A native of Hempfield, Eric graduated from Hempfield Area High School and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in safety sciences from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). After graduating from college, Eric enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served for eight years with deployments in Albania, Estonia, Okinawa, Spain and Thailand. He re-enlisted for an additional year of service after the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

About Eric

Eric Nelson is from Hempfield. He graduated from Hempfield Area High School and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in safety sciences from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

A native of Hempfield, Eric graduated from Hempfield Area High School and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in safety sciences from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). After graduating from college, Eric enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served for eight years with deployments in Albania, Estonia, Okinawa, Spain and Thailand. He re-enlisted for an additional year of service after the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

Following his distinguished military career, Eric returned to serve his community as an entrepreneur and businessman creating jobs and meeting budgets for years. Previously a faculty member with IUP, Eric is a partner with Steel City Safety. A few years ago, he sold his family’s Bruster’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream franchise after 16 years of operation.

Eric Nelson served in the U.S. Marine Corps for eight years.

About Eric

A strong conservative committed to fiscal discipline and putting the taxpayers first, Eric Nelson began serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2016.

Eric has served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2016.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Eric remains a small business owner at heart and is committed to opposing broad-based tax increases, protecting the unborn, standing up for our veterans, combatting the local drug epidemic, delivering real pension reform, and returning the Pennsylvania General Assembly to its roots as a part-time Legislature.

Legislation authored by Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland) and Rep. Jose Giral (D-Philadelphia) to make child care more accessible to working families was approved by the House Monday with strong bipartisan support.

“For years, we have worked to implement a commonsense solution that enables lower-income parents to accept a raise AND keep essential child care,” Nelson said. “Our bill smooths what's known as the ‘child care cliff,’ so working parents can earn above government's set limit, contribute at a higher rate, and keep their child care for the rest of that benefit year.”

The legislation, House Bill 1108, uses existing dollars to codify a successful pilot program which extends child care for parents who started below poverty income limits and earned their way just above the cut-off, providing they pay a higher copay.

Nelson, Giral Bill to Eliminate Child Care Cliff Advances

State Reps. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland) and Jake Banta (R-Erie) today introduced legislation that would allow more farmers to protect their crops from destruction by nuisance animals.

House Bill 2119 proposes to change that requirement to include any farm more than 10 acres in size or any farm with an income of at least $10,000 annually. The proposal is modeled after the legal definition of a “normal agricultural operation” in Pennsylvania’s Right to Farm Act.

Nelson, Banta Proposal Would Help Farmers Expand Crop Damage Protections

Sponsored House Bill 1108 to allow eligible parents who receive raises to retain child care through the benefit year at a higher copay.

Introduced House Bill 2119 to expand farmers’ ability to protect crops from nuisance animals.

- Opposes broad-based tax increases.
- Sponsored House Bill 1108 to allow eligible parents who receive raises to retain child care through the benefit year at a higher copay.
- Introduced House Bill 2119 to expand farmers’ ability to protect crops from nuisance animals.

Economy

MARCH 04, 2025
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Did you know a mom now can't deliver a baby in NINE Pennsylvania counties?

Maternity deserts are one of the more pressing issues Gov. Shapiro is not publicly addressing in rural Pennsylvania. We need to make sure the PA Department of Health and Department of Human Services are using resources to identify solutions.

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Supports restrictions on abortion, describing the position as protecting the unborn.

Calls for the Pennsylvania departments of Health and Human Services to use resources to identify solutions for rural maternity-care gaps.

- Supports restrictions on abortion, describing the position as protecting the unborn.
- Calls for the Pennsylvania departments of Health and Human Services to use resources to identify solutions for rural maternity-care gaps.

Healthcare

FEBRUARY 24, 2025
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“Elementary kids should not have to ride a Port Authority Transit (PAT) bus to get to school.

Some public schools are using a loophole to keep the funding allocated for student transportation, and offering charter school students PAT bus tickets in place of the traditional yellow school bus. Students should be treated equally regardless of riding to a public or charter school. It is disappointing the state must pass a law to end this dangerous practice. I got to ask the Secretary of Education about this loophole during budget hearings.”

Calls for ending a transportation-funding loophole so elementary charter-school students receive traditional school-bus service rather than public-transit tickets.

- Calls for ending a transportation-funding loophole so elementary charter-school students receive traditional school-bus service rather than public-transit tickets.

Education

The legislative package, sponsored by Reps. Mike Armanini, Eric Davanzo, Jonathan Fritz, Joshua D. Kail, Dallas Kephart, Roman Kozak, Thomas Kutz, Kristin Marcell, Eric Nelson, David H. Rowe and Andrea Verobish, reflects a collaborative effort to strengthen Pennsylvania's energy future. The bills are organized around three priorities: building more energy, lowering costs, and strengthening grid reliability.

