September 28, 2026 · 6,092 words · 1 speakers · 20 segments
The time of recess having expired, the Senate will come to order.
Senator Lindsey Williams and Senator Muth have returned, and their temporary Capitol leaves are cancelled.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana, Senator Pittman. Senator PITTMAN. Mr. President, I request a recess of the Senate for the purpose of a meeting of the Committee on Transportation, which will be held immediately off the floor in the Rules room.
For the purpose of a meeting of the Committee on Transportation, to be held off the floor immediately in the Rules room, without objection, the Senate stands in recess. SB 1368 (Pr. No. 1774) -- The Senate proceeded to consideration of the bill, entitled:
The time of recess having expired, the Senate will come to order. An Act prohibiting nudification applications from being offered on online application marketplaces; and prescribing penalties.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana, Senator Pittman. Senator PITTMAN. Mr. President, I request temporary Capitol leaves for Senator Argall and Senator Martin.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Allegheny, Senator Costa. Senator COSTA. Mr. President, I request temporary Capitol leaves for Senator Comitta and Senator Boscola.
Senator Pittman requests temporary Capitol leaves for Senator Argall and Senator Martin. Senator Costa requests temporary Capitol leaves for Senator Comitta and Senator Boscola. Without objection, the leaves will be granted. SB 49 (Pr. No. 1805) -- The Senate proceeded to consideration of the bill, entitled: An Act establishing the Cannabis Control Board; providing for powers and duties of the Cannabis Control Board; establishing the Cannabis Regulation Fund; providing for permits and for dispensing cannabis to patients and caregivers; and making repeals. Upon motion of Senator PITTMAN, and agreed to by voice vote, the bill was laid on the table. SB 49 TAKEN FROM THE TABLE Senator PITTMAN. Mr. President, I move that Senate Bill No. 49, Printer's No. 1805, be taken from the table and placed on the Calendar. The motion was agreed to by voice vote.
The bill will be placed on the Calendar. HB 78, SB 127, SB 535, SB 536, SB 738, HB 852, HB 853, SB 890, SB 923, SB 1061, SB 1262 and SB 1345 -- Without objection, the bills were passed over in their order at the request of Senator PITTMAN. Considered the third time and agreed to,
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Montgomery, Senator Pennycuick. Senator PENNYCUICK. Mr. President, as I rise in support of Senate Bill No. 1368, I ask my colleagues to imagine this scenario: your 13-year-old daughter comes home from school one afternoon, distraught. At first, what she tells you does not make any sense. Students are passing around images that appear to show your daughter naked and engaged in sexual acts, but none of it ever happened. The images are fake, and, yet, they look very real, and they are being shared from student to student as though they were real on such platforms as Snapchat. This is not some hypothetical scenario. It happened in Bucks County. It happened in Lancaster County. It is happening every single day in the Commonwealth, and it is made possible by apps designed for one purpose: to use artificial intelligence to digitally remove a person's clothing or place that person in a sexually explicit image with astonishing realism. What is happening to our minors is horrifying, and these same apps are being used to target adults, including coworkers, former intimate partners, and people in public life. The overwhelming majority of victims are women and girls. A peer-reviewed 2025 study of 20 popular nudification apps found that 19 of them, or 95 percent, explicitly specialized in digitally undressing women. Oxford researchers identified nearly 35,000 publicly downloadable deepfake models that have been downloaded almost 15 million times, and that 96 percent of those models targeted identifiable women. The images may be fake, but the humiliation is very real, the fear is very real, and the trauma is real. Senate Bill No. 1368 is Pennsylvania's answer. This legislation would prohibit the development or operation of nudification applications in the Commonwealth. It would also prevent online marketplaces, including app stores, from offering or distributing these applications to Pennsylvania users and require access to be disabled when they are reported. I applaud