Growing up in Northeast Pennsylvania, Rep. Pugh is a successful business owner, wife, mother and trusted community leader. Raised in a close family and from humble roots, the value of hard work was instilled at a young age, and her blue-collar background and work experience have prepared her well to serve the constituents of the 120th Legislative District.

About Brenda

Rep. Pugh and her husband Alan – who is a retired police officer & volunteer fire chief also continues to serve as a regional EMA coordinator – live in Dallas, and are the proud parents of three adult children, five grandchildren and a Golden Retriever named Baron.

Brenda Pugh grew up in Northeast Pennsylvania. She lives in Dallas with her husband, Alan, and they have three adult children and five grandchildren.

About Brenda

Rep. Brenda Pugh is in her first term in the Pennsylvania House of Representative, with a focus on holding the line on taxes to enable taxpayers to keep more of their money, reforming state government to make it work for our families and supporting public safety initiatives to keep communities safe.

State Rep. Brenda Pugh represents the 120th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving parts of Luzerne County.

PA State Rep. Brenda Pugh

Brenda serves as a state representative for the 120th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and is in her first term.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Rep. Pugh is a fiscal conservative with over 34 years of business experience. Her legislative priorities include:

– Jobs First: Stop job-crushing regulations, support energy independence and stand with workers.

Her legislative priorities include:

– Jobs First: Stop job-crushing regulations, support energy independence and stand with workers.

– Protecting Taxpayers: Hold the line on broad-based taxes.

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) has introduced legislation designed to give Pennsylvania consumers and lawmakers a clearer picture of their utility bills.

“Families, seniors and small businesses are feeling the impact of rising utility bills, and they deserve more than another notice telling them their rates are going up,” Pugh said. “They deserve to know what increased, how much it increased, why it increased and what that means for their monthly bill.”

Pugh Introduces Legislation to Bring Greater Transparency, Accountability to Utility Costs

Pugh’s legislation, House Bill 2738, would expand the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) existing annual rate comparison report to include a five-year cumulative review of rate adjustments affecting residential, commercial and industrial customers.

The report would account for changes in base rates, distribution and transmission charges, riders, fuel and purchased-gas adjustments, infrastructure improvement charges, storm recovery charges, fixed customer charges, universal service surcharges and other PUC-approved charges that materially affect customer bills.

Advocates for reducing regulations, pursuing energy independence, and supporting workers.

Supports maintaining broad-based tax rates.

Introduced House Bill 2738 to require a five-year review of utility-rate adjustments affecting residential, commercial, and industrial customers.

- Advocates for reducing regulations, pursuing energy independence, and supporting workers.
- Supports maintaining broad-based tax rates.
- Introduced House Bill 2738 to require a five-year review of utility-rate adjustments affecting residential, commercial, and industrial customers.

Economy

HARRISBURG – Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) has introduced legislation to establish clear safeguards for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by Pennsylvania’s state-licensed professionals.

House Bill 2678 would require each state licensing board and commission to develop rules governing how professionals may use AI when providing services within their licensed field.

“Artificial intelligence can be a valuable tool, but it should never replace the knowledge, judgment and accountability of a trained professional,” Pugh said. “Pennsylvanians deserve to know when AI is being used in the professional services they receive, and they should always have the right to speak directly with a qualified person.”

Pugh Legislation Establishes Safeguards for Use of Artificial Intelligence by Licensed Professionals

The legislation makes clear that AI may not independently perform professional services, make professional decisions, establish a professional relationship or fulfill duties legally assigned to a licensed individual.

“We should embrace innovation while protecting the people who rely on doctors, counselors, accountants, engineers and other licensed professionals during important moments in their lives,” Pugh said. “This is particularly important for seniors, who deserve clear information, personal communication and the assurance that a qualified professional, not a computer program, is ultimately responsible for the services they receive.”

Introduced House Bill 2678 to regulate artificial-intelligence use by licensed professionals and prohibit it from independently providing professional services or decisions.

