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Shapiro signs bill to make Pa. Preferred Organic label permanent
Established in 2019 as part of the Pennsylvania Farm Bill, the PA Preferred Organic Program was part of efforts to help Pennsylvania farmers increase and diversify their income.
Mail-in ballot returns top half a million | 2023 Election Mailbag
The Department of State asked the public to be “patient” while results are being counted by officials on Nov. 7, reminding voters that Pennsylvania’s election law does not allow counties to begin pre-canvassing mail-in and absentee ballots before 7 a.m. on Election Day.
Court blocks Pa.’s entrance into multi-state carbon cap-and-trade program
The Commonwealth Court ruled on Wednesday that Pennsylvania cannot enter into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state initiative to limit carbon emissions, saying it violates the state Constitution.
‘This is only a start’: Shapiro, lawmakers celebrate signing of maternal mortality bill
The act — formerly known as Senate Bill 262 — was introduced by state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and requires Pennsylvania’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee to share each reportable maternal mortality and morbidity event with the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
A bill under consideration in the Pa. House would make it easier to recycle electronic waste
State Rep. Lisa Borowski (D-Delaware) said her bill, House Bill 1607, aims to address the growing need for e-waste disposal, ease the financial impact on counties and local governments, and address the environmental concerns associated with e-waste.
Buying the farm: Pa. lawmakers concerned about foreign ownership of agricultural land
When a Chinese food manufacturer bought 300 acres of farmland in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 2022 it set off a wave of concern among lawmakers, farmers, and other stakeholders, who called the operation, approximately 20 minutes from Grand Forks Air Force Base, a national security risk. Since then, concern has continued to grow about the impact of foreign-owned farms and farmland across the United States, including in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania election headlines you might have missed | 2023 Election Mailbag
In lieu of reader questions this week, the Capital-Star has compiled a few important election-related articles that you might have missed from across the Commonwealth.
‘Overburdened and underfunded’: Shapiro signs bill to save Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the Dog Law Modernization Act into law on Monday, gradually increasing the cost of a dog license from $5 to $7 in its first year. The fee will increase another $2 in the second year to a total of $9, with a final increase of $1 in 2027 regardless of the animal’s spay or neuter status.
Sec. Schmidt answers voting questions ahead of the Nov. 7 general election | 2023 Election Mailbag
With the general election weeks away, Secretary of State Al Schmidt took questions from reporters.
Pa. lawmakers launch Black Maternal Health Caucus to combat ‘alarming’ maternal mortality rates
Three state lawmakers announced this week the creation of the Black Maternal Health Caucus in an effort to find legislative solutions to Pennsylvania’s high rates of Black maternal mortality and morbidity.
Bills to improve voting access for incarcerated individuals draw support from lawmakers, advocates
Supporters of House Bill 1756 and its counterpart House Bill 1757 — bills that would permit all incarcerated individuals to vote in Pennsylvania, provide voter information to correctional facilities, and direct the Department of State to create a “uniform policy for civic education” in correctional institutions — are hoping to garner support for the legislation currently before the House State Government Committee.
Bill to allow striking workers to collect unemployment advances from House Committee
The bill is co-sponsored by Allegheny County Democrats Rep. Mandy Steele and Rep. Dan Miller who say they were motivated to pursue the legislation by striking workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who have been on strike for a full year as of Oct. 18.