all the victims and their families who have found the courage to stand up, share their stories, and demand action. This bill only exists because of their advocacy. I respectfully ask my colleagues for an affirmative vote. Thank you, Mr. President. And the question recurring, The yeas and nays were taken agreeably to the provisions of the Constitution and were as follows, viz: YEA-49 Argall Baker Bartolotta Boscola Brooks Brown Cappelletti Coleman Collett Comitta Costa Culver Dush Farry Flynn Fontana Gebhard Haywood Hughes Hutchinson Kane Kearney Keefer Kim Langerholc Laughlin Malone Martin Mastriano Miller Muth Pennycuick Phillips-Hill Picozzi Pisciottano Pittman Robinson Rothman Santarsiero Saval Schwank Stefano Street Tartaglione Vogel Ward, Judy Ward, Kim Williams, Lindsey Yaw NAY-0 A constitutional majority of all the Senators having voted "aye," the question was determined in the affirmative. Ordered, That the Secretary of the Senate present said bill to the House of Representatives for concurrence. SEPTEMBER 28, Considered the second time and agreed to, Ordered, To be printed on the Calendar for third consideration. Upon motion of Senator PITTMAN, and agreed to by voice vote, the bill just considered was rereferred to the Committee on Appropriations. HB 1460 -- Without objection, the bill was passed over in its order at the request of Senator PITTMAN. HB 1541 (Pr. No. 3207) -- The Senate proceeded to consideration of the bill, entitled: An Act amending the act of July 9, 1970 (P.L.484, No.164), entitled "An act relating to indemnification agreements between architects, engineers or surveyors and owners, contractors, subcontractors or suppliers and indemnification agreements relating to snow removal or ice control services," providing for void and unenforceable provisions or terms in construction contracts; and making editorial changes. HB 1961 and HB 1972 -- Without objection, the bills were passed over in their order at the request of Senator PITTMAN. Upon motion of Senator PITTMAN, and agreed to by voice vote, the bill was laid on the table. HB 1541 TAKEN FROM THE TABLE Senator PITTMAN. Mr. President, I move that House Bill No. 1541, Printer's No. 3207, be taken from the table and placed on the Calendar. The motion was agreed to by voice vote.
The bill will be placed on the Calendar. SB 406 and SB 599-- Without objection, the bills were passed over in their order at the request of Senator PITTMAN. SB 720 (Pr. No. 1806) -- The Senate proceeded to consideration of the bill, entitled: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, providing for initial vision examination. Without objection, the bill was passed over in its order at the request of Senator PITTMAN. Pursuant to Senate Rule 9, the bill was laid on the table. HB 1123, SB 1215, SB 1321 and SB 1346 -- Without objection, the bills were passed over in their order at the request of Senator PITTMAN. SB 1410 (Pr. No. 1864) -- The Senate proceeded to consideration of the bill, entitled: An Act prohibiting certain terms in procurement contracts entered into by Commonwealth parties. HB 1600 (Pr. No. 1944) -- The Senate proceeded to consideration of the bill, entitled: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in departmental powers and duties as to supervision, providing for Keystone STARS Program; and, in departmental powers and duties as to licensing, further providing for fees, providing for Keystone STARS Program and further providing for definition. Without objection, the bill was passed over in its order at the request of Senator PITTMAN. Pursuant to Senate Rule 9, the bill was laid on the table. HB 2299 (Pr. No. 3019) -- The Senate proceeded to consideration of the bill, entitled: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in wiretapping and electronic surveillance, further providing for definitions; and, in recordings by law enforcement officers, further providing for definitions. Considered the second time and agreed to, Ordered, To be printed on the Calendar for third consideration. Upon motion of Senator PITTMAN, and agreed to by voice vote, the bill just considered was rereferred to the Committee on Appropriations. SR 332 (Pr. No. 1782) A Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study and issue a report on the cost to the Commonwealth associated with the defrayal of health insurance benefit mandates under the Affordable Care Act. Pursuant to Senate Rule 9, the requisite time for action having expired, the resolution