HARRISBURG, April 16 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Wednesday passed H.B. 586, which would responsibly guide the use of food processing residuals in the state, announced the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Paul Friel, D-Chester. Food processing residuals, also known as FPR, are the leftover products created by commercial food processing. They can include vegetable peelings, raw meat scraps, and liquid waste from cleaning processes that might contain blood, fat, hair, feathers, and a variety of other vegetable and animal byproducts, as well as chemicals used in processing. Surrounding states have heavily restricted or banned the use of these residuals, making Pennsylvania a target for the cheap disposal of this commercial waste stream. "We don't know what is coming in or how much is being applied,” Friel explained during House debate. “We have more regulation on manure in Pennsylvania than we do on this unknown waste stream coming into our state. We need these guardrails to protect our communities and, most especially, our farms and farmers." The bill passed 172–29, with broad Republican and Democratic support, underscoring just how nonpartisan concerns about noxious odors and water contamination are in Pennsylvania. “I want to thank my many colleagues who have supported this effort, including Rep. Barb Gleim and former Rep. Paul Schemel, who worked with me on this Read more

CHESTER, April 15 –Two Chester City organizations, the Chester Education Foundation and the Make a Change Group, were awarded a total of nearly $1 million to expand their after-school programs for at-risk youth in the city, state Rep. Carol Kazeem, D-Delaware, announced today. Read more

ROYERSFORD, April 15 – The YWCA Tri-County Area was awarded a $500,000 grant to expand its intervention-centered programming outside of school time, and Trellis for Tomorrow received $460,451 for its after-school program, Project Thrive, state Reps. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, and Paul Friel, D-Chester, announced today. The competitive grants, approved today by the School Safety and Security Committee under the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, is part of more than $64 million awarded to organizations across the state. According to Ciresi, the YWCA Tri-County Area will use the funds to expand its Youth Community Building and Empowerment initiative, a prevention-centered out-of-school-time program serving approximately 200 middle school youth across Montgomery, Berks and Chester counties in the Pottstown, Pottsgrove and Owen J. Roberts school districts. Trellis for Tomorrow will expand its existing Garden Club at Pottstown School District into a structured, prevention focused after-school program serving approximately 30 middle and high school students annually. Funds will be used to support employee pay, travel for field-based learning at Trellis garden sites, and equipment needed for garden expansion, grow towers and safe tool usage. “Helping young people thrive requires looking beyond the school day, and this funding will provide our at-risk youth with the educational, mentoring, and peer-led advocacy supports necessary to help them Read more

ROYERSFORD, April 15 – The YWCA Tri-County Area was awarded a $500,000 grant to expand its intervention-centered programming outside of school time, and Trellis for Tomorrow received $460,451 for its after-school program, Project Thrive, state Reps. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, and Paul Friel, D-Chester, announced today. The competitive grants, approved today by the School Safety and Security Committee under the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, is part of more than $64 million awarded to organizations across the state. According to Ciresi, the YWCA Tri-County Area will use the funds to expand its Youth Community Building and Empowerment initiative, a prevention-centered out-of-school-time program serving approximately 200 middle school youth across Montgomery, Berks and Chester counties in the Pottstown, Pottsgrove and Owen J. Roberts school districts. Trellis for Tomorrow will expand its existing Garden Club at Pottstown School District into a structured, prevention focused after-school program serving approximately 30 middle and high school students annually. Funds will be used to support employee pay, travel for field-based learning at Trellis garden sites, and equipment needed for garden expansion, grow towers and safe tool usage. “Helping young people thrive requires looking beyond the school day, and this funding will provide our at-risk youth with the educational, mentoring, and peer-led advocacy supports necessary to help Read more

HARRISBURG, April 15 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today passed legislation to strengthen mental health awareness for students and provide critical training for coaches and staff at schools across the commonwealth, announced the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Mary Jo Daley. House Bill 1706 would require that coaches receive mental health awareness training like the training required of other school personnel. The bill would also ensure that all students, their parents or guardians, athletic staff and extracurricular advisors are informed of the availability of mental health services within their school and local community. According to reports , nearly 20% of students have seriously considered suicide, while 75% report struggling with anxiety. Furthermore, while a significant number of students express a need for professional mental health support, roughly 65% say that they are uncomfortable speaking to family or friends about their struggles, often turning to coaches and extracurricular advisors for support. Meanwhile, a study surveying more than 10,000 coaches found that only 18% of youth coaches feel highly confident in their ability to link athletes to mental health resources, and 67% say they want more training and information on the subject. “For many students, school isn't just about classes – it's where they grow, socialize and find their sense of belonging,” said Daley, Read more

HARRISBURG, April 9 – Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee Chairman Tim Briggs today announced that a broad package of public safety and justice reform legislation has been voted out of committee, marking a significant step forward for measures aimed at protecting vulnerable Pennsylvanians and strengthening the Commonwealth’s legal system. “Today’s votes show what’s possible when we focus on solutions that put people first,” Briggs said. “These bills reflect a shared commitment to protecting victims, supporting families, and ensuring our justice system is both fair and effective.” House Bill 72 (sponsored by state Rep. Lisa Borowski) would update the Landlord and Tenant Act to better support people experiencing domestic violence. Leaving an abusive relationship is often the most dangerous time, and the last thing someone should have to worry about is whether they can safely stay in—or leave—their home. This bill would allow victims to break a lease early and change locks or other entry points so they can protect themselves and their families right away. Developed with input from advocacy groups, it is designed to give survivors clear, practical options at a time when safety matters most. House Bill 1104 (sponsored by state Rep. Leanne Krueger) would make it easier and more affordable for people to get their medical records in today’s digital world. Even though most records Read more

Members of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Southeast Delegation today wrote to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to express their strong opposition to proposed gas and electric rate hikes by PECO, according to state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, the delegation chair. Read more

HARRISBURG, April 7 – Legislation to require transparency in data center development in Pennsylvania, H.B. 2359, was introduced by the PA House Communications & Technology Committee majority chair, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, this week. According to Ciresi, many developers in Pennsylvania and across the country are requiring local governments to sign non-disclosure agreements to prevent discussion about controversial aspects of data center development and operation. These NDAs prevent officials from sharing data centers’ impact on the environment, zoning issues, and community life with residents. “Public officials’ core responsibility is to clearly inform residents about decisions that could impact their lives, such as data center development in their communities. These NDAs prevent them from fulfilling their essential duties, ultimately misleading the public and limiting Pennsylvanians’ active and informed participation in their self-governance,” Ciresi said. “My legislation would ensure transparency and accountability—the foundations of good governance—by prohibiting state and local government agencies from entering into NDAs with data center developers.” Read more

“Whether you’re young or old, renting or buying, housing is a challenge that many people will face in their lifetime. We know that a strong housing market helps build a strong economy. But without it, businesses can’t grow, workers can’t stay, and communities can’t thrive when the cost-of-living pushes people out,” said Kazeem. “Housing is undoubtedly a human right. Making housing more affordable and attainable for everyone is one of the smartest investments we can make to strengthen our neighborhoods and keep our economy moving forward.” Read more

“Private equity consolidation in the fire truck industry is driving up costs beyond what local fire companies can afford, forcing departments to stretch thin budgets just to maintain essential equipment,” said O’Mara. “This isn’t just economic—it’s a safety issue. When outdated equipment fails, lives are at risk. Fire companies shouldn’t face soaring costs and limited options to protect their communities.” Read more