On June 17, 2025, Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated in their own home along with their dog Gilbert. That same morning, the gunman who killed them shot and injured State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, and visited the houses of two other state lawmakers. This violent attack was politically motivated and underscores that political violence is on the rise, including here in Pennsylvania: in April, a man set fire to Governor Shapiro’s home, and in February, a man firebombed our colleague Representative Ryncavage’s office in Nanticoke.  

 

Political violence has no place in our democracy, and it is paramount that we as state legislators are safe in doing the important work of serving the people. Here at the Capitol, the Pennsylvania Capitol Police serves as the primary law enforcement agency. Currently, the Pennsylvania Capitol Police is under the direct jurisdiction of the Governor. This rather odd arrangement gives the executive branch the sole authority over the individuals tasked with protecting the entirety of the building where the legislative branch operates. 

 

To address this, I am introducing legislation to establish a Capitol Police Board and transfer jurisdiction over the Pennsylvania Capitol Police from the Governor to the joint board. This model would mirror the U.S. Capitol Police, who have the responsibility to protect members of the U.S. Congress and all facilities of the Federal Legislative Branch from threats. As state lawmakers, it is time to evaluate whether the security arrangements in place are adequate in this environment of rising political extremism. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to ensure that the General Assembly is safe from threats.