was laid on the table. Senator MARTIN, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported the following bills: SB 478 (Pr. No. 1970) (Amended) (Rereported) An Act establishing the Office of Employee Ownership within the Department of Community and Economic Development; establishing the Employee Ownership Advisory Board; and providing technical and financial assistance to employee-owned enterprises. SB 980 (Pr. No. 1969) (Amended) (Rereported) An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, further providing for assistance to fire companies and EMS companies and for State Fire Commissioner and providing for protection against PFAS chemicals and for firefighting protective equipment; in grants to fire companies and emergency medical services companies, further providing for award of grants; and imposing penalties. SB 1299 (Pr. No. 1644) (Rereported) An Act providing for a tax credit for retrofitting residential high-rise structures with an automatic fire sprinkler system and associated monitoring or detection devices. HB 513 (Pr. No. 3733) (Rereported) An Act Amending Title 76 (Weights, Measures and Standards) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for Pennsylvania State Coordinate System, for notation requirements and for duties of State Geospatial Coordinating Board; and making a repeal. Senator BAKER, from the Committee on Judiciary, reported the following bills: SB 603 (Pr. No. 1971) (Amended) An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in computer offenses, providing for Internet protections for minors. HB 1098 (Pr. No. 1595) An Act amending the act of November 22, 1978 (P.L.1166, No.274), referred to as the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency Law, providing for Investigation and Prosecution of Internet Crimes Against Children Program. Senator JUDY WARD, from the Committee on Transportation, reported the following bills: SB 1217 (Pr. No. 1974) (Amended) An act designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 7591, carrying State Route 2043 over the SEPTA West Trenton Line, Bensalem Township, Bucks County, as the Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth O. Hunter Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 30666, on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 309 over the Little Schuylkill River, Tamaqua Borough, Schuylkill County, as the PFC David L. Verbilla, USMC Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 47656, on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 309 over the Little Schuylkill River, Tamaqua Borough, Schuylkill County, as the CPL Howard Arthur Donald, USMC Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 30656, on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 209 East Broad Street over the Little Schuylkill River, Tamaqua Borough, Schuylkill County, as the Sergeant Franklin Eugene Hosler Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 30696, on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 443 over the Keenigs Creek, East Brunswick Township, Schuylkill County, as the Specialist Gary George Geiger Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 5845, carrying 8th Street over the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks in the City of Altoona, Blair County, as the PFC Ronald and CPL Thomas Kustaborder Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 53671, carrying U.S. Business Route 220 over Sandy Run in Logan Township, Blair County, as the Kutz Brothers Veterans Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 5672, carrying State Route 1001, Valley View Boulevard, over Brush Run between Jaggard Street and South 16th Street in the City of Altoona, Blair County, as the S.W. Neal Family WWII Veterans Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 41558, carrying Pennsylvania Route 164, Johnstown Road, over South Dry Run between Baird Lane and Gates Lane in Freedom Township, Blair County, as the Hazenstab Family Veterans Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 67831, carrying Pennsylvania Route 913 over Great Trough Creek in the Village of Robertsdale, Wood Township, Huntingdon County, as the Robertsdale Area Veterans Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 53911, carrying U.S. Route 222 over Cedar Creek in Allentown, Lehigh County, as the Mayor William L. Heydt Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 19237, carrying State Route 1018, over a tributary of Dixon Run in Green