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In this Update:
- Community Facilities Awarded Competitive Grant to Purchase Laptops
- Big Boost for Water Systems in Fayette, Bedford
- State Budget Update
- Expanding Access to Lifesaving Naloxone, Making Prescription Drug Costs More Transparent
- New Law Will Improve Stroke Care Across PA
- Legislation to Address Pennsylvania’s Shortage of CPAs Signed into Law
- Watch Out for Scammers Posing as State Employees
- July is Independent Retailer Month
Community Facilities Awarded Competitive Grant to Purchase Laptops
This week, the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority awarded 380 laptops to public facilities in Bedford, Fayette and Somerset Counties. These laptops will allow users to connect to high-speed internet for essential services, including work and education, as well as be used to promote improving digital literacy.
Awardees for the devices include:
- Everett Free Library (Bedford County): 120 laptops
- Highlands Hospital-Penn Highlands Connellsville (Fayette County): 40 laptops
- Mary S. Biesecker Public Library (Somerset County): 20 laptops
- Somerset County Library (Somerset County): 200 laptops
The grant funding comes from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund, which provided Pennsylvania $279 million for critical capital projects, including $20 million for non-profits, community anchor institutions, and municipal governments to purchase laptops for local citizens to utilize.
Big Boost for Water Systems in Fayette, Bedford
Thanks to over $13.7 million in PENNVEST grants, critical water and wastewater system upgrades are coming to communities in Fayette and Bedford Counties.
- Washington Township (Fayette County): $5.1 million for upgrades, including replacing the motor control center and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system, as well as rehabilitating the water filters at the treatment plant.
- Woodbury Water Authority (Bedford County): $984,768 for its Mill Street waterline replacement project.
- Saxton Borough Municipal Authority (Bedford County): $632,000 for its power plant road lift station improvement project.
- Schellsburg Municipal Authority (Bedford County): $1.7 million for its pump station replacement project.
- Bedford Borough Municipal Authority (Bedford County): $5.26 million for its South Side storm sewer improvement project.
These investments will help alleviate the cost barriers that come with projects of this magnitude. I am pleased to see these municipalities will benefit from this state grant, which will help them bring better water quality to residents and bolster the efficiency of their water treatment plant.
State Budget Update
The Senate convened for session in Harrisburg this week as work on the 2025-26 state budget progresses. Our discussions with the House of Representatives and the governor continue to advance.
Senate Republicans remain committed to a final agreement which will help to address the structural deficit facing our commonwealth and put Pennsylvania on a solid path for future years.
Expanding Access to Lifesaving Naloxone, Making Prescription Drug Costs More Transparent
Legislation has been signed into law to give EMS personnel permanent authority to leave behind naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, at the scene of an overdose. This will offer families a critical tool to prevent future emergencies.
Act 34 of 2025 ensures that families and caregivers are equipped to respond immediately to another overdose if needed. It also improves transparency and access within Pennsylvania’s health care system by:
- Increasing clarity around prescription drug costs.
- Enhancing communication between pharmacists and patients.
- Allowing out-of-state pharmacists to receive temporary licenses to practice in Pennsylvania for the next six months, which is aimed at addressing pharmacy deserts created by the widespread closure of Rite Aid locations.
New Law Will Improve Stroke Care Across PA
Strokes are the fifth-leading cause of death in the U.S. Legislation passed by the Senate and signed into law aims to save lives by providing critical information to health care providers.
Senate Bill 411, now Act 24 of 2025, will establish a statewide stroke registry, administered by the state Department of Health, to deliver resources to emergency medical service providers, hospital stroke teams and other health care providers to ensure high quality stroke care for patients.
It includes a confidentiality clause ensuring any submitted registry data will not include an individual’s confidential or personally identifiable information.
Legislation to Address Pennsylvania’s Shortage of CPAs Signed into Law
A Senate measure aimed at alleviating the growing shortage of certified public accountants (CPAs) in Pennsylvania has been signed into law, to ensure the commonwealth has enough of these professionals so critical to the everyday economy.
Senate Bill 719, now Act 27 of 2025, provides an alternative pathway to CPA licensure by allowing candidates to qualify with 120 credit hours of education and two years of professional experience, rather than the current 150-credit-hour requirement and one year of experience.
Candidates must still pass the CPA exam to be licensed. The new pathway is designed to reduce financial and time burdens on aspiring accountants without compromising professional standards. The law also streamlines the process for qualified out-of-state accountants to practice in Pennsylvania without obtaining a separate state certificate or permit.
Watch Out for Scammers Posing as State Employees
Older Pennsylvanians are being targeted by emails from scammers posing as state employees requesting payments necessary to access a non-existent inheritance.
In an incident reported to commonwealth officials, an older Pennsylvanian received an email from a generic account resembling an official state email address and claiming to be a representative of a credit union.
Don’t respond or click on any links! Report any incidents like this by phone at 1-866-PAComplaint or online.
July is Independent Retailer Month
Independent Retailer Month reminds us to shop at independent business, appreciating their positive social and economic impact in our communities.
Independent retailing can be many types of businesses. For example, a franchise store is often a local independent retail business. Please keep these employers in mind when making your purchases this month and all year.
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