- Introduced House Bill 2678 to regulate artificial-intelligence use by licensed professionals and prohibit it from independently providing professional services or decisions.

Healthcare

– Public Safety: Ensure police and first responders have the tools they need.

– Prioritizing Students: Give parents more control and focus on catching up kids who have fallen behind at school.

HARRISBURG – Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) announced today that schools with students in the 120th Legislative District will be receiving money for behavioral health support for students and staff and to make learning environments safer.

“I have heard school administrators say that limited funding prevents them from providing the mental health and behavioral supports students need,” Pugh said. “Investing in safe learning environments isn’t optional, it is essential for student success.”

Pugh: More Than $1 Million Coming to Luzerne County for School Safety, Behavioral Health Improvements

Supports giving parents more control over education and helping students catch up academically.

Supports investment in school behavioral-health supports and safe learning environments.

- Supports giving parents more control over education and helping students catch up academically.
- Supports investment in school behavioral-health supports and safe learning environments.

Education

Those efforts led to Pugh introducing two pieces of legislation:

• House Bill 1116, which would require DEP to conduct a comprehensive scientific study of PFAS in biosolids, including impacts on soil, groundwater, crops, livestock, milk production, food safety, testing methods, treatment technologies and best practices from other states.
• House Bill 2249, which would establish enforceable protections by requiring the Environmental Quality Board to adopt PFAS contaminant limits for biosolids, prohibit land application when those limits are exceeded, require sampling and treatment before land application, and provide public reporting and oversight.

Pugh Issues Statement on Proposed PFAS Chemical Oversight

Hosted by Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne), the hearing brought together community leaders sharing firsthand insight into the inequitable Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) rainwater tax. Pugh recently introduced legislation, House Bill 2360, that would preserve environmental outcomes and ensure costs are distributed fairly and responsibly across the Commonwealth.

Small Communities, Big Costs: Pugh, Policy Committee Seek Relief from ‘Rain Tax’ Burden

HARRISBURG – Following the federal government’s action to rescind Executive Order 13508, Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration, Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) today called on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Shapiro administration to immediately halt and review Chesapeake Bay-related stormwater mandates.

Pugh Calls on Pennsylvania to Immediately Halt, Review Chesapeake Stormwater Mandates Following Federal Action

Pugh also said Pennsylvania should use actual water-quality monitoring to determine whether the modeling and assumptions underlying costly Chesapeake Bay requirements accurately reflect conditions in Pennsylvania waterways.

Pugh said Pennsylvania should expand direct water-quality monitoring, validate the assumptions and pollutant loads used to establish compliance requirements and make future decisions based on the best available science.

Pugh is calling on DEP to conduct a comprehensive review of Pennsylvania’s MS4 requirements, including those arising from the 2010 Chesapeake Bay TMDL, Watershed Implementation Plans, Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plans, EPA Chesapeake Bay policies, and later MS4 permit requirements involving pollutant-load calculations and reduction obligations.

Pugh is also calling for DEP to review the York County-USGS monitoring program, expand direct monitoring where appropriate, prevent additional unfunded compliance costs while requirements are under review, and work with the General Assembly to eliminate unnecessary state mandates and properly fund requirements Pennsylvania determines should remain.

Introduced House Bill 1116 to require a scientific study of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in biosolids and their environmental and food-safety impacts.

Introduced House Bill 2249 to set per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance limits for biosolids and restrict land application above those limits.

Introduced House Bill 2360 to distribute stormwater-management costs more fairly across Pennsylvania while preserving environmental outcomes.

Calls for Pennsylvania to halt and review Chesapeake Bay-related stormwater mandates and base future requirements on direct water-quality monitoring.