Township, Indiana County, as the US Army SSGT James D. Rushton Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 19080, carrying Pennsylvania Route 259 over Laurel Run in Cherryhill Township, Indiana County, as the Marine Corps SSGT Michael A. Geneva Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 42251, carrying Pennsylvania Route 61 over the Shamokin Creek in Mount Carmel Borough, Northumberland County, as the Veterans Viaduct; designating a portion of Blakely Street, State Route 6011 and Pennsylvania Route 347, from the intersection with Pine Street to the intersection with Drinker Street in Dunmore Borough, Lackawanna County, as Staff Sergeant Steven R. Tudor Memorial Highway; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 45346, carrying Pennsylvania Route 653 over Buffalo Creek in Garrett Borough, Somerset County, as the Corporal Harold L. Gray Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 46384, carrying Galloway Road over Interstate 276 in Bensalem Township, Bucks County, as the Sgt. John J. Bonk, Jr., Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 7041, carrying Pennsylvania Route 513 over Neshaminy Creek in Hulmeville Borough, Bucks County, as the Corporal Robert Lee Clampffer Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 22595, located on that portion of U.S. Route 22 in East Hanover Township, Lebanon County, over Pennsylvania Route 934 as the CW5 John Michael Travers Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 16676, carrying Pennsylvania Route 381 over Meadow Run in the Borough of Ohiopyle, Fayette County, as the Paul T. Sucevic Memorial Bridge; designating the bridge, identified as Bridge Key 19033, located on northbound Pennsylvania Route 119 over Pennsylvania Route 286 in White Township, Indiana County, as the Specialist Five Timothy Rice Memorial Bridge; designating the bridge, identified as Bridge Key 19034, located on southbound Pennsylvania Route 119 over Pennsylvania Route 286 in White Township, Indiana County, as the Specialist Five Timothy Rice Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 53696, carrying Pennsylvania Route 913 over Shoup Run in the Village of Barnettstown, Carbon Township, Huntingdon County, as the Corporal Eldon "Bish" Neuder Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 19636, on that portion of U.S. Route 322 over the Mill Creek in Pine Creek Township, Jefferson County, as the PFC Walter Elwood "Barney" Martin Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 67845, on that portion of Pennsylvania Route 830 over Falls Creek in Falls Creek Borough, Jefferson County, as the PFC Norman P. Chittester Memorial Bridge; designating the interchange of Interstate 81 with State Route 4007, known as Exit 119, on the border of Cass Township and Butler Township, Schuylkill County, as the PSP Trooper Michael E. Pahira, Jr., Memorial Interchange; designating the bridges, identified as Bridge Keys 25048 and 25050, carrying Interstate 99 over Pennsylvania Route 973 in Lycoming Township, Lycoming County, as the Mark Murawski Memorial Bridge; designating a portion of State Route 3062 from the intersection with Lieds Road in West Bradford Township, Chester County, to the intersection with Ryan Boulevard in West Bradford Township, Chester County, as the Corporal Timothy J. O'Connor, Jr. Memorial Highway; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 15287, carrying State Route 2031 over Amtrak in Ridley Park Borough, Delaware County, as the Mayor Hank Eberle Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 48271, on that portion carrying State Route 0130 over Turtle Creek in Trafford Borough, Westmoreland County, as the Sergeant First Class Robert J. Fike Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 70551, carrying State Route 3013 over Blair Gap Run in Allegheny Township, Blair County, as the Lt. Col. Palmer Brown Memorial Bridge; designating a portion of Pennsylvania Route 73 from the Boyertown Borough/Colebrookdale Township Line in Colebrookdale Township, Berks County, to the intersection with Covered Bridge Road and Oysterdale Road in Oley Township, Berks County, as the Officer Kristen M. Yeager Memorial Highway; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 46807, on that portion of State Route 2007 over the South Fork Little Conemaugh River in Summerhill Township, Cambria County, as Army Specialist Four Anthony Michael Notich Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 47686, carrying U.S. Route 