year-old from Austria was my guest this week in the Senate. Pirmin was visiting the Capitol from Altoona with Mayor Matt Pacifico, as the winner of the Youth Unlimited Competition in his home country. I hope you enjoyed your time in the States, and the Altoona community was happy to have you! You can view my remarks from session here.
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