“We can achieve responsible development if we clear the path here in Harrisburg,” said Nelson. “Because more power equals lower prices. And the most affordable energy is the power that we're able to produce right here at home.”

House Republicans Unveil 11-Bill Energy Package to Keep the Lights On, Costs Down

HARRISBURG – State Reps. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland), Kyle Mullens (D-Lackawanna) and Jamie Barton (R-Berks & Schuylkill) announced plans to introduce legislation creating accelerated data center permitting.

“Our legislation directs the PA Department of Environmental Protection to generate approved earthwork, stormwater and air permits to developers who commit to improved environmental outcomes by meeting, or exceeding, design standards,” Nelson said. “Our accelerated permit will enable simultaneous pursuit of additional permits and processes like Highway Occupancy Permits, Environmental Justice Permits, land use approvals and other complicated hurdles which can considerably delay project approval. We need to be faster.”

Nelson, Mullins, Barton Announce Accelerated Data Center Permitting Legislation

Advocates for state policy that expands in-state energy production to lower energy prices.

Proposes accelerated data-center permits for developers that meet or exceed environmental design standards.

- Advocates for state policy that expands in-state energy production to lower energy prices.
- Proposes accelerated data-center permits for developers that meet or exceed environmental design standards.

Energy & the Environment

HARRISBURG – Legislation to support the fight against human trafficking passed the House and has been referred to the Senate, Reps. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland) and Regina Young (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) announced today.

Language in House Bill 1286 establishes training requirements approved through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for employees of public lodging establishments who have contact with guests or access to guest rooms, and for operators of short-term rentals. The legislation passed 203-0.

“Some of the nation’s busiest throughfares travel directly through Pennsylvania, and while this is great for economic development, it also brings with it widespread human trafficking,” Nelson said. “Making certain those who work in hotels and restaurants know what to look for, we can help those being victimized in this heinous criminal enterprise.”

Nelson, Young Bill to Combat Human Trafficking with Awareness Passes House

GREENSBURG – Westmoreland County House members today announced they plan to introduce legislation to improve public safety, strengthen oversight of high-risk sexual offenders and reform Pennsylvania’s management of individuals discharged from the Sexual Responsibility and Treatment Program (SRTP). The legislators are Reps. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland), Eric Davanzo (R-Westmoreland), Leslie Rossi (R-Westmoreland), Abby Major (R-Armstrong/Westmoreland), Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland) and Brian Rasel (R-Westmoreland).

The bill would require:
• All individuals discharged from the SRTP to be subject to lifetime sexual offender registration and oversight requirements, regardless of when they were adjudicated delinquent.
• All counties to participate in the placement process and assist in identifying appropriate housing and support services for individuals discharged from the SRTP who are returning to their communities.
• The establishment of a network of supervised transitional homes throughout Pennsylvania designed specifically for individuals discharged from the SRTP.
• The extension of the required outpatient treatment and supervision period from one year to two years.

Westmoreland County House Delegation Works to Better Protect Citizens from Juvenile Sex Offenders

“Habitual overspending weighs heavy in years to come. With the Rainy Day Fund squandered, there won’t be enough marijuana to consume to make up for Harrisburg’s overspending. We must tighten the belt now to avoid significant cuts or tax increase later.

“The governor’s budget does propose positive investments, including hiring 380 more state police as well as prioritizing K-12 education. His acknowledgement of the role that private industry plays in job creation is encouraging and I hope he will continue to recognize that industries and economies grow and create new jobs despite government, not because of it.”

Nelson: Shapiro's Budget Is More of the Same

Supports training hotel, restaurant and short-term-rental workers to identify human trafficking.

Plans to require lifetime registration and expand supervision and transitional housing for people discharged from the Sexual Responsibility and Treatment Program.

Supports hiring 380 additional state police officers.

- Supports training hotel, restaurant and short-term-rental workers to identify human trafficking.
- Plans to require lifetime registration and expand supervision and transitional housing for people discharged from the Sexual Responsibility and Treatment Program.
- Supports hiring 380 additional state police officers.

Public Safety

Supports returning the Pennsylvania General Assembly to a part-time Legislature.

- Supports returning the Pennsylvania General Assembly to a part-time Legislature.

Voting & Elections

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- Calls for the Pennsylvania departments of Health and Human Services to use resources to identify solutions for rural maternity-care gaps.

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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. 
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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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