219 over the West Branch Susquehanna River in Susquehanna Township, Cambria County, as the Seaman First Class Paul Kephart Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 27860, carrying State Route 4038 over the Schuylkill River in Pottstown Borough, Montgomery County, as the Commander Job W. Price Memorial Bridge; designating the roundabout on Pennsylvania Route 415 at the intersection of Main Street and Lake Street in Dallas Borough, Luzerne County, as the Charles D. Lemmond, Jr., Memorial Roundabout; designating a portion of Wyoming Avenue, U.S. Route 11, from the western border of Edwardsville Borough to the intersection with Church Street in Kingston Borough, Luzerne County, as the James J. Haggerty Memorial Highway; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 19239, carrying State Route 1019, also known as Valley Road, over Two Lick Creek in Green Township, Indiana County, as the Tec 5 John George Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 68471, carrying Pennsylvania Route 403 over Pine Run in Marion Center Borough, Indiana County, as the Sergeant Larry McManus Memorial Bridge; designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 70470, carrying State Route 2012, also known as River Road, over Blacklick Creek between Buffington and East Wheatfield Townships in Indiana County, as the Sgt. SOF Frank J. McCloskey Memorial Bridge; and making repeals. SB 1438 (Pr. No. 1906) An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in registration of vehicles, providing for Green Star Family plate. SEPTEMBER 28, Senator BAKER, from the Committee on Judiciary, reported the following resolution: SR 377 (Pr. No. 1963) A Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study on costs to crime victims regarding the impoundment and holding of their vehicles and other property as part of crime investigations and to issue a report of its findings to the Senate. The resolution will be placed on the Calendar. SUPPLEMENTAL CALENDAR No. 1 HB 513 (Pr. No. 3733) -- The Senate proceeded to consideration of the bill, entitled: An Act Amending Title 76 (Weights, Measures and Standards) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for Pennsylvania State Coordinate System, for notation requirements and for duties of State Geospatial Coordinating Board; and making a repeal. Considered the third time and agreed to, And the amendments made thereto having been printed as required by the Constitution, The yeas and nays were taken agreeably to the provisions of the Constitution and were as follows, viz: YEA-48 Argall Baker Bartolotta Boscola Brooks Brown Cappelletti Coleman Collett Comitta Costa Culver Dush Farry Flynn Fontana Gebhard Haywood Hughes Hutchinson Kane Kearney Keefer Kim Langerholc Laughlin Malone Martin Mastriano Miller Pennycuick Phillips-Hill Picozzi Pisciottano Pittman Robinson Rothman Santarsiero Saval Schwank Stefano Street Tartaglione Vogel Ward, Judy Ward, Kim Williams, Lindsey Yaw NAY-1 Muth A constitutional majority of all the Senators having voted "aye," the question was determined in the affirmative. Ordered, That the Secretary of the Senate return said bill to the House of Representatives with information that the Senate has passed the same with amendments in which concurrence of the House is requested. SB 980 (Pr. No. 1969) -- The Senate proceeded to consideration of the bill, entitled: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, further providing for assistance to fire companies and EMS companies and for State Fire Commissioner and providing for protection against PFAS chemicals and for firefighting protective equipment; in grants to fire companies and emergency medical services companies, further providing for award of grants; and imposing penalties. Will the Senate agree to the bill on third consideration? YAW AMENDMENT A4350 ADOPTED Senator YAW offered the following amendment No. A4350: The commissioner may grant a waiver authorizing an eligible applicant to use a loan under this subchapter for the purchase of personal protective equipment containing intentionally added PFAS, if the commissioner determines that no viable or reasonable PFAS-free alternative is currently available. terminal, storage facility or" in line 15 and all of line 16 and inserting: , combustible liquid or natural gas terminal, storage facility or distribution facility or electric generating facility using natural gas as the facility's primary fuel. Will the Senate agree to the amendment?
