Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
03/27/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/27/2024 14:54
Hershey’s Kisses Bill Passes House, Mehaffie Says
Mar. 27, 2024
HARRISBURG - Legislation to name Hershey's Kisses the official state candy of Pennsylvania took an important step forward this week, according to Rep. Tom Mehaffie (R-Dauphin).
Mehaffie's House Bill 1030 is headed to the Senate for its consideration, following a 130-71 vote in the House on Wednesday.
"I'm hopeful that we can get an expedited review and vote in the Senate not for my sake, but for the teenagers who actually wrote this bill as part of their civics education," Mehaffie said.
A group of students from Council Rock School District in Bucks County first started advocating for the Hershey's Kisses when they were in eighth grade. Now 11th-graders, the students came to the Capitol for the House vote.
If enacted as law, the measure would designate Hershey's Kisses as the state candy of Pennsylvania. It would join other state symbols like the state animal (white-tailed deer) and state flower (mountain laurel). In 2019, 20 high-schoolers obtained state amphibian status for the Easter hellbender salamander.
"Symbols matter," Mehaffie said. "This symbol would acknowledge not only that the Kiss is recognizable worldwide and made right here in Pennsylvania, but also that the entire community of Hershey was built on the manufacturing innovation and charitable legacy of Milton and Catherine Hershey. Their impact continues in many ways, not the least of which is the world-class, free education provided by Milton Hershey School and the newly developed Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning."
Representative Tom Mehaffie
106th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Fitch
717.260.6563
[email protected]
RepMehaffie.com / Facebook.com/RepMehaffie
Mehaffie's House Bill 1030 is headed to the Senate for its consideration, following a 130-71 vote in the House on Wednesday.
"I'm hopeful that we can get an expedited review and vote in the Senate not for my sake, but for the teenagers who actually wrote this bill as part of their civics education," Mehaffie said.
A group of students from Council Rock School District in Bucks County first started advocating for the Hershey's Kisses when they were in eighth grade. Now 11th-graders, the students came to the Capitol for the House vote.
If enacted as law, the measure would designate Hershey's Kisses as the state candy of Pennsylvania. It would join other state symbols like the state animal (white-tailed deer) and state flower (mountain laurel). In 2019, 20 high-schoolers obtained state amphibian status for the Easter hellbender salamander.
"Symbols matter," Mehaffie said. "This symbol would acknowledge not only that the Kiss is recognizable worldwide and made right here in Pennsylvania, but also that the entire community of Hershey was built on the manufacturing innovation and charitable legacy of Milton and Catherine Hershey. Their impact continues in many ways, not the least of which is the world-class, free education provided by Milton Hershey School and the newly developed Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning."
Representative Tom Mehaffie
106th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Fitch
717.260.6563
[email protected]
RepMehaffie.com / Facebook.com/RepMehaffie
A photo is attached for your use. It depicts, from left, Rep. Perry Warren, Rep. Kristin Marcell, Rep. Tom Mehaffie and students from Council Rock School District on Wednesday.
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