- Supports energy independence.
- Introduced House Bill 1116 to require a scientific study of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in biosolids and their environmental and food-safety impacts.
- Introduced House Bill 2249 to set per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance limits for biosolids and restrict land application above those limits.
- Introduced House Bill 2360 to distribute stormwater-management costs more fairly across Pennsylvania while preserving environmental outcomes.
- Calls for Pennsylvania to halt and review Chesapeake Bay-related stormwater mandates and base future requirements on direct water-quality monitoring.

Energy & the Environment

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) has introduced legislation designed to strengthen Pennsylvania’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) standards by reinforcing federally required English language proficiency requirements while enhancing safeguards within the Commonwealth’s CDL licensing process.

House Bill 2723, also known as the Commercial Driver Public Safety Act, reinforces existing federal English language proficiency standards and strengthens the Commonwealth’s licensing and verification process.

Pugh Legislation to Enhance Public Safety with Improved CDL Driver Requirements

The legislation also strengthens Pennsylvania’s commercial driver’s license system by:

•    Requiring PennDOT to verify English language proficiency before issuing or restoring a commercial driver’s license.
•    Requiring third-party CDL testing providers to verify applicants meet the English language proficiency standard and subjecting those providers to random PennDOT audits.
•    Strengthening the verification of lawful immigration status for applicants seeking a Pennsylvania nonresident commercial driver’s license through federally authorized verification systems.
•    Establishing penalties, including disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle, for drivers who fail to meet the required English language proficiency standard.

HARRISBURG – Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) issued this statement following the vote on House Bill 1042, legislation that addresses the sentencing of those convicted of murder of the second degree:

“To say I am disappointed is an understatement. Yesterday the majority party sided with violent criminals. House Bill 1042 is nothing more than a soft-on-crime bill that will put public safety at risk and disregard the rights of victims and their families.”

Pugh: ‘We Failed the Families of Victims’

“What is most frustrating is that the House waited until the 119th day to take it up. That left virtually no time for meaningful public review or careful consideration of sweeping amendments that went far beyond what the court required,” Pugh continued.

“We owe victims and their families better than a rushed process on legislation of this magnitude. Justice is about protecting public safety, preserving accountability and ensuring the voices of victims are never forgotten. They deserved a transparent process and thoughtful debate, not major policy changes made at the last minute.”

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) today announced that she has sent a letter to Dr. Debra Bogen, secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), urging the Commonwealth to prepare for prompt action should the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finalize its proposed temporary Schedule I classification of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).

Pugh Calls on Department of Health to Reclassify Narcotic

Introduced the Commercial Driver Public Safety Act, House Bill 2723, to strengthen English-proficiency verification in commercial driver licensing and testing.

Opposes House Bill 1042, saying it risks public safety and disregards victims' and families' rights.

Calls for transparent public review and thoughtful debate before major criminal-justice policy changes.

Calls for Pennsylvania to prepare for action if federal authorities classify 7-hydroxymitragynine as a Schedule I controlled substance.

- Introduced the Commercial Driver Public Safety Act, House Bill 2723, to strengthen English-proficiency verification in commercial driver licensing and testing.
- Opposes House Bill 1042, saying it risks public safety and disregards victims' and families' rights.
- Calls for transparent public review and thoughtful debate before major criminal-justice policy changes.
- Calls for Pennsylvania to prepare for action if federal authorities classify 7-hydroxymitragynine as a Schedule I controlled substance.

Public Safety

– Prioritizing Students: Give parents more control and focus on catching up kids who have fallen behind at school.

– Backing Real Reforms: Supports Voter ID and ending automatic COLAs for politicians and unaccountable per diems without receipts.

Supports voter identification requirements and ending automatic cost-of-living adjustments for politicians and per diems without receipts.

- Supports voter identification requirements and ending automatic cost-of-living adjustments for politicians and per diems without receipts.

Voting & Elections

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- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws, including introducing tax bills. 
- State representatives and their staff respond to constituent concerns and questions through emails, phone calls, and website announcements. 
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- They are elected to two-year terms and have a salary of $106,000, with a 1-3% annual increase

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