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Montgomery, Senator Muth. Senator MUTH. Mr. President, I am asking for a negative vote on this amendment, as it decreases the health standards that protect our firefighters. Legislation included in the recent Fiscal Code bill that was passed earlier this summer would be overturned if this amendment were to pass, and that language that my office had worked on with the Office of the [State] Fire Commissioner just was beginning to--the tip of the iceberg of the issue of firefighters using turnout gear that have been filled with PFAS forever chemicals, and during the Fiscal Code that passed, that language changed that to prohibit any loan funds to be used towards equipment that contain PFAS or PFOS forever chemicals. This amendment changes that and allows them to be purchased again, and with a waiver through the Office of the [State] Fire Commissioner, which my understanding is they are not supportive of this amendment. Many fire departments across the Commonwealth have been spending a lot of money through grants and other grants--even besides this grant and loan program--to update their equipment so that their firefighters are not basically cooking in PFAS chemicals while they are trying to put out a fire or respond to an emergency in the community. This forever chemical concoction that is often weaved into the fabric and the layers of turnout gear is a major cause of cancer, increasing cancer rates among firefighter individuals. And, you know, we ask our first responders to walk into all sorts of dangerous situations, and having our firefighters wearing equipment on that call that is literally killing them every time they wear it is just unacceptable. So, to revert this, I do not understand the maker of the amendment's rationale in that there is plenty of turnout gear available that actually is PFAS-free, despite many manufacturers, several actually, trying to say it is PFAS-free, and it is not. And there is litigation that has been ongoing over those larger corporate entities like 3M that has claimed PFAS-free turnout gear when, in fact, it was not. And, so, I think, at the bare minimum, what we could do to protect our firefighters is not to require them to wear, you know, turnout gear that essentially causes health harms that are irreversible, and there are other components of this amendment, including expanding the list of exemptions where PFAS firefighting foam can still be used, including places with liquid combustibles and power plants that are hydrocarbon or methane gas-based. And those exemptions would essentially make this bill very ineffective in terms of actually limiting PFAS contaminants from runoff into the waterways of the Commonwealth and into groundwater and soil, causing contamination, which is unfortunately quite common across the State. So, I urge a "no" vote on this amendment. Thank you, Mr. President.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Lycoming, Senator Yaw. Senator YAW. Mr. President, the comments about PFAS, it would be nice if we could totally eliminate it, but the facts of life are that PFAS does appear in certain forms and, in fact, in some respirators and equipment that firefighters use. And the amendment that we are talking about just gives the commissioner the authority to waive that, and when there is no other equipment available that does not have PFAS in it, that can be used and approved as a legitimate expenditure of funds and used in volunteer or any kind of firefighting equipment. So, I do not think that--as I said, it would be nice if PFAS could be totally eliminated, but it cannot be, and this just provides an exception to that in some parameters that it can be used as a waiver. And the question recurring, Will the Senate agree to the amendment? The yeas and nays were required by Senator YAW and were as follows, viz: YEA-27 Argall Baker Bartolotta Brooks Brown Coleman Culver Dush Farry Gebhard Hutchinson Keefer Langerholc Laughlin Martin Mastriano Pennycuick Phillips-Hill Picozzi Pittman Robinson Rothman Stefano Vogel Ward, Judy Ward, Kim Yaw NAY-22 Boscola Cappelletti Collett Comitta Costa Flynn Fontana Haywood Hughes Kane Kearney Kim Malone Miller Muth Pisciottano Santarsiero Saval Schwank Street Tartaglione Williams, Lindsey A majority of the Senators having voted "aye," the question was determined in the affirmative. Without objection, the bill, as amended, was passed over in its order. Senator BAKER. Mr. President, I move that the Senate do now proceed to consideration of all bills reported from committees for the first time at today's Session. The motion was agreed to by voice vote. The bills were as follows: SB 603, SB 1217, SB 1438 and HB 1098. And said bills having been considered for the first time, Ordered, To be printed on the Calendar for second consideration. The following announcements were read by the Secretary of the Senate: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 9:30 A.M. COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY Room 8E-A East Wing (to consider Senate Bill No. 1408) (LIVE STREAMED) 10:00 A.M. LAW AND JUSTICE (to consider Senate Bill 10:30 A.M. GAME AND FISHERIES (to consider Senate Room 461 Main Capitol Bills No. 1213 and 1431) Room 8E-B East Wing (LIVE STREAMED) Off the Floor APPROPRIATIONS (to consider Senate Bills Rules Committee Conference Room Off the Floor COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC AND Rules Committee Conference Room (to consider Senate Bills No. 330, 465 and 995; and House Bill No. 1424) Off the Floor JUDICIARY (to consider Senate Bill No. 1311) Rules Committee Conference Room Off the Floor LABOR AND INDUSTRY (to consider Senate Rules Committee Conference Room Bill No. 1328; and House Bill No. 2014) WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 10:30 A.M. INNOVATION (to consider Senate Bill No. 1403) Room 461 Main Capitol TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2026 10:00 A.M. EDUCATION (public hearing on reducedcredit baccalaureate degrees) Room 8E-A East Wing (LIVE STREAMED) SEPTEMBER 28,
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Philadelphia, Senator Tartaglione. Senator TARTAGLIONE. Mr. President, I offer the following remarks on minimum wage and ask that they be spread upon the record.
