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In this Update:
Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Queen Addresses Senate
This week, Emma Mihalko, the 2025 Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Queen, was honored in the Pennsylvania Senate, where she not only received formal recognition but also addressed the Senate chamber directly—an opportunity reserved for only a select few individuals, including the reigning Coal Queen. The daughter of Paul and Casey Mihalko, Emma is a recent graduate of Uniontown Area High School whose achievements reflect both academic excellence and a passion for performing arts. As Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Queen, she serves as an ambassador for the Commonwealth’s coal communities, especially those in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and she exemplifies the values of hard work, leadership and above all, service. Congratulations Emma! Senate Approves Sunshine Act Transparency Bill
Government works best when it operates openly and transparently. This week, Senate Bill 1150, legislation I sponsored with Sen. Jarrett Coleman, was unanimously approved by the Senate. The bill strengthens Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act by ensuring government agencies provide meaningful public notice before taking action on important matters, restoring transparency and accountability in the decision-making process. Pennsylvanians deserve to know what their government is discussing before votes are taken. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives. Senate Passes Bill to Fight Human Trafficking
Legislation to give investigators and prosecutors new tools to fight human trafficking in Pennsylvania was passed by the Senate. Senate Bill 45 will help local law enforcement agencies and the state attorney general investigate and prosecute human trafficking by increasing penalties for several related crimes, including promoting prostitution, promoting prostitution of a minor, exploiting prostitutes and patronizing prostitutes. The bill also consolidates crimes related to human trafficking within the Crimes Code, giving the attorney general concurrent jurisdiction so these crimes, which are frequently the basis for large-scale human trafficking organizations, can be prosecuted more effectively. It now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. If you believe you may have information about a trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. Read more about our latest action to combat human trafficking here. Bill Targeting Dangerous Fentanyl Additive Passes Senate
The Senate passed legislation to combat the increasing illicit use of the veterinary anesthesia medetomidine by regulating it as a Schedule III controlled substance. Senate Bill 866 provides law enforcement and public health officials with another tool to combat dangerous drug adulterants while including clear exemptions to ensure veterinarians can continue using the medication in the care and treatment of animals. Medetomidine has rapidly overtaken xylazine as a common adulterant in Pennsylvania’s illicit drug supply. While medetomidine was not detected in samples collected in early 2024, it was found in approximately 80% of adulterants sold as fentanyl in Pennsylvania by April 2026. The drug is estimated to be significantly more potent than xylazine and can cause severe cardiovascular complications, even after naloxone has been administered. The General Assembly passed legislation to make xylazine a Schedule III drug in 2024. The bill now advances to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about the measure here. PA Guard Military Family Education Program
As students begin preparing for the fall semester, Pennsylvania National Guard members are reminded their families could be eligible for assistance to offset the cost of higher education. The Military Family Education Program is for Guard members who completed an initial service obligation on or after July 1, 2019, and is eligible to reenlist in the PA National Guard for a period of six years. The grants can be used for a degree-granting or certificate-granting curriculum, course of study, or training program required for entrance into a specific career at an approved Pennsylvania institution of higher learning. Read more details and find applications here. Entries Accepted for PA Agriculture Photo Contest
Pennsylvania residents have until June 30 to submit entries in the 2026 Pennsylvania Agriculture Photo Contest. Submit up to four original photos highlighting the people, places, traditions and beauty of agriculture across our region or the commonwealth. Winning photos will be displayed in the Pennsylvania Capitol Complex during the first weeks of September. The categories are On the Farm, PA Fair Season, Agritourism, and Conservation. Click here for rules and how to submit your photos. National Cancer Survivors Month
There are more than 18.6 million people living with a history of cancer in the U.S. Each person diagnosed with cancer faces a unique set of challenges, but one in four survivors reports a poor physical quality of life, and many experience psychosocial challenges. If you are a cancer survivor or caregiver, you can find resources from the National Cancer Institute here that may help you enhance your health and well-being after a cancer diagnosis. They address emotional concerns, nutrition and physical activity, support services, follow-up medical care and testing for cancer. |
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