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In this Update:

• Bill to Strengthen School Bus Safety Now Law
• Remember to Vote! Election Day is Tues., Nov. 3
• PA House Needs to Act to Protect Pennsylvania Communities
• New Law Means PA Schools Will Be Cellphone-Free 
• Ensuring Sexual Assault Survivors Get Justice
• Making Education More Affordable
• Bringing Dollars Back to Communities for Local Road Projects
• Hankins Pond Park and Conservation Area Open in Wayne County
• Celebrating 30 Years of Faithful and Devoted Service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
• Affordable Senior Housing at Henry Meadows
• Making a Difference with Breast Cancer

Bill to Strengthen School Bus Safety Now Law

Legislation I authored to strengthen school bus safety was signed by the governor. Every child deserves to get to and from school safely, and motorists have a responsibility to stop when a school bus is loading or unloading students.

Senate Bill 65 — now Act 89 of 2026 — strengthens Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law by increasing the required stopping distance from 10 feet to 15 feet when a school bus is stopped with its red signal lights flashing and side stop arm activated. It also establishes enhanced penalties for repeat offenders, addressing a gap in current law that does not provide increased punishment for those with second or subsequent violations. 

PennDOT’s Automated School Bus Enforcement Program recorded 76,413 violations in 2024, compared with 24,085 in 2023. While expanded automated enforcement contributed to the increase in documented violations, the numbers demonstrate the ongoing challenge of ensuring motorists stop for school buses. In addition to stronger penalties, Act 89 expands school bus safety education by assigning new responsibilities to PennDOT and school districts. Read more here

Remember to Vote! Election Day is Tues., Nov. 3

Tuesday, Nov. 3 is Election Day, your chance to weigh in on state and federal elections.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For those voting by mail, county election offices must receive completed ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Find your polling place and other voter information here.

PA House Needs to Act to Protect Pennsylvania Communities

In March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the state’s mandatory life-without-parole sentence for second-degree murder is unconstitutional. The court gave the General Assembly until July 24 to enact a new rule. The Senate passed legislation to protect our communities and fix the problem – twice.

Instead of acting on our bipartisan Senate Bill 1400, the House of Representatives advanced a proposal tied to expanding medical parole, creating additional opportunities – without proper guardrails – for convicted felons to be released before completing their sentences.

Senate Bill 1400 is supported by Attorney General Dave Sunday, PA State Lodge FOP, PA State Troopers Association and district attorneys across the commonwealth. It has languished in the House Judiciary Committee since June. Second‑degree murder is an extremely serious crime, and the House needs to act so these criminals remain behind bars.

New Law Means PA Schools Will Be Cellphone-Free 

Pennsylvania teachers will no longer have to compete with smartphones for their students’ attention – and kids will be able to get through the school day without the constant pressure of social media and notifications – with bipartisan passage of a new law requiring schools to adopt policies prohibiting student cellphone use during the school day.

Act 117 of 2026 includes limited exceptions, such as students with individualized education plans and special occasions such as field days. It establishes a clear statewide standard, while allowing school districts, which have direct contact with parents, to decide what works best for their communities.  

The law will take effect with the 2027-28 school year. Pennsylvania joins 40 states in restricting these devices – 19 of which have school-day bans. Read more about the effect of cellphones in schools.

Ensuring Sexual Assault Survivors Get Justice

Obtaining justice for sexual assault survivors requires timely processing of rape kit evidence, and I joined colleagues in making it a priority to improve and standardize rape kit testing.

Previously, state law allowed local law enforcement agencies to determine whether a sexual assault evidence kit should undergo DNA testing or other forensic analysis, creating the potential for inconsistent practices across the commonwealth. We passed a new law eliminating such discretion. Read more about Act 106 of 2026.

In addition, a law we passed in 2024 established a rape kit evidence tracking system, allowing survivors to track the status of their rape kits throughout the testing process. After operating as a pilot program in three counties, it will launch statewide in December.

To better care for victims, we included a $12 million increase for rape crisis centers in the current state budget. Prosecuting perpetrators of these heinous crimes should be pursued vigorously, and we’ve made significant changes to ensure just that.  

