Lackawanna County Senior Expo: A Successful Event for Our Community
Last week, I had the pleasure of co-hosting the Lackawanna County Senior Expo alongside the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging and my colleagues in the House and Senate. The event was a wonderful opportunity for seniors to connect with local resources and services, and I was thrilled to see such a great turnout.
Thank you to the many seniors, vendors, and dedicated staff who helped make the expo such a success. It was a privilege to meet new constituents and catch up with so many familiar faces.
Senate Passes RGGI Electricity Tax Repeal
Pennsylvania’s families cannot afford higher energy costs, especially as inflation further stretches household budgets. Any policy that could exacerbate these challenges must be carefully reviewed, particularly in terms of its impact on electricity prices, grid stability, and job security.
About a year ago, the Commonwealth Court ruled against imposing the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) carbon tax, determining that Governor Wolf’s executive order to join RGGI was unconstitutional. The court emphasized that Pennsylvania’s participation in RGGI can only occur through legislation passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, rather than through executive action. The current Governor’s administration appealed the Commonwealth Court’s ruling.
As a reminder, RGGI is a multi-state initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions through, essentially, a tax on carbon emissions for electricity producers. In 2019, Governor Wolf circumvented the legislative process to join RGGI through an executive order. Since, there has been ongoing litigation regarding the constitutionality of this order.
This week, the Pennsylvania Senate approved legislation to repeal the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) electricity tax enacted through an executive order by the Wolf administration in 2019. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Senate Bill 1058 will repeal the CO2 Budget Trading Program regulation that was put into effect by DEP and EQB.
Juvenile Justice Reform Bills Approved by the Senate
The Senate passed bills to reform the state’s juvenile justice system by implementing Juvenile Justice Task Force Report recommendations to help streamline the expungement process, provide fair and impartial legal representation for juveniles and improve accountability and oversight in juvenile court proceedings. The two bills now head to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Senate Bill 169 would update the juvenile court system by requiring disposition review hearings every three months instead of nine. The hearings are designed to ensure juveniles receive necessary services and treatment, assess their threat to the community and decide if they should remain in placement or be released under supervision. The court would also set the date for the next review hearing.
Senate Bill 170 would modify the expungement of juvenile records by reducing the waiting period for expungement from five years to two years for most misdemeanors, while maintaining the five-year period for felonies, misdemeanor firearm offenses and indecent assault. The bill would also standardize the expungement process by requiring the chief juvenile probation officer to initiate expungements for eligible individuals, with the district attorney having the opportunity to object. Exceptions to expungement, such as for sex offenses and cases with subsequent convictions or pending proceedings, would remain unchanged.
Wills for Heroes
The Monroe County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Division are hosting “Wills for Heroes” on Saturday, November 9th at the Monroe County Bar Association from 11 AM – 4 PM!
This FREE program offers wills, living wills, and power of attorney legal services to first responders, veterans, and their spouses.
Registration is required! Don’t miss out—check out the flyer below for more details!
Wayne County Voter Hall of Fame
Congratulations to 16 incredible citizens inducted into the Wayne County Voter Hall of Fame for their steadfast commitment to democracy! Their dedication—voting in 50 consecutive elections—serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of civic participation!
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