View this email in a browser

In this Update:

• Giving Rural Hospitals Another Option to Keep Care Local
• Department of Health Withdraws Overbearing Health Regulations After Public Outcry
• Senate Bill Protecting Children from Harmful AI Chats Needs House Action
• Nicholson Bridge Day
• Suicide Prevention Month Raises Awareness and Spreads Hope
• Garrity Announces $1,000 Bonus for Families’ Education Savings
• Luzerne County Fair Closes Out 2026 Season
• Certified Veteran-Owned Businesses Gain New Opportunities

Giving Rural Hospitals Another Option to Keep Care Local

I recently introduced legislation to establish a state license category for Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH), giving eligible rural hospitals in Pennsylvania another option to sustain emergency and outpatient care in the face of an ever-challenging operating climate.

Senate Bill 1454 would allow a Critical Access Hospital or a rural hospital with 50 or fewer beds to convert to a federally designated REH. Rural hospitals are critical infrastructure for the communities they serve, but financial pressures, workforce shortages and other challenges continue to threaten their ability to maintain inpatient services. We cannot wait until a hospital is on the verge of closing to start looking for solutions. We need to give rural providers options that allow them to adapt while keeping essential healthcare services available close to home.

Every rural hospital closure has consequences that extend far beyond the hospital itself. When a hospital closes, patients may have to travel farther for care, communities can lose healthcare providers and local economies can be affected. Senate Bill 1454 provides another pathway for rural hospitals to consider and could help preserve access to care for the Pennsylvanians who depend on these facilities.

Department of Health Withdraws Overbearing Health Regulations After Public Outcry

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Department of Health (DOH) withdrew proposed health regulations that would vastly expand state government’s power over the lives of Pennsylvanians, a tremendous victory for the grassroots efforts of Pennsylvanians. 

The proposed regulations would have given the state more power to enter homes and businesses without a warrant, speak to students without parents present, access private health records, unilaterally impose mask mandates and more. The DOH introduced the massive, 502-page regulatory overhaul without input from the public or the General Assembly. 

Shortly before the regulations were withdrawn, thousands of citizens, school officials, legislators and others submitted comments to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) expressing their serious concerns. 

I signed onto this letter to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission and submitted my own comments warning the changes would infringe on constitutional rights.

Senate Bill Protecting Children from Harmful AI Chats Needs House Action

It’s critical that our commonwealth establish commonsense safeguards for children increasingly interacting with AI chatbots. The Senate overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation to do just that back in March, but the House of Representatives has yet to consider it.

Senate Bill 1090 would require robust, age-appropriate safeguards to prevent content generation that encourages self-harm, suicide or violence against others, and directs users to appropriate crisis resources whenever high-risk language is detected.

In recent years, vulnerable individuals, including minors, have used AI chatbots to cope with trauma, depression and anxiety, only to have chatbot responses allegedly contribute to deaths by suicide. I urge the House to pass this bill so it can be enacted before the year is out. Read more about this important measure.

Nicholson Bridge Day

The Nicholson Women’s Club recently hosted the 111^thanniversary celebration of the Nicholson Bridge, also known as the Tunkhannock Viaduct. The event featured musical stage performances, more than seventy vendors, the Mountain View High School Band, basket raffles, a wide variety of food, and the famous chicken barbecue. It was wonderful to spend the day with the community and celebrate a remarkable landmark that continues to shape the town and its history.

Suicide Prevention Month Raises Awareness and Spreads Hope

Suicide Prevention Month is a time to raise awareness, spread hope and encourage discussion of a difficult topic.

Warning signs of suicide include:

• Comments about suicide
• Increased alcohol and drug use
• Aggressive behavior
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Dramatic mood swings
• Impulsive or reckless behavior

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has more information about risk factors.

The 988 Lifeline provides free and confidential support over call, text or chat for people in distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Empathetic, trained professionals provide prevention and crisis resources for you or someone you know.

Garrity Announces $1,000 Bonus for Families’ Education Savings

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity is giving families with qualified PA 529 College and Career Saving Program Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) accounts a $1,000 bonus contribution, enhancing education savings for about 107,000 Pennsylvania families.

The bonus is being paid for through surplus dollars in the GSP Fund. PA 529 GSP savers with at least a $1,000 account balance, or those with at least a $100 balance with contributions made since 2022, as of July 31, 2026, are eligible for this bonus deposit. Account owners will see this deposit reflected in their third quarter statement.

The PA 529 GSP allows families to save at today’s tuition rates to cover tomorrow’s tuition costs with account growth dependent on tuition inflation. For more information, visit the PA 529 website.

Luzerne County Fair Closes Out 2026 Season

The Luzerne County Fair closed out the 2026 season in the 20^th Senatorial District with five days of rides, games, food, entertainment, agricultural exhibits, and plenty of classic fair fun for the whole family. A heartfelt thank you to the volunteers whose hard work and dedication made this year’s fair a standout celebration. 

Certified Veteran-Owned Businesses Gain New Opportunities

Pennsylvania veteran-owned small businesses that get certified can be listed on a state database, opening doors to state contracting opportunities.

To qualify for certification, businesses must be at least 51% veteran-owned, meet “small business” revenue and size standards, and hold a valid third-party certification.

The state does not certify a business as veteran owned; it only verifies it. Find out how to obtain certification and third-party verification at the Department of General Services.