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In this Update:
More Concerns About State Aircraft Usage
This week I convened a public hearing of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee to discuss serious financial and operational concerns I have with the commonwealth’s executive aircraft operations. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and State Police (PSP) provide flights for the governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet secretaries and other top officials and employees. After receiving incomplete and vague responses to multiple written inquiries over the last several months, I called upon PennDOT and PSP to answer questions directly from committee members. The committee learned that PSP was instructed to pay $26,000 from their budget for three charter flights that had been arranged by the governor’s office in January 2025 when the PSP plane was unavailable. Because the standard procurement process (e.g., obtaining bids from multiple vendors and entering into a contract) had not been followed, the payment was processed as a settlement agreement. Despite paying for the flights, PSP was unaware of who the passengers were, but said the information would be requested from the charter operator. PennDOT told the committee they have spent about $1.7 million annually on operating costs for their executive aircraft during the past two years but have charged agencies less than $425,000 each year for using the aircraft, raising concerns about how billing rates are determined and whether the cost-effectiveness of state-provided air travel can be fairly evaluated against other transportation options. The full hearing can be viewed here. Lifesaving Bill to Eliminate Cost Barriers to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Approved by Senate
Patients who receive abnormal results from supplemental breast cancer screenings will be able to access the necessary follow-up diagnostic imaging at no cost under bipartisan legislation passed by the Senate. This ensures critical continuum of care. Senate Bill 88 builds on the success of Act 1 of 2023, which provided no-cost preventive screenings for individuals at high risk. Senate Bill 88 takes the next step with no-cost follow-up diagnostic imaging and expands eligibility to include individuals at average risk. While 26 other states have followed Pennsylvania’s lead in offering no-cost supplemental breast screening since the passage of Act 1, Pennsylvania remains the only state without guaranteed coverage for diagnostic imaging. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives. Senate Targets PA Opioid Crisis with Expanded Reporting Tool
The Senate voted to incorporate overdose reporting by EMS providers into the statewide Overdose Information Network to make sure first responders, treatment providers and other key parties have the information they need to save lives. Senate Bill 89 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Health to coordinate with the Pennsylvania State Police to ensure real-time overdose reporting by EMS providers is incorporated into the statewide mapping system. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives. EMS providers would report information including the date and time of the overdose, location, substances used by the victim and more. In other action to prevent opioid deaths, Senate Republicans led passage of a measure giving EMS personnel permanent authority to leave behind a dose of lifesaving naloxone at non-fatal overdose scenes. Measure to Prevent Eminent Domain Abuse Approved by Senate
Legislation to protect property owners against eminent domain abuse and ensure they are fully compensated when their property is taken by government was approved by the Senate. Senate Bill 225 would ensure business owners and farmers whose properties are seized through eminent domain are compensated for loss of “goodwill,” which goes beyond the assessed value. For farms, the land may possess characteristics that make it particularly special, such as fertile soil. In the case of another business, goodwill may be because of location, access to utilities and other factors. Farmers, employers and homeowners testified before a Senate committee last year about eminent domain abuse. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. School Bus Safety Grant Program Applications Accepted
School districts, school bus companies and municipalities have until July 3 to apply for state grants to improve school bus safety and pay for training and other costs associated with attracting much-needed school bus drivers. Legislation passed by the General Assembly allows school districts to install automated camera systems to enforce the state School Bus Stopping Law and increase safety for school children. A portion of the fines paid by violators are used for the School Bus Safety Grant Program. Details and the online application are available here. Celebrating Great Outdoors Month
The arrival of summer means plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy what nature has to offer locally and across our commonwealth. Pennsylvania is home to cool, green forests, thousands of pristine lakes and streams, hiking trails and state parks. Find plenty of ways to explore the great outdoors of our region and the state here.
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