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In this Update:
Regan Welcomes Eagle Scout Alexis Bobb to Capitol
On Wednesday, I had the honor of welcoming to the Capitol Alexis Bobb of Dillsburg, who recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Alexis joined the Scouts in 2019 when she formed an all-female troop, and for her Eagle Scout project, she made improvements to the memorial garden at Monaghan Presbyterian Church in Dillsburg. While at the Capitol, I presented Alexis with a Senate Citation and introduced her on the Senate floor. Please take a minute to watch my floor remarks to learn more about this outstanding young woman. Ready-to-Drink Cocktails Bill Passes Senate, Heads to House
Legislation I am sponsoring that would authorize liquor licensees to sell Ready-to-Drink cocktails (RTDs) for off-premises consumption passed the Senate this week and now goes to the House for consideration. Senate Bill 688 allows restaurants, bars, hotels, grocery stores, convenience stores, and beer distributors to sell these spirit-based beverages that are manufactured and sold in sealed containers, such as cans or bottles. Many of you may be familiar with the malt-based versions of RTDs, which are already available at licensed retailers. Spirit-based RTDs are only available in state liquor stores, and the selection is extremely limited. My legislation caps the total maximum alcohol by volume content at 12.5%, similar to many beer products. Anything above that would have to still be sold only through the state stores. Disabled Veterans’ Property Tax Relief Legislation Advances
To provide financial relief to more disabled Veterans, the Senate passed Senate Bill 194 to exclude U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Attendance benefits as income when calculating eligibility for Pennsylvania’s 100% Disabled Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Also this week, the House gave final approval to a similar bill, Senate Bill 126, which would exclude VA benefits from income requirements for all Commonwealth programs, including the property tax exemption program. Because the House amended the bill, it must return to the Senate for concurrence. Federal Aid and Attendance benefits provide monthly payments to disabled Veterans who are housebound or need help with daily activities. For some Veterans, these much-needed benefits put them over program income limits. New Distracted Driving Law Bans Use of Handheld Devices
A new law prohibits the use of handheld cellular and other devices while operating a vehicle on a Pennsylvania highway or traffic way. Drivers may still use their phone if they are using hands-free technology, such as a docking station, Bluetooth or speaker technology. Signed by the governor on Wednesday, the new law takes effect in one year, and for the 12 months following the effective date, only warnings will be issued for violations. After that, beginning June 2026, there will be a $50 fine. Distracted driving fatalities in Pennsylvania surged to a decade high in 2022, claiming 80 lives. The AAA Traffic Safety Culture Index found that the majority of drivers believe distracted driving has outpaced all other traffic-related issues as a growing safety concern. All of Pennsylvania’s border states and 28 others have enacted hands-free laws. Senate Approves Bills to Reverse Nursing Home Worker Shortage
With the number of older Pennsylvanians rising and nursing homes struggling to find qualified workers, the Senate passed two bills this week to reverse the worker shortage. Both bills now head to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 1102 would increase the number of nursing home workers by streamlining the training and certification process and removing barriers that prevent people from entering the health care workforce in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 1104 would further increase the nursing home workforce by enabling high school juniors and seniors to earn up to two elective credits for working or volunteering at a nursing home, personal care home or assisted living facility. Schools would establish program guidelines and procedures to allow students to earn one elective credit for each 250 hours of paid or volunteer work at a qualifying facility. Senate Acts to Modernize Rules for Electronic Commerce
The Senate passed legislation to modernize the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), updating rules that govern digital asset transactions to ensure security, consistency and confidence. It now advances to the House of Representatives for consideration. The UCC has provided consistency for commercial law and interstate commerce since 1954, when Pennsylvania led the initiative to adopt it. Since then, it has been adopted by all states and gives Americans legal confidence when transacting business across state lines. The last major revisions to the UCC took effect in 2001. In the two decades since, electronic property, or digital assets, have become much more prevalent in commercial transactions. Senate Bill 1084 would bring the law into the 21st century by establishing guidelines to cover digital asset transactions involving virtual currencies, non-fungible tokens, electronic accounts and other forms of electronic commerce. It would also make other needed technical updates to the UCC. Celebrating the Contributions of PA Dairy Farmers
Agriculture is Pennsylvania’s top industry, and dairy products play a significant role by generating $11.8 billion in economic revenue and supporting 47,000 jobs statewide. Of the nearly 5,000 dairy farms in the state, 99% are family-owned with many being handed down generation after generation. Our dairy farmers work tirelessly each day to provide families everywhere with nutrient-rich foods. Celebrate National Dairy Month by raising a glass of milk or enjoying some delicious ice cream. Pennsylvania has an Ice Cream Trail that boasts great creameries all across the state, and for those in the local area, be sure to also check out the Cumberland Valley Ice Cream Trail and the many places for ice cream across York County.
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