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In this Update:
Unclaimed Property Event a Success
My recent Unclaimed Property Event was a great success, helping Erie County residents search for money and property that may be owed to them. Thank you to the Pennsylvania Treasury Department for partnering with my office and assisting everyone who attended. I appreciate the strong turnout and look forward to hosting more events like this in the future. MBA’s Executive Speaker Series
Staff from my office attended the Manufacturer & Business Association’s Executive Speaker Series with Gus Pine, where Erie Events Executive Director Gus Pine was the featured speaker. Gus shared updates on several exciting projects, including the expansion of the Bayfront parking garage with support from the Erie CRIZ and plans for the new Market House. These investments will help strengthen the Bayfront and build on the momentum taking place across Erie. LECOM Colonial Family Pharmacy Opens in Wattsburg
LECOM recently celebrated the opening of its new Colonial Family Pharmacy location in Wattsburg. This new pharmacy will provide area residents with convenient access to prescriptions and other important health care services close to home. I congratulate LECOM on this investment in the Wattsburg community. How I Can Help
If you or someone you know is having trouble accessing state programs or services, or if you have questions about a law or government program and aren’t sure where to turn, my team and I are here to help. We can guide you through the process, connect you with the right resources, and provide support on a wide range of issues to make things easier for you. Pennsylvania Has New Tools to Solve Violent Crimes
Law enforcement agencies will be able to access new tools to boost clearance rates for homicide and other violent crime cases through a new state law. The Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act was enacted with the new state budget. The law establishes a grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to help police hire and retain detectives and investigators, and upgrade technology used to analyze evidence. Solving more violent crimes will help make communities safer by getting offenders off the streets while also serving as a deterrent to would-be criminals who know their crimes will not go unanswered. State Budget Boosts College Tuition Assistance
Under the new state budget we recently passed, the maximum PA State Grant award has increased to the highest amount in program history, helping students across the commonwealth and their families pay for higher education. For the 2026-27 fiscal year, the maximum award is $6,000, up from $5,750, the amount it’s been for four years. The funding is administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Each year, PHEAA’s board reevaluates the awarding formula by analyzing several factors, including tuition costs, the effect of inflation on family incomes, the number of expected applicants and recommended funding for the program as part of the annual budget process. Read more about the PA State Grant program here. PA College Savings Fees Waived for Fifth Straight Year
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced asset-based fees for the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program’s Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) will be waived for the fifth year in a row. PA 529 GSP account owners will not see any asset-based fees on their quarterly statements for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, resulting in $5.9 million in savings. This fee waiver is funded through surplus earnings of the GSP fund. The PA 529 GSP allows families to save at today’s tuition rates to meet tomorrow’s tuition costs. Families can choose from a variety of tuition levels to save from community college to Ivy League. PA 529 GSP account earnings are based on tuition inflation rates. Red Tape Slashed for PA Cosmetology Workers
Legislation to streamline licensing for the cosmetology workforce has been signed into law, a major step in addressing Pennsylvania’s ongoing workforce shortages. Act 43 of 2026 authorizes Pennsylvania to join the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, an interstate agreement that makes it easier for licensed cosmetologists — who provide treatments for hair, skin and nails — to obtain a multistate license and work in participating states without unnecessary red tape. It also ensures cosmetology professionals in active-duty military families face no burdensome licensure requirements in compact states. Pennsylvania is the 13th state to enter the compact, joining neighboring states Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Read more about this new law here. Booking a Tour of Your State Capitol
Summer is a great time to tour your state Capitol, a National Historic Landmark featuring Renaissance designs, paintings, stained glass and furnishings by some of the best artisans in the world. Scheduling in advance is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome according to availability. Tours take approximately 30-45 minutes and are limited to 40 guests total per tour. Self-guided tours do not take place on weekends and holidays. More than the seat of Pennsylvania’s government, the Capitol is a magnificent symbol of the hopes and vision of the commonwealth that gave birth to a nation. Find details and book a tour here. |
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