Pursuant to Senate Rule 10(e), the remarks will be submitted. (Pursuant to Senate Rule 10(e), the following prepared remarks were made part of the record at the request of the gentlewoman from Philadelphia, Senator TARTAGLIONE:) Mr. President, I rise today because it has been 7,387 days since Pennsylvania last raised its minimum wage. I hope my colleagues had an opportunity this summer to recharge and reflect, and I know, for one, that I am happy to be back and ready to keep discussing how to best support Pennsylvania workers. It is disappointing that we did not pass minimumwage legislation back in July when we passed the State budget, but I am hopeful that we are ready to stop waiting. Because, Mr. President, what are we really waiting for? Pennsylvania's minimum wage remains $7.25 an hour. It was $7.25 more than 20 years ago, and it is still $7.25 today. In those 20 years, our Commonwealth has changed. Everything that a family needs to get through the month costs more than it did two decades ago. But the paycheck of a minimum-wage worker has not kept up. Nearly 40 percent of Pennsylvania residents face financial hardship. More than 2 million people are struggling to make ends meet, and 1 in 7 Pennsylvanians struggle to put a meal on the table every day. Mr. President, I would also be remiss if I did not mention that the price of gas has skyrocketed, averaging at about $4.54 a gallon in Pennsylvania right now. Folks from every part of Pennsylvania, not just my district, are struggling. I have introduced legislation every Session to raise Pennsylvania's minimum wage because I believe that people who work hard every day should be able to support themselves and their families. A full day of honest work should provide enough for families to live, period. We have had countless opportunities to act, but here we are, back in Session without a minimum wage increase, and I will continue to bring this issue to the floor until we get one. Because $7.25 is not a reflection of what it costs to live in Pennsylvania today, and hardworking Pennsylvanians should not have to keep waiting for us to recognize that. Thank you, Mr. President.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Cambria, Senator Langerholc. Senator LANGERHOLC. Mr. President, in August, I had the privilege of attending the graduation ceremony for the inaugural class of the Motivational Boot Camp Program at SCI Houtzdale, where 24 individuals successfully completed the program. This program is demanding and rooted in accountability, rehabilitation, and personal development. Each graduate chose the more challenging path, embraced responsibility, worked through obstacles, and demonstrated that perseverance leads to meaningful progress. Their accomplishments reflect both personal strength and the value of a program designed to help participants succeed. This first class set a powerful example for future cohorts through their teamwork, focus, and commitment to self-improvement. The staff at Houtzdale played an essential role as well, providing guidance, encouragement, and the structure necessary for these individuals to thrive. The programmatic success of this inaugural class underscores the importance of these programs that are built on motivation, accountability, and personal growth. What I witnessed at that graduation was a clear reminder that real change is possible when people are given the tools and support to achieve it. Mr. President, I wish the graduates and the dedicated staff all the best in the days ahead, and I thank them for their participation and diligent work at that program. Thank you, Mr. President.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Northumberland, Senator Culver. Senator CULVER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize September 2026 as Histiocytosis Awareness Month in Pennsylvania. Histiocytosis is a general term for a group of rare disorders caused by an overproduction of white blood cells, known as histiocytes. These disorders can lead to serious complications, including organ damage and tumor formation. Our understanding of histiocytosis has advanced considerably over the past several decades. In 2016, the Histiocyte Society reorganized these disorders into five primary groups based on new research. That classification has helped create a common language for diagnosis and treatment and has supported greater international collaboration among researchers and medical professionals. Research during the past 15 to 20 years has also identified cancer-causing mutations in some of these disorders, leading the World Health Organization to classify certain forms as rare cancers known as histiocytic neoplasms. Despite this progress, histiocytic disorders remain extremely rare and are still not widely recognized or even understood within portions of the medical community. For patients and families affected by a rare disease, greater awareness can help improve understanding, encourage research, and connect individuals with information and support. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing September 2026 as Histiocytosis Awareness Month in Pennsylvania and in bringing greater attention to these rare disorders. Thank you, Mr. President.