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In this Update:
Living Organ Donor Tax Credit Press Conference Part of Donate Life Month
On Monday, I joined Senator Lindsey Williams, advocates, donors, and transplant recipients at the Capitol for a press conference highlighting Senate Bill 124, bipartisan legislation Senator Williams and I are co-prime sponsoring to support living organ donors. Senate Bill 124 would allow a living organ donor to deduct up to $10,000 in unreimbursed expenses related to donation, including travel, lodging, lost wages, and medical expenses. It is a practical proposal that addresses a real barrier for people willing to make an extraordinary decision to help save another person’s life. I also spoke on the Senate floor regarding Senate Resolution 266, which designates April 2026 as Pennsylvania Donate Life Month. During those remarks, I highlighted the life-saving impact of organ, eye, and tissue donation and the importance of continuing to raise awareness and encourage donor registration. This issue is deeply meaningful to me, and I appreciated the opportunity to help highlight both the importance of donation and the need to better support living donors here in Pennsylvania. You can watch the full press conference here. Resolution Designates April 29 as World Wish Day
On Tuesday, I spoke on the Senate floor regarding a resolution I annually introduce recognizing April 29 as World Wish Day in Pennsylvania. World Wish Day honors the anniversary of the first wish that inspired the creation of Make-A-Wish and serves as a reminder of the hope, joy, and encouragement that wishes can bring to children facing critical illnesses and to their families. It was also an opportunity to recognize the volunteers, donors, staff, and supporters who help make those experiences possible. Their compassion and dedication continue to make a meaningful difference for children in Pennsylvania and across the country. Education Committee Advances Five Bills
This week, the Senate Education Committee met to consider several bills affecting Pennsylvania schools, students, and families. Among the bills considered were Senate Bill 250 and Senate Bill 598, both sponsored by Senator Cris Dush. These bills would require display of the preambles to the Pennsylvania and United States Constitutions in school buildings. As Pennsylvania prepares to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, these measures are intended to help strengthen civic awareness and connect students with the foundational documents that shaped our Commonwealth and country. The committee also considered Senate Bill 698, sponsored by Senator Jarrett Coleman, which addresses how public schools purchase real property. As amended, the bill would require property value to be determined by an authorized appraiser not associated with the sale, and that requirement would apply to school districts, charter schools, and cyber charter schools. In addition, the committee considered Senate Bill 1293, sponsored by Senator Judy Ward, which would require school and college athletic teams designated for women to be reserved for biological females. The bill passed out of the Education Committee and later passed the full Senate, and I supported it because I believe it is important to protect fairness and opportunity for girls and young women in competitive sports. Read more about this issue here. The committee also considered Senate Bill 1294, also sponsored by Senator Ward, which would increase the maximum civil penalty for violations by a private licensed schools or a person operating such a school without a license. This change is in response to safety concerns involving entities that are allowing individuals to obtain Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) without proper training. The bill is part of a package to address what have been termed “CDL Mills”. Career and Technical Education Day at the Capitol
On Wednesday, I was pleased to host Career and Technical Education Day at the Capitol, which brought students and schools from across Pennsylvania to the East Wing Rotunda to showcase their programs, projects, and hands-on learning opportunities. The event was a great reminder of the value of career and technical education and the important role it plays in preparing students for in-demand careers. Legislators and visitors to the Capitol had the opportunity to learn more about the work students are doing, the skills they are building, and the many paths CTE programs can open after graduation. As chair of the Senate Education Committee, I continue to believe strongly in the importance of supporting career and technical education and making sure students have access to meaningful opportunities that connect classroom learning with workforce success. It was encouraging to see so many students, educators, and supporters come together to highlight that work. Participating schools included: Dauphin County Technical School Central PA Institute of Science and Technology Huntingdon County Career and Technology Center Lancaster County Career and Technology Center Lehigh Career & Technical Institute Lycoming Career and Technology Center Middle Bucks Institute of Technology Mon Valley Career and Technology Center Parkway West Career & Technology Center Pottstown Senior High School Schuylkill Technology Center North Campus Steel Center for Career and Technical Education SUN Area Technical Institute Trinity High School Upper Bucks County Technical School Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center York County School of Technology Recognizing Eagle Scout Landon Fontenot on the Senate Floor
