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E-news Updates – July 25, 2026
In this Update: Indiana County Farm Bureau Event Tremendous Win for Private Property Rights PA House Fails Murder Victimsโ Families While Jeopardizing the Safety of Commonwealthโs Communities Standing Up for Rape Crisis Services Pittman, Struzzi, Cooper, Major & Bashline Announce $6.75 Million in Area Community Improvement Grants Protecting Our Communities from Child Predators and Human […] [Read More]
PA House Fails Murder Victimsโ Families While Jeopardizing the Safety of Commonwealthโs Communities
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41), Senate Majority Whip Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35), Senate Appropriations Chair Scott Martin (R-13), and Senate Judiciary Chair Lisa Baker (R-20) issued the following statement after the House failed to protect Pennsylvania communities today by refusing to allow a vote on bipartisan legislation passed twice by the Senate: [Read More]
Senators Hail Court Ruling as Victory for PA Property Owners
Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41), Senate Game & Fisheries Committee Chairman Greg Rothman (R-34) and Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-49) issued the following statement regarding the Pennsylvania Supreme Courtโs decision on Tuesday in favor of the Punxsutawney Hunting Club and the Pitch Pine Hunting Club: [Read More]
Press Conference on SB 1400
Sen. Langerholc | Thursday, July 23, 2026 [Read More]
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๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐
๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฌโ ๐
๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ฐ๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐กโ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ
In March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the stateโs sentencing guidelines for second-degree murder cases โ life without the possibility of parole โ are unconstitutional. The court gave the legislature 120 days to set new guidelines that ensure fairness, accountability and public safety. Members of our Senate Republican Caucus have worked with victim advocates, law enforcement, prosecutors and the Pennsylvania Attorney General to create new guidelines that would ensure the punishments fit the terrible nature of these crimes.
The Senate passed legislation twice to address the issue of Second-Degree Felony Murder. On June 25 we sent Senate Bill 1400 to the House and on July 12 we sent House Bill 1042 to the House. Both bills have bipartisan support, passing our chamber by votes of 30 to 20. With the support of Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, the FOP and the DAโs Association, there is no valid reason for House Democrats to have not allowed a vote to send HB1042 or SB1400 to the Governorโs desk.
On the 119th day, House Democrats still had the opportunity to join the Senate in keeping our communities safe. Instead of allowing a vote on either of the bipartisan bills passed by the Senate, they chose to engage in political theater and failed to produce any feasible product to protect our communities and victimsโ families.
@pasenategop are serious about public safety and securing our communities, which is why we acted decisively and in a bipartisan way. Since the day the House announced their return to Session this week, there has been no outreach to us by the Governor or House Democrat Leadership. The lack of engagement on such a significant issue is gravely troubling and a complete failure of leadership.
๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฒ ๐
๐๐ซ๐ฆ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ
I had a wonderful time visiting the Indiana County Farm Bureauโs โHay Thereโ Summer event on Saturday with great activities, picnic food, raffles, and a few rides for folks to take part in. It was a pleasure chatting with students from Marion Center & Penns Manor #FFA programs, as well as with farm bureau members, Ed Rising and Ray Sleppy.
Always such a privilege to spend time with our local #agriculture community!
๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ โ ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ
It was great to sit down with Francine Schertzer from @pennsylvaniacablenetwork(PCN) to talk about the completed 2026-27 state budget in an โOn the Issuesโ Interview. Iโm proud of our work to stand up for Pennsylvania taxpayers and families.
๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐จ
Nearly 1,200 people convicted of second-degree murder in Pennsylvania could be released if House Democrats donโt take action by July 24. The #PASenate passed bipartisan legislation twice to address this issue - legislation supported by the Attorney General & DAs.
Urgent action is needed because in March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Commonwealth v. Lee ruled that the sentencing scheme for second degree murder in our Commonwealth is unconstitutional. The Court imposed a 120-day stay in order to provide the General Assembly with an opportunity to enact remedial legislation.
The safety of our communities is of paramount importance to @pasenategop. It`s time for House Democrats join us in taking needed action now!
โ
๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ก ๐
Good News! Pennsylvania now has a 2026-27 State Budget in place.
When Governor Shapiro first presented his budget plan in February, Senate Republicans raised serious concerns about the problems it would create for taxpayers and our commonwealthโs future.
Over the past several months, we have worked extremely hard to create a responsible spending plan that protects taxpayers, prevents new tax hikes, safeguards our financial future, and breaks down barriers to economic growth.
๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐
๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ข
The Senate approved a fiscally responsible state budget today that stands up for taxpayers, doesnโt raise taxes on Pennsylvania families and supports affordability and job growth.
Gov. Josh Shapiro originally proposed a budget that would have increased spending by $2.7 billion (5.4% increase) and taken approximately $4.6 billion from the stateโs emergency reserves in the Rainy Day Fund. His plan would have required massive tax increases as soon as next year.
The final agreement negotiated by PA Senate Republicans cut more than $1.1 billion from the governorโs spending request and will not require any withdrawals from the Rainy Day Fund, setting the state on a more sustainable path and avoiding potential bond downgrades and higher debt costs.
๐๐๐ง๐ง๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐
๐ซ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ
Thank you to my friend and colleague @senatormastriano for presenting me with the #Pennsylvania Medal of Freedom.
Iโm proud of the work of our entire Pennsylvania Senate Republican Caucus. Together we fight every day to uphold #freedom, respect taxpayers, strengthen our #communities, and protect families throughout the Commonwealth.
๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ ๐. ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ.
Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41), Senate Transportation Committee Chair Judy Ward (R-30) and Senate Majority Policy Committee Chair David Argall (R-29) issued the following statement today:
โLast week, Pennsylvania suffered a heartbreaking tragedy. Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr. was killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop involving a truck driver who was in the country illegally. Trooper Pahira represented the very best of our Commonwealth, dedicating his life to serving his family, his community, and the people of Pennsylvania.
โWe remain committed to the safety of our law enforcement officers and every Pennsylvanian. That is why we must strengthen our laws and oversight governing non-domiciled Commercial Driverโs Licenses to enhance commercial vehicle safety and help protect lives across our Commonwealth.
โAs Pennsylvania mourns the loss of Trooper Michael Pahira, we lift up his family, friends, and fellow law enforcement officers in our prayers and honor his faithful service and sacrifice.โ