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Montgomery, Senator Pennycuick. Senator PENNYCUICK. Mr. President, today I rise to officially recognize Green Star Veterans and Family [Families] Day in Pennsylvania. Veterans of the United States Armed Forces serve our country with honor, courage, and unwavering commitment to protecting our freedoms and securing our national defense. Unfortunately, many veterans return home only to suffer from invisible wounds that are impacting their daily lives and are being linked to veteran suicide. These include posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and traumatic brain injury, which often intensify over time. Veteran suicides are occurring at an alarming rate in our country, but especially in our Commonwealth. Currently, there is no proper recognition for families who lost their loved one to suicide in connection with their military service. Green Star Veterans and Family [Families] Day will help to raise awareness for these families. Every veteran whose life ends as a result of their service deserves to be honored, and their families deserve the assurance that their loved ones' service, sacrifice, and memory will be respectfully preserved and recognized. Green Star Families of America have been working tirelessly to establish a federally recognized Green Star Service Banner to ensure families impacted by veteran suicide are seen, recognized, and honored. I am proud to join them in their efforts. I recently introduced Senate Resolution No. 355 to designate September 28, 2026, as Green Star Veterans and Family [Families] Day and to officially recognize the Green Star Service Banner. We have a responsibility to honor Green Star veterans and support the families who advocate for better understanding of service-related mental health challenges. I encourage my colleagues to join me in recognizing Green Star Veterans and Families Day by raising awareness of the unique challenges they face and reaffirming our commitment to supporting them through meaningful community engagement and public acknowledgment. Thank you, Mr. President.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Montgomery, Senator Pennycuick, for a second time. Senator PENNYCUICK. Mr. President, we are facing a mental health crisis in our country, one that affects both veterans and non-veteran adults. Unfortunately, veterans remain significantly more likely to take their own lives than a non-veteran. In 2023 alone, our nation lost 5,398 veterans to suicide. Here in Pennsylvania, we lost approximately 250 veterans every single year to suicide. These are not numbers; they are parents, children, friends, and neighbors. Their absence is felt deeply across every community in the Commonwealth. Many of these tragedies stem from invisible wounds that follow our veterans long after their service has ended. Conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, traumatic brain injury can profoundly affect their daily lives and greatly increase their chances of suicide. Veterans are 1 1/2 times more likely to die by suicide than nonveterans, and the risk for female veterans is 2.2 times higher. Beyond medical challenges, many veterans face societal hurdles that compound their struggles. Unemployment, homelessness, loneliness, and difficulties reintegrating into civilian life all contribute to an elevated suicide rate. These burdens should not fall solely on the shoulders of those who have already given so much to this great nation. As Pennsylvanians, we have a duty to support our veterans. Earlier today, I joined my Senate veteran colleagues in hosting a press conference recognizing Veteran Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. We were joined by Brigadier General Wenzel, Director of the Joint Staff for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and Jay Ostrich, Director of the Berks County Office of Veterans Affairs. Together, we reaffirmed our commitment to slowing the tragic number of veteran suicides in our Commonwealth. We also introduced Senate Resolution No. 359 to designate September of 2026 as Veteran Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. There is certainly more work to be done, but raising awareness is the crucial first step. I encourage all Pennsylvanians to reach out to the veterans in their lives and in their communities to continue to work to slow the rate of veteran suicide in Pennsylvania. If you are a veteran in crisis or are concerned about a veteran, free and confidential support is available by calling the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and then pressing 1. Thank you, Mr. President.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Cambria, Senator Langerholc. Senator LANGERHOLC. Mr. President, I move that the Senate do now recess until Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 1 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, unless sooner recalled by the President pro tempore. The motion was agreed to by voice vote. The Senate recessed at 5:18 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time.