I had the opportunity to introduce Landon Fontenot of Berwick on the Senate floor on Wednesday and present him with a Senate citation in recognition of earning the rank of Eagle Scout. This achievement reflects leadership, service, perseverance, and character, and it was a pleasure to help recognize Landon for this important accomplishment. It was also special to have his mother, Autumn Whitted, there to share in the moment and see him recognized for all of his hard work. For his Eagle Scout project at North Centre Township Nature Park, Landon completed several meaningful improvements to help visitors better enjoy the space. His work included replacing the fire pit, adding seating, installing a porch swing, and constructing a bridge over a small stream to improve accessibility. In addition to this project, he has also demonstrated strong leadership through a number of scouting roles over the years. It was a privilege to recognize Landon’s dedication to service and congratulate him on earning one of scouting’s highest honors. Bloomsburg Maker Fest Set for May 2
The 2026 Bloomsburg Maker Fest is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, and I am pleased to be partnering with The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum to help present this exciting community event, which celebrates creativity, innovation, and hands-on learning for all ages. Bloomsburg Maker Fest will bring together makers, artists, engineers, educators, and families for a day of exploration, discovery, and inspiration. The event will feature hands-on experiences across STEM, STEAM, art, engineering, technology, and crafts, along with interactive exhibits and activities designed to encourage curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving. This is a free, family-friendly event, and attendees can look forward to seeing a wide variety of exhibitors and organizations, including groups such as PA Fish & Boat, the PA Game Commission, PennDOT, Geisinger, PPL, UGI, Sekisui Kydex, Amazon, and many others. Check-in will take place at the event, and parking will be available at the fairgrounds. Fort Indiantown Gap Open House – June 6
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will host the Fort Indiantown Gap Open House on Saturday, June 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Gates will open at 9:30 a.m., and the event will be held rain or shine. The open house is free and open to the public and will include flyovers of military aircraft, static displays of military and emergency-response vehicles, military equipment, historical displays, live music, a climbing wall, bounce house, food vendors, and a visit from Miss Pennsylvania 2025 Victoria Vespico. This event is a great opportunity for families and community members to connect with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, learn more about its mission and capabilities, and celebrate the service of those who support our Commonwealth and nation. Strengthening Electricity Affordability and Reliability
Pennsylvanians need electricity that’s affordable and reliable. That’s why I joined legislative colleagues in February urging action to preserve critical baseload power generation by preventing the premature shutdown of two commonwealth power plants. The Trump administration has reached an agreement with the state Department of Environmental Protection and the operator of the Keystone and Conemaugh Generating Stations in Indiana and Armstrong counties to allow continued operation of both plants. The agreement ensures continued, environmentally compliant generation of 3,400 megawatts of electricity for the regional grid and preserves the livelihood of more than 1,000 workers I appreciate the parties working to find common ground and will continue supporting policies that strengthen Pennsylvania’s energy production and help ensure residents have access to dependable, affordable electricity. DEP to Host Climate Action Plan Meetings in May and June
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Energy Programs Office will host several upcoming public meetings related to Pennsylvania’s Climate Action Plan, including two in-person events in north central Pennsylvania and one virtual webinar:
These sessions are intended to gather community input on climate hazards, long-term implementation of the Climate Action Plan, and local priorities, while also sharing information about available state resources. Registration information is available through DEP’s website. Committee Approves Measure Eliminating Emissions Test Mandate for Newer Vehicles
Legislation exempting state emissions testing for newer vehicles and removing it entirely for counties where it’s no longer needed was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee. Senate Bill 1298 exempts vehicles five years old or less from the requirement and removes Blair, Cambria, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer and Westmoreland counties from the emissions program. The Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance program mandates motorists in 25 Pennsylvania counties undergo annual emissions testing. However, a Joint State Government Commission study has shown that removing seven of these counties from the program would have minimal impact on maintaining federal air quality standards. Less than 1% of the five most recent model year vehicles fail annual emissions inspections. The measure now goes to the full Senate for consideration. You can read more about legislative efforts to reform emissions testing here. Take the PA Family Health Needs Assessment Survey
You can provide feedback to help improve maternal, child and family health in Pennsylvania by completing the Family Health Needs Assessment Survey by April 30. You can find the survey here. It’s part of the federal Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, managed in Pennsylvania by the Department of Health. It requires a comprehensive needs assessment every five years to identify key health priorities. The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete. If you have any questions, please email RA-DHPATITLEV@pa.gov. Booklet Helps You Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten
If your child is entering kindergarten this fall, you can help prepare them for the experience with the Kindergarten Here I Come booklet filled with resources and activities that follow Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Standards. Topics in the booklet include:
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