Making Education More Affordable

An affordable and thorough education allows young Pennsylvanians to find success and lay down roots while filling in-demand jobs here in the commonwealth – without the burden of heavy debt. In addition to funding K-12 and higher education during the current legislative session, I supported initiatives that:

• Expanded the Grow PA Scholarships by $10 million to provide grants to students pursuing higher education for in-demand fields, provided they agree to stay and work in Pennsylvania after graduation.
• Expanded the state’s popular Educational Improvement Tax Credit program by $50 million to support more school choice opportunities for families in disadvantaged schools.
• Expanded the Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program to increase access to dual credit opportunities in underserved and rural communities.
• Expanded access to education and training by establishing the Nurse Education Capacity Expansion Grant Program, providing targeted support to accredited nursing schools across Pennsylvania.

Affordability in education benefits students, parents, employers and communities. I’ll continue working to lower the cost of education and increase student access to promising careers.

Bringing Dollars Back to Communities for Local Road Projects

When we learned PennDOT was sitting on millions of dollars that should be spent on local infrastructure, my Senate colleagues and I used state budget negotiations to free this money up for road projects across the commonwealth.

PennDOT agreed to release an additional $775 million from the Motor License Fund for local road projects only, not interstates, which are funded elsewhere.

We fought to secure these funds because local road improvements mean safer travel with less congestion and improved transportation infrastructure that supports the economy and job creation. List of Rapid Deployment Transportation Projects

Hankins Pond Park and Conservation Area Open in Wayne County

It was a beautiful day to join Wayne County officials and community members for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Hankins Pond Park and Conservation Area following a $1.9 million rehabilitation project. Originally constructed in the early 1830s by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, the historic dam underwent rehabilitation that improved safety while preserving its character.

Once slated for demolition, I was pleased to with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Wayne County Commissioners, and Representative Jon Fritz to identify an alternative plan. The site will now be maintained as a public park featuring walking trails, a pavilion, a comfort station, and upgraded road access. Visitors can enjoy wildlife, hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and other outdoor recreational activities for years to come.

Celebrating 30 Years of Faithful and Devoted Service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

I take great pleasure in honoring an individual who provided St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with 30 years of faithful and devoted service and moral leadership. Our places of worship are indispensable in creating strong and livable communities, so Pastor Charlie Grube’s tremendous spiritual leadership has been a blessing. I have had the privilege of knowing him and his wife, Jean, since our children played youth sports together. We offer them our very best wishes as they enjoy this new chapter. 

Affordable Senior Housing at Henry Meadows

It was an honor to join Henry Meadows for their open house and ribbon cutting ceremony. This $11.9 million Trehab Housing development was established to meet the increasing demand for affordable housing across the organization’s multi-county service region. This affordable senior housing community offers a convenient location and a variety of amenities designed to support comfortable, independent living while fostering a strong sense of community for residents.

Making a Difference with Breast Cancer

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2026 comes to a close, here are a few ideas to take action all year long in your community:

Make mammograms part of the conversation
Make sure annual screenings are on the calendar for you and your loved ones. If you need information about how to access a no-cost mammogram, contact the PA Breast Cancer Coalition at 800-377-8828 or PABreastCancer.org.

Know your risk
Many factors can include your risk of developing breast cancer including your age, family history, dense breast tissue, genetics and prior radiation therapy. Talk to your relatives about any breast cancer in your family and discuss your personal risk with your healthcare provider.

Host a Friends Like Me Care Package donation drive
The PA Breast Cancer Coalition provides free, customized care packages to Pennsylvanians newly diagnosed with breast cancer and to those facing Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Each package includes helpful resources, small gifts and thoughtful items designed to remind patients they are not alone. Join with friends to collect much-needed items from the PBCC’s Amazon wish list and help ensure no one fights alone. Learn more at the coalition’s website.

Support research
Consider supporting the outstanding Pennsylvania researchers working toward a future without breast cancer. Every contribution helps researchers pursue new discoveries, improve treatment options and work toward better outcomes for patients and families.