Here’s a look at how our area legislators voted in House and Senate matters in Harrisburg:

House Bill 17

The bill requires cursive handwriting to be taught in schools, as proponents contend it will activate areas of the brain involved in executive function, fine motor skills and working memory, developing a child’s fine motor skills.

Vote: 42-5 (Senate)

Yes: David Argall, Rosemary Brown and Nick Miller.

No: Jarrett Coleman.

House Bill 331

The bill reforms judicial funding and technology, increasing registration fees for special court judges, directs funds to upgrade court technology, and orders an audit of the Access to Justice Fund.

It permits the court system to cover a $400 annual registration fee for special court judges; redirects specific local court fees to enhance statewide court technology, with an aim to generate approximately $7.5 million through 2028 without reducing funds currently allocated to counties; requires the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to do a performance audit of the Access to Justice Account by June 15, 2026; and amends the surcharge applied to traffic summary citations to fund these initiatives.

Vote: 187-11 (House)

Yes: Doyle Heffley, Jamie Barton, Jack Rader, Zach Mako and Gary Day.

Vote: 46-2 (Senate)

Yes: David Argall, Rosemary Brown, Jarrett Coleman and Nick Miller.

House Bill 1909

The bill amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offenses of simple assault, of recklessly endangering another person, of terroristic threats, of harassment and of stalking; in kidnapping, further providing for the offenses of unlawful restraint, of false imprisonment and of criminal coercion; in sexual offenses, further providing for the offense of indecent assault; and, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for the offense of disorderly conduct.

Vote: 104-94 (House)

No: Doyle Heffley, Jamie Barton, Jack Rader, Zach Mako and Gary Day.

Senate Bill 1036

The bill updates regulations on municipal vacancies, compensation and audits in townships of the first class, changing how deaths in the office of commissioner are handled, making them effective on the date of the next board meeting; harmonizes per-meeting commissioner compensation with other municipal codes enacted in 2024 and adjusts the schedule for filing audited financial reports; and clarifies rules regarding sidewalk maintenance and repairs to reflect current practices.

Vote: 198-0 (House)

Yes: Doyle Heffley, Jamie Barton, Jack Rader, Zach Mako and Gary Day.

Senate Bill 712

The bill is designed to improve the abandoned and orphaned oil and gas well plugging process in Pennsylvania by providing consistency in determining what a reasonable effort is when plugging to the attainable bottom, leading to increased predictability and improved utilization of orphaned and abandoned well plugging funds.

Pennsylvania is in line to receive upward of $400 million in federal funds dedicated to plugging these legacy wells, and the objective of the bill is to ensure those funds are being utilized in the most efficient manner.

Vote: 32-16 (Senate)

Yes: David Argall, Rosemary Brown, Jarrett Coleman and Nick Miller.

House Bill 1934

The bill would add the definition for “right to access” to Section 102 (Definitions) of the Commonwealth Attorneys Act, clarifying who has access to state agency records.

This definition ensures the right to access books and papers in Section 208 (Books and Papers) of the CAA does not include access for the purpose of satisfying discovery requests put forth by defendants in a civil action, unless the agency in question is an actual party to the action and is being represented by the Office of the Attorney General.

Vote: 47-1 (Senate)

Yes: David Argall, Rosemary Brown, Jarrett Coleman and Nick Miller.