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In this Update:

• New Bipartisan State Budget Protects Taxpayers
• Honoring Fallen State Trooper Michael Pahira
• Putting Whole Milk Back in PA Schools
• My Bill to Remove Employment Barriers for Cosmetologists Signed into Law
• FIFA World Cup Boosts PA’s Economy

New Bipartisan State Budget Protects Taxpayers

I supported a state budget that doesn’t raise taxes. This was the most important vote we’ll cast this year.  The final agreement negotiated by the Senate and the House cut more than $1.1 billion from the governor’s spending request and does not require any withdrawals from the Rainy-Day Fund.

The Senate reduced more than a billion dollars in overspending from the Department of Human Services, including several areas of waste, fraud and abuse which I identified.   The agreement requires PennDOT to deploy an additional $775 million for local highway repairs. Schools in Carbon, Luzerne and Schuylkill counties received significant funding increases.

The final agreement was approved by a bipartisan vote of 44-6 in the Senate. Read my full statement here.

Honoring Fallen State Trooper Michael Pahira

Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira was recently laid to rest after losing his life during a routine vehicle inspection on I-81 in Cass Township. Many members of the Schuylkill County community took the time to pay their respects to his service and sacrifice.

To honor his memory, Rep. Tim Twardzik and I will introduce legislation to designate Exit 119 on I-81 as PSP Trooper Michael E. Pahira, Jr. Memorial Interchange. Read more about this measure here.

I also joined our Senate leadership’s statement calling for stronger laws and oversight governing non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses to enhance safety and protect lives. Many different media accounts have noted that the driver who killed Trooper Pahira was in our country illegally and had a non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s License from Massachusetts. Read the full statement here.

Putting Whole Milk Back in PA Schools

I recently introduced Senate Bill 1362, the Milk Dispensary School Pilot Program. This bill follows the enactment of the federal Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act which allows whole milk to be served in schools again.

My bill would direct the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to award grants to schools for the purchase of bulk whole milk dispensers, promoting both student nutrition and environmental sustainability. All milk used in the program would be required to be sourced from Pennsylvania, a win for our local dairy farmers. Read more about my bill here.

My Bill to Remove Employment Barriers for Cosmetologists Signed into Law

My legislation to streamline licensing for the cosmetology workforce has been signed into law by the Governor, a major step in addressing Pennsylvania’s ongoing workforce shortages.

With salons and small businesses across Pennsylvania struggling to find enough licensed professionals, this new law will make it far easier for experienced cosmetologists to continue their careers.  There is no reason why a cosmetologist in good standing should need to start from scratch just because they crossed a state border. This bipartisan law cuts through bureaucracy and supports employers who are desperate for qualified workers

Act 43 of 2026 authorizes Pennsylvania to join the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, an interstate agreement that makes it easier for licensed cosmetologists — who provide treatments for hair, skin and nails — to obtain a multistate license and work in participating states without unnecessary red tape. The bill also ensures cosmetology professionals in active-duty military families face no burdensome licensure requirements in compact states.

With the Governor’s signature, Pennsylvania becomes the 13th state to enter the compact, joining neighboring states Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware.

FIFA World Cup Boosts PA’s Economy

It’s been a while since my days as a “soccer dad” cheering for my son and daughter at countless sites across northeastern Pennsylvania, but that didn’t stop me from cheering loudly in front of my TV for the U.S.A. at each World Cup match until the disappointing final minutes of our 4-1 loss to Belgium.

Look at these statistics to see how much the World Cup has already contributed to Pennsylvania’s economy:

• Over 400,000 people from over 190 countries attended the six Philadelphia matches, including five sold out crowds.
• 55,000 hot dogs, 290,000 beers, 46,000 soft pretzels, 37,000 servings of crab fries and 26,500 cheesesteaks were sold.
• 20,000 pounds of food were distributed to local foodbanks.

Don’t be surprised when you see me kicking a soccer ball to my two young grandchildren in my yard. It’s NEVER too soon!