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In this Update:
Bill Honoring Local Public Servant with Highway Designation Heads to Governor’s Desk
A measure to honor the late Joseph McGranaghan—who served his community with distinction for more than 30 years, including as Mayor of Shamokin Dam—has officially passed the Senate and is now headed to the Governor’s desk for final consideration. Originally introduced as a bill I sponsored, Senate Bill 365 —the proposal was included as part of Senate Bill 78, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support. The legislation would designate the portion of U.S. Route 15 in Monroe Township and Shamokin Dam Borough, Snyder County—from its interchange with U.S. Routes 11/15 and U.S. Route 522 north of Selinsgrove to its interchange with U.S. Route 15 and PA Route 147 south of Winfield—as the Joseph McGranaghan Memorial Highway. Mr. McGranaghan’s long-standing public service career included roles on the Shamokin Dam Borough Council and various regional planning organizations. His work helped shape transportation, land use, and economic development policies, and he was instrumental in the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway project. This designation is a meaningful tribute to his legacy and the values of civic responsibility he demonstrated throughout his life. I was proud to sponsor this effort and look forward to the Governor signing it into law. Legislative Action Highlights Career and Technical Education Progress
This week, the General Assembly took several steps forward in expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) across Pennsylvania—an area I remain focused on as Chair of the Senate Education Committee. Supporting Proven Career Pathways The Senate Education Committee advanced Senate Bills 877 and 878, which make permanent two successful pilot programs offering barber and cosmetology training through Career and Technical Centers (CTCs). These programs give students a head start toward licensure and employment and require schools to report annual data to their respective state boards for continued oversight. Welcoming Veterans into the Classroom We also passed House Bill 1405, which would allow qualified veterans to receive teaching certifications for CTE programs based on their military experience in skilled trades. This opens doors for veterans and helps schools address instructor shortages. Improving Grant Funding Predictability Senate Bill 315, legislation I sponsored, also passed out of the House Education Committee. It would give CTCs more certainty by aligning CTE equipment grant funding with other education funding timelines—using student enrollment data from June 1 to better inform school-year budgets. These bipartisan efforts reflect our shared goal: providing students with real-world training opportunities that support Pennsylvania’s future workforce. I’ll continue working with my colleagues to get these bills across the finish line. Senate Advances Bill to Improve Real Estate Transparency
The Senate recently passed Senate Bill 838, a bill I sponsored to help protect real estate education providers from duplicative and costly regulatory requirements. For nearly 40 years, real estate and appraiser schools in Pennsylvania have operated under the oversight of the State Real Estate Commission and the State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers—both housed within the Department of State. These boards ensure the quality and standards of training for professionals entering the real estate and appraisal industries. SB 838 reaffirms that oversight structure by clarifying that the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Private Licensed Schools Act does not apply to these institutions. Without this clarification, real estate schools could face an unnecessary layer of regulation that would increase costs and limit opportunities for Pennsylvanians pursuing careers in the real estate sector. This bill provides commonsense regulatory certainty for training providers while preserving professional standards through existing licensure boards. I was proud to sponsor this effort to reduce redundancy and protect access to high-quality professional education. I also had the opportunity to meet with several local real estate professionals to discuss SB 838 and its importance to the industry and highlighted other bills to the industry and other priorities. Pictured from left to right are Jolinn Barner, Aimee Buehner, Stephanie DiDomenico, and Zach Holdren, who represent the strong voice and advocacy of real estate professionals in our region. Our conversation underscored the value of maintaining clear and effective standards for real estate education—without burdening providers with additional layers of regulation. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. You can read the full text of SB 838 here. Watch Senate Session Live Next Week
The Pennsylvania Senate will reconvene for session next week with a focus on passing the 2025–26 state budget. These are critical days as lawmakers finalize the policies and priorities that will guide funding for education, public safety, infrastructure, and other essential services. I encourage residents to follow along and stay informed by watching session live at www.palegis.us/senate/session. Vietnam War and 9/11 Memorial Wall to Visit Kulpmont
From July 3–7, the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will be on display at Kulpmont Veteran’s Memorial Park. The event will also feature a special 9/11 memorial honoring those lost in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. The Opening Ceremony will be held on Thursday, July 4 at 10:00 AM, and I am honored to speak at this meaningful event. The war memorial not only recognizes our Vietnam veterans but also pays tribute to those who served in Operation Desert Shield and beyond. I encourage everyone to visit and reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served, the lives lost on that fateful day in 2001, and the families who continue to carry the legacy of their loved ones forward each day. This is a powerful opportunity for our community to come together in remembrance and gratitude. Lifesaving Bill to Eliminate Cost Barriers to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Approved by Senate
Patients who receive abnormal results from supplemental breast cancer screenings will be able to access the necessary follow-up diagnostic imaging at no cost under bipartisan legislation passed by the Senate. This ensures critical continuum of care. Senate Bill 88 builds on the success of Act 1 of 2023, which provided no-cost preventive screenings for individuals at high risk. Senate Bill 88 takes the next step with no-cost follow-up diagnostic imaging and expands eligibility to include individuals at average risk. While 26 other states have followed Pennsylvania’s lead in offering no-cost supplemental breast screening since the passage of Act 1, Pennsylvania remains the only state without guaranteed coverage for diagnostic imaging. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives. Senate Targets PA Opioid Crisis with Expanded Reporting Tool
The Senate voted to incorporate overdose reporting by EMS providers into the statewide Overdose Information Network to make sure first responders, treatment providers and other key parties have the information they need to save lives. Senate Bill 89 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Health to coordinate with the Pennsylvania State Police to ensure real-time overdose reporting by EMS providers is incorporated into the statewide mapping system. The bill was also approved by the House of Representatives and will be sent to the governor for his signature. EMS providers would report information including the date and time of the overdose, location, substances used by the victim and more. In other action to prevent opioid deaths, Senate Republicans led passage of a measure giving EMS personnel permanent authority to leave behind a dose of lifesaving naloxone at non-fatal overdose scenes. Measure to Prevent Eminent Domain Abuse Approved by Senate
Legislation to protect property owners against eminent domain abuse and ensure they are fully compensated when their property is taken by government was approved by the Senate. Senate Bill 225 would ensure business owners and farmers whose properties are seized through eminent domain are compensated for loss of “goodwill,” which goes beyond the assessed value. For farms, the land may possess characteristics that make it particularly special, such as fertile soil. In the case of another business, goodwill may be because of location, access to utilities and other factors. Farmers, employers and homeowners testified before a Senate committee last year about eminent domain abuse. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. School Bus Safety Grant Program Applications Accepted
School districts, school bus companies and municipalities have until July 3 to apply for state grants to improve school bus safety and pay for training and other costs associated with attracting much-needed school bus drivers. Legislation passed by the General Assembly allows school districts to install automated camera systems to enforce the state School Bus Stopping Law and increase safety for school children. A portion of the fines paid by violators are used for the School Bus Safety Grant Program. Details and the online application are available here. Celebrating Great Outdoors Month
The arrival of summer means plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy what nature has to offer locally and across our commonwealth. Pennsylvania is home to cool, green forests, thousands of pristine lakes and streams, hiking trails and state parks. Find plenty of ways to explore the great outdoors of our region and the state here.
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