|
||||
|
In this Update:
Shannock Valley Community Festival Parade
It was wonderful to see so many people last week at the annual Shannock Valley Community Festival Parade! The festival in Rural Valley began in 1989 and is a great 3-day event celebrating many community organizations, performers & vendors. Thank you to all the volunteers & participants who coordinate and keep the festival running each year! Modernizing Small Games of Chance Law Legislation was unanimously passed by the PA Senate to modernize the small games of chance law to allow non-profit organizations to accept online payments for their fundraising efforts, such as raffles. Senate Bill 416 was introduced by Senator Devlin Robinson and would allow charitable organizations to accept electronic payments — such as credit cards, debit cards and online platforms like PayPal or Venmo — for raffle tickets. Under current law, nonprofits are limited to accepting only cash or checks for these transactions, which has made it harder to raise funds in today’s increasingly cashless society. Similar legislation has already been approved in at least 25 other states. The bill has been sent to the House of Representatives. Video from Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Summit Interview
Here is the video of my interview with Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, during last week’s inaugural AI Summit held in Pittsburgh and hosted by Senator Dave McCormick! This event was an incredible opportunity for Pennsylvania to welcome leaders from around the world in the energy sector, artificial intelligence field, global investors, labor & industry representatives and government officials to discuss the tremendous potential we have to power the AI revolution. We are extremely fortunate to have God-given natural resources along with the manpower to be a leading destination for our nation’s energy needs and cutting-edge technological advancements. Bill to Expand Body Camera Use for Law Enforcement Passes Senate
To boost safety and accountability, the Senate passed legislation to expand the use of body-worn cameras to additional law enforcement personnel. The measure was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 520 authorizes the use of body cameras by special agents with the Office of Attorney General, rangers with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and officers and deputies with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission. The bill also modernizes the legal framework for body camera usage to ensure consistency in how footage is recorded and managed, regardless of the department using it. New Law Protects Users of Virtual Currency
We passed a new law to protect the increasing number of Pennsylvanians using virtual currency, such as Bitcoin. Act 7 of 2025 requires transmission of virtual currency to be treated similar to money transmission under state law. As more citizens use virtual currencies, the criminal element has increasingly focused on using this platform to evade prosecution. Pennsylvania will join 26 other states regulating virtual currency under their money transmitter acts so individuals can engage with virtual currencies at their own discretion with consumer safeguards in place. Nature Photo Contest Accepting Entries
Do you like to tell stories through photographs? The Susquehanna Greenway Photo Contest is accepting submissions through July 31. The contest focuses on life along the Susquehanna River through four categories: Recreation, Transportation, River Towns and Wildlife. Winners receive cash prizes and recognition in a traveling gallery. Find details and submission information here. You can view the stunning photographs from last year’s winners here. Flooded Roads: Turn Around, Don’t Drown
More than half of flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into flood water. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars. Please play it safe and don’t drive around barricades on flooded roads. Never willingly walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn around, don’t drown. Celebrate National Ice Cream Month with PA Creameries
With nearly 5,000 dairy farms, Pennsylvania ranks third nationally in ice cream production. You can make your summer sweeter by visiting PA creameries through Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail. The trail connects dairy farm families and ice cream lovers at 52 destinations statewide. Travelers can plan their adventures, learn about participating creameries and accumulate redeemable points by visiting trail stops and making purchases. Find a list of participating creameries, their features and sign-up information here.
If you are not already subscribed to this newsletter please sign up here. |
||||
|
||||
Want to change how you receive these emails? 2025 © Senate of Pennsylvania | https://senatorpittman.com | Privacy Policy |
