HARRISBURG, July 3 – State Rep. Matthew R. Gergely’s bill that would allow individuals to work at more than one business licensed to sell alcohol passed the state Senate Tuesday, 47-3. Gergely is a member of the PA House Liquor Control Committee and recognized the need to assist licensed food and beverage establishments with H.B. 829 . “The pandemic took a heavy toll on small businesses across the country, especially those in the food and beverage industry. Not only that, bars, restaurants and other liquor-licensed entities are still facing a worker shortage in the post-COVID era, especially when it comes to hiring experienced and knowledgeable staff,” he said. “House Bill 829 would release such workers from the exclusive grip exercised by businesses with liquor licenses, and this new inclusivity would lead to higher profits and boost to local economies. Having extra money in their pockets will help workers and their families afford daily necessities and benefit their financial stability as well. “This bill is a win-win for Pennsylvanians and Pennsylvania small businesses,” Gergely added. “I want to thank House and Senate members on both sides of the aisle for helping this commonsense measure reach this point.” House Bill 829 is Gergely’s second piece of legislation to pass the state Senate this year and now heads to the governor for his signature. Read more

HARRISBURG, July 3 – State Reps. Lindsay Powell’s and Shelby Labs’ bill that would establish the Victims of Violence Relocation Act passed the state House today. Under the legislation ( H.B. 2162 ), eligible violent crime survivors would be entitled to relocation assistance, and the timeframe for requesting such assistance would be increased from 90 to 180 days after the crime occurred. The legislators said this would allow survivors more time to access necessary support and would ensure they can utilize federal documentation to validate their need for relocation. “Partnering with Representative Labs on this bill exemplifies that the PA House stands united with survivors of violent crime by expanding housing assistance to them in their time of need,” Powell, D-Allegheny, said. “Thank you to all my colleagues for your affirmative votes and your commitment to helping survivors start their lives anew.” “I want to thank Representative Powell for her collaboration on this important piece of legislation that protects victims and empowers survivors,” Labs, R-Bucks, added. “The passage of House Bill 2162 is a critical step in ensuring our commitment to making Pennsylvania a safer place for victims of violence and providing a foundation of support during recovery.” The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence says one in three women, one in four men and nearly half of LGBTQ+ individuals will Read more

PA CROWN Act legislation has been stalled in Senate committee for nearly one year Read more

“Over 140 pharmacies have closed in our Commonwealth since the beginning of the year,” said Dr. Mayank “Dr. Mak” Amin, the owner of Skippack Pharmacy. “While I stand here and celebrate our pharmacy’s 5th anniversary, we are also bleeding due to poor reimbursements and patient steering. Community pharmacies like Skippack Pharmacy vaccinated over 100,000 patients during the pandemic and provided critical supplies to those in need, but what will save community pharmacies like ours?" Read more

HARRISBURG, July 2 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell and several Democratic members of the Pennsylvania House and Senate shared their reactions to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision on homelessness at a news conference in the Capitol Main Rotunda today. On Friday, the court ruled that sleeping outside in public places can be an arrestable offense and banning it does not qualify as “cruel and unusual punishment” under the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. “We are here today because our Supreme Court sided with cities and municipalities, who are more concerned with public appearances than with building enough affordable housing,” Powell, D-Allegheny, said. “Now, our neighbors are confronted with a harsh reality: remain awake or face arrest.” Powell has signed on as a co-sponsor to future legislation that would clarify the decriminalization of homelessness in Pennsylvania and allow individuals to occupy public spaces. She also recently introduced H.B. 2454 , legislation that would establish the Affordable Homeownership Program under the state Department of Community and Economic Development . The program would award funds for a variety of homeownership-related projects to individuals and households through sponsoring organizations. “The House and the Senate are committed to doing everything in our power to provide actual solutions and actual housing units,” she added. “We will continue to Read more

Open Markets Act would empower attorney general to enforce laws against unfair competition Read more

Newly listed grant programs Read more

PA students currently owe $80 million in unpaid lunch debt Read more

HARRISBURG, July 1 – State Rep. Aerion Abney’s bill that would exclude one portion of a person’s potential revenue when determining their financial eligibility for senior prescription programs in Pennsylvania passed the state House with a bipartisan majority today. Abney’s legislation ( H.B. 2378 ) would not count the total dollar amount, including face value and interest earned, of redeemed savings bonds as part of an older Pennsylvanian’s income when they apply for either the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly or PACE Needs Enhancement Tier, otherwise known as PACE and PACENET. “Rising prescription drugs costs have created a no-win situation for many PA seniors, forcing them to choose between cashing in their bonds to afford necessary medications or be disqualified from state prescription coverage for doing so. My bill would take this predicament off the table and keep more money in the pockets of our older neighbors,” Abney, D-Allegheny, said. “I’m grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for passing this personal and financial investment in our state elders and look forward to seeing it become law.” PACE is funded entirely by the Pennsylvania Lottery and has helped more than 1.6 million PA seniors pay for more than 360 million prescriptions. PACE and PACENET currently serve more than 250,000 older Pennsylvanians. The bill is Abney’s first as a state Read more

Benham urges state Senate vote on legislation to reform PBM practices Read more