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In this Update:

• Honoring Fallen Police Officers
• Senate Approves Tougher Penalties for Attempted Murder of Law Enforcement Officers
• Protecting Pennsylvanians’ Second Amendment Rights
• Senate Committee Approves Measures to Make Housing More Attainable  
• Senate Honors America 250 with Ceremonial Gathering in Philadelphia
• Mother’s Day and Mammo May

Honoring Fallen Police Officers

This week, law enforcement personnel and their families joined public officials at the Capitol Building in Harrisburg to honor police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2025.

As the son of a former police officer, it was my honor to recognize these heroes and present the Pennsylvania State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police with a resolution I co-authored recognizing Police Officers’ Memorial Day on May 4 and National Police Week in Pennsylvania on May 10-16.

Read more about this event here.

Senate Approves Tougher Penalties for Attempted Murder of Law Enforcement Officers

The Senate approved legislation closing a gap in state law and imposing tougher penalties on individuals who attempt to murder a law enforcement officer and cause serious bodily injury.

Under current law, the penalty for attempted murder of a law enforcement officer could be as little as seven years in prison. Senate Bill 1284 establishes a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence and a maximum of up to life in prison.

The measure now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about this legislation.

Protecting Pennsylvanians’ Second Amendment Rights

The Senate moved to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens by approving Senate Bill 822, which strengthens Pennsylvania’s state preemption over regulating firearms and ammunition, preventing local governments from enacting ordinances that are more restrictive than those established by the General Assembly.

Allowing local governments to establish a patchwork of inconsistent gun laws would make it impossible for Pennsylvania residents, along with citizens from other states, to travel without fear of inadvertently breaking a local law they were unaware of. Senate Bill 822, which passed with bipartisan support, also reinforces and restores the original intent of Pennsylvania’s Uniform Firearms Act, ensuring consistent and clear regulations across the state.

The bill has been sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate Committee Approves Measures to Make Housing More Attainable

Legislation aimed at expanding access to attainable housing while preserving local control was approved by the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee. The bills now move to the full Senate for consideration.

The legislation includes:

• Senate Bill 803, which establishes First-Time Homebuyers Savings Accounts, allowing individuals to save for a home with tax advantages.
• Senate Bill 1277, which updates the law to give communities more flexibility to offer up to 20 years of tax relief, helping spur construction of new homes and local growth.
• Senate Bill 1278, which creates a Residential Economic Development District (REDD) Grant Program to support the construction of housing near job centers through partnerships between local government and developers.
• Senate Bill 1279, which creates a Housing Development Regulatory Compliance Officer to serve as a single point of contact and improve coordination in the permitting process.
• Senate Bill 1281, which streamlines municipal approval processes by allowing pre-approved housing plans, reducing delays and cutting unnecessary red tape.

Forming a robust strategy to increase housing supply, lower costs and stimulate economic activity is a key focus for the Senate this year. Read more about these attainable housing bills.

Senate Honors America 250 with Ceremonial Gathering in Philadelphia

With the U.S. Semiquincentennial less than two months away, the state Senate held a ceremonial gathering honoring America’s 250th birthday at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

The meeting included senators representing all corners of the commonwealth and students from across the state as part of a partnership with America250PA.

The event marked the fourth meeting in the last 100 years that has taken place outside of the State Capitol in Harrisburg. The previous three meetings were also held in Philadelphia to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1926, the 200th anniversary of the Declaration’s signing in 1976 and the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution in 1987. Read more about the historic gathering.

Mother’s Day and Mammo May

Mother’s Day is a great time to remind Mom and all the women in your life about the importance of annual mammograms.

While these low-dose x-rays are critical to a lifesaving early diagnosis of breast cancer, one in four Pennsylvania women fail to get a mammogram each year.

Annual mammograms are recommended for women beginning at age 40 or as early as age 25 if a woman is considered at increased risk for breast cancer. Learn more from the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.

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