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In this Update:

• Welcoming Purchase Line Students to the Senate 
• Pennsylvania Association of Boroughs 
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Senate Acts to Strengthen Property Rights
• School Bus Driver Safety Bill Approved by Senate
• Senate Passes Bill to Establish Animal Abuser Registry
• Measures Helping Nonprofit Fundraising Efforts Approved by Senate

Welcoming Purchase Line Students to the Senate

I had the distinct honor and privilege of introducing a group of high school students from Purchase Line School District during Senate Session on Wednesday. The students were accompanied by their teacher, Mrs. Melinda Knapp.

I am a proud Purchase Line alumnus, and it was a great honor to welcome this group to the Pennsylvania Senate.

Pennsylvania Association of Boroughs

Thank you to Chris Yanoff for stopping by my office on Tuesday during his trip to the State Capitol.

Chris is the Manorville Borough Council President and Member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Association of Boroughs, representing Armstrong County. It was great to see him in Harrisburg, and I appreciated our discussion about local and state government issues!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The Capitol Fountain in Harrisburg has been turned pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s an annual reminder of our support and encouragement for those impacted by breast cancer.

Pennsylvania’s Act 1 of 2023 was a first-of-its-kind-in-the-nation comprehensive breast cancer screening bill, which was unanimously passed by the PA Senate and has been making a difference for the last three years. The legislation was introduced by Sens. Kim Ward, Devlin Robinson, and Tracy Pennycuick, who have all been tremendous advocates for improving lifesaving coverage.

Last year, thanks to the work of Sen. Frank Farry, we also passed Senate Bill 88 (Act 52 of 2025) to further update breast cancer screening coverage, building upon the work of Act 1, in order to help better diagnose, treat, and save the lives of those who will be affected by breast cancer.

Help us spread the word – Early Detection Saves Lives!

Senate Acts to Strengthen Property Rights

Property rights are enshrined in both the U.S. and the Pennsylvania constitutions, and the Senate approved legislation to strengthen protections against warrantless entry onto private property by Pennsylvania Game Commission personnel.

Senate Bill 1431 would require Game Commission personnel to obtain a valid warrant before entering private property, including posted land, unless a judicially recognized exception to the warrant requirement applies.

Current law gives Game Commission personnel broad authority to enter land outside buildings, whether posted or otherwise. Senate Bill 1431 would place clear limits on that authority while preserving recognized exceptions to the warrant requirement. Read more about the effort to strengthen property rights.

School Bus Driver Safety Bill Approved by Senate

Approximately 1.5 million children are transported on school buses every day in Pennsylvania, and the Senate approved legislation aimed at keeping reckless bus drivers from getting behind the wheel.

Senate Bill 1262 would increase penalties for school bus drivers who transport children while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance or a dangerous combination of both. Read more about this school bus safety measure.

The latest Senate action follows passage last year of Senate Bill 65, which would increase the required stopping distance for drivers approaching from the opposite direction when a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing. Both bills await passage in the House of Representatives.

Senate Passes Bill to Establish Animal Abuser Registry

The Senate approved Senate Bill 1311, known as Aimee’s Law, to help prevent convicted abusers from obtaining more animals by establishing a statewide animal abuser registry. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

People selling, transferring or offering dogs, cats or horses for adoption would be required to check the registry, which would be maintained by Pennsylvania State Police, and refuse placement with anyone listed. These requirements will help shelters, rescues and others placing animals in new homes identify convicted abusers before another animal is put at risk.

The legislation is named after a six-month-old husky found abandoned in a crate beneath a bridge in Erie during subzero temperatures. She was severely underweight, covered in filth and suffering from frostbite on all four paws. Despite the rescuers’ efforts to save her, Aimee did not survive. Read more about Aimee’s Law.

Measures Helping Nonprofit Fundraising Efforts Approved by Senate 

The Senate approved two bills to give a boost to civic organizations, fire companies, veterans’ groups and other Pennsylvania nonprofits that rely on small games of chance for crucial fundraising.  

Under current law, clubs and organizations are limited to awarding no more than $35,000 in prizes from small games of chance each week. That cap has not been updated since 2013, despite inflation and the rising costs of programs these organizations fund. 

Senate Bill 995 would raise the weekly limit to $60,000, ensuring local groups can continue generating the revenue they rely on to support vital community programs and services. Read more about this bill.  

Senate Bill 465 would allow licensed clubs to retain up to 50% of their small games of chance proceeds, up from the current 40%. Clubs would continue to be required to use at least 50% of proceeds for public interest purposes. The change would provide clubs with more flexibility to cover operating costs while continuing to support their communities. Read more about this measure.

The bills were sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.