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Capitol Report
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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2025-26 State Budget Update
The House was back in session this week, though no substantive action was taken on the late state budget. Once again, overall spending is a key sticking point, as House Republicans believe we should be spending within our means, and the plan put forth by the governor and majority House Democrats spends far beyond that.
We will continue advocating for policies that build a better Commonwealth for future generations by growing the economy, boosting the energy industry, eliminating fraud and waste in the state’s benefits programs, and ensuring our students – the future leaders of our Commonwealth – get the kind of education they need to succeed.
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Ensuring Fairness in Women’s Sports
Recognizing the unfair advantage biological males have when competing in women’s sports, I joined my fellow legislators this week in launching an effort to force a House vote on Senate Bill 9, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.
Since passing the state Senate with bipartisan support in May, the measure has sat idle in the House Education Committee without being considered. We attempted to use a discharge resolution to get the bill out of committee so it can be debated and voted upon by the full House. Unfortunately, majority House Democrats responded by re-referring the bill to a different committee, effectively bypassing our efforts…for now.
Athletic competitions give women the opportunity to demonstrate their strength and skill, while also providing opportunities for recognition ranging from accolades to college scholarships. By opening women’s sports to include males, we take away those opportunities from our women and girls who have worked tirelessly to achieve the equality they deserve.
Senate Bill 9 would help preserve the increased athletic opportunities that female students have gained over the past half century by prohibiting participation by biological males in women’s sports. I will continue fighting for our female athletes!
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District Happenings
Be sure to check out my Facebook page for a recap of district events, including Lake Ariel Volunteer Fire Company’s Chicken BBQ, Wayne County Area Agency on Aging’s Senior Picnic, my Hard-to-Read License Plate, Newfoundland Farmers Market’s Christmas in July celebration, supporting Growing Lackawaxen at the Duck Derby and the Greene Dreher Historical Society’s annual Open House and Pie Sale!
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New Law Targets ‘Deepfake’ Scams
While we work on policies to help the Commonwealth benefit from the positive opportunities created by artificial intelligence (AI), we must also protect our citizens from the dangers it can present.
I recently voted in support of Act 35 of 2025, a law that will classify deepfakes and other forms of digital impersonation as digital forgeries. Under the new law, if someone creates a digital representation of a real person without their consent and distributes it as genuine, with the intent to defraud or injure, they would be subject to penalties. The law targets harmful impersonations while safeguarding legitimate artistic, journalistic and expressive works.
AI has made it increasingly easy to create convincing images, audio and video of others that are nearly indistinguishable from reality. These digital forgeries have been used to commit financial scams, injure personal reputations and disrupt the political process. The scams target teenagers, senior citizens, small businesses and other victims. We must do all we can to protect our citizens from these bad actors.
The law takes effect in early September.
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Human Trafficking Prevention Bill Passes House
Recognizing human trafficking as one of the fastest growing crimes in the nation, I recently joined my fellow lawmakers in approving a bill that would direct higher education institutions to provide exploitation prevention and education programs to their students.
House Bill 538 would allow these institutions to partner with nonprofit organizations to provide first-year students with an opportunity to attend a series of in-depth prevention and education programs regarding sex trafficking and exploitation. Program materials would be provided at no cost to students.
Under the bill, students would learn about federal and state laws relating to human trafficking, facts and statistics about the crime, methods used to coerce victims, risk factors that make an individual more vulnerable to human trafficking, and how to identify victims and what to do to help them.
The bill is awaiting Senate consideration.
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Grant Opportunities for Pedestrian, Cyclist Safety Projects
PennDOT has announced $80 million in grant funding is available to help expand access to a range of transportation options and improve safe access to schools in communities across the Commonwealth.
The grants come from the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) program, which provides funds to construct pedestrian and bicycle facilities, improve access to public transportation, create safe routes to school, create trail projects that serve a transportation purpose and more.
Funding is available to municipalities; regional transportation authorities; transit agencies; public land agencies; and school districts, local education agencies or schools.
Applications will be accepted starting July 14. Draft applications must be submitted to the appropriate PennDOT district office by Sept. 5, and final applications are due by Oct. 31. Learn more here.
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PGC Seeks Help Counting Turkeys
The Pennsylvania Game Commission again is seeking input from the public in surveying wild turkeys this summer. The Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Sighting Survey is open now through Aug. 31.
Participation is important for turkey population management. Survey data allow the agency to determine total wild turkey productivity and compare long-term reproductive success within Pennsylvania and across states, as this is a standard methodology used across the country. Data also are used in the turkey population model to track population trends.
Turkey sightings can be reported through the Game Commission’s website here. Participants are asked to record the number of wild turkeys they see, along with the county, township, wildlife management unit (WMU), date and contact information if agency biologists have any questions. Participants may also simply drop a “pin” on the map for the location data to automatically populate. Location data are used only for the survey, not for law enforcement and are not shared.
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Upcoming District Events
My staff and I have a lot of events planned in the coming months. More details to follow, but here is a sneak peek:
September 5: Senior Expo at the Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Department in Milford
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