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Capitol Report
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Happening in Harrisburg
Last week in Harrisburg, I had the opportunity to meet with members of the Reading-Berks Association of Realtors. Our discussions focused on critical issues facing the local real estate market, including the ongoing housing crisis and the specifics of the Real Estate License and Registration Act. We also delved into several other pressing real estate concerns impacting Berks County. Thank you to all who attended!
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In the Fifth
Honoring Deputy Pagerly
The Berks County Sheriff's Office recently held its annual roll call at the Pagerly Memorial Bench, a poignant tradition honoring the sacrifice of Deputy Kyle D. Pagerly. The bench, located outside the County Services Center, serves as a permanent reminder of Deputy Pagerly, who was tragically killed in the line of duty on June 29, 2011, in Albany Township, Pennsylvania. This service is a heartfelt tribute to Deputy Pagerly's unwavering dedication and the ultimate sacrifice he made for the safety and well-being of the Berks County community.
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Thin Blue Line Heroes’ Ride
This past Saturday, Classic Harley-Davidson in Leesport, Berks County, hosted The Thin Blue Line Heroes’ Ride, a powerful event honoring two local fallen officers. The memorial motorcycle ride paid tribute to Officer Scott Wertz of the Reading Police Department and Deputy Kyle Pagerly of the Berks County Sheriff’s Office. The event brought the community together to remember their sacrifice and dedication.
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The Pennsylvania Prosperity Plan
The 2025-26 fiscal year gets underway tomorrow, Tuesday, July 1, and it appears unlikely the Commonwealth will have a budget in place by the end of session today in time to meet our June 30 deadline. Why?
Pennsylvania is barreling toward a fiscal cliff, and Gov. Josh Shapiro is at the wheel. Revenues are not keeping pace with spending, and our budgetary reserves are being rapidly depleted. There are only a few options to avoid financial catastrophe – raising taxes, cutting services or stimulating economic growth.
The Pennsylvania Prosperity Plan, a culmination of House Republican ideas and bills, focuses on key areas to grow the economy and keep state government spending in check. Our plan focuses on three key areas:
• Unleash Pennsylvania’s energy industry: House Republicans believe our best solution to avoiding the fiscal cliff is to grow our economy, particularly in the energy industry.
• Support efficient government: Government works best when it is efficient. We need to focus on stopping government waste, fraud and abuse.
• Support student-centered education: Education is a vital tool in increasing economic power. By focusing on the individual needs of students and training students for the jobs of today and tomorrow, we can build a world-class, home-grown workforce.
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In Pursuit of Government Efficiency
With the state budget deadline looming, the House Republican Policy Committee held a public hearing last week highlighting real-world examples of how state government agencies can operate more effectively without expanding bureaucracy.
The hearing featured testimony from Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity and Pennsylvania State Treasury Policy Director Thomas Armstrong, showcasing Treasury’s measurable successes in modernizing operations, cutting waste and delivering better service to Pennsylvanians – all while keeping spending under control.
Garrity’s results-driven leadership stands in stark contrast to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget, which grows government without delivering measurable reform. Instead of bloated bureaucracy, Treasury’s approach reflects what Pennsylvanians expect from their government: smart management, responsible spending and tangible results.
Watch the hearing here. |
Natural Gas Impact Fees Help Local Communities
In addition to supporting the state’s growing energy needs and providing good-paying careers, Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry contributed nearly $165 million in impact fees in 2024.
Under Act 13 of 2012, impact fees are collected from natural gas drilling companies with 60% returned to counties and municipalities affected by drilling. The rest of the money goes into a Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund, a portion of which is provided to counties. The remaining funds are used by the state for emergency response planning, training and other activities; water, storm water, and sewer system construction and repair; infrastructure maintenance and repair; as well as statewide environmental initiatives.
Click here to view detailed reports of the funding distribution. |
No AI in Political Ads
In keeping with our commitment to election integrity, I recently joined my fellow House lawmakers in the unanimous passage of legislation that would outlaw the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to misrepresent a candidate in political campaign advertisements.
House Bill 811 would ban AI impersonation in any form of media, including text, image, video and sound “that appears to establish, resemble or represent an individual in a way that did not occur in reality” for campaign advertisements without their consent. It also would establish fines for those who violate the law.
If the measure is enacted, Pennsylvania would join at least 14 other states that have taken action related to AI use in campaigns.
The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. |
State Higher Education Grant Application Now Open
In case you missed it, the 2025-26 PA State Grant application is now available to students pursuing higher education. Remember, you must also file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to qualify for a state grant, as well as financial aid offered through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).
Visit www.pheaa.org/signin to submit your state grant application and take care of any additional action items.
For more details and answers to frequently asked questions, go to www.pheaa.org/grant.
Don’t miss out. Get a head start on your financial aid today! |
Inheritance Scam Alert!
State officials are urging you to stay vigilant after a scam was reported involving someone posing as a Commonwealth employee.
The reported scam uses a fake email to target older Pennsylvanians and request money through licensed financial institutions to receive a fake inheritance. In the recently reported incident, the victim was asked to pay upfront fees in order for the inheritance to be released – the fees would total hundreds of thousands of dollars over nearly a one-year period.
To protect yourself:
• Don’t respond to suspicious emails or texts.
• Don’t trust messages about winning money or getting an inheritance from someone you do not know.
• Do not feel pressured to act quickly or in secret.
• Check email addresses. Scammers can spoof emails, sending an email that looks like it is from a trusted source. Official emails from Pennsylvania state agencies always end in @pa.gov.
• Watch out for fake websites. Official state websites end in pa.gov and will always display the Commonwealth logo with the text “Official website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” on the top left corner of a web page.
• Know that Pennsylvania agencies will not threaten immediate legal action or license suspension without proper notice.
Read more about this incident here.
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PennDOT Seeking Workers for Winter Maintenance Program
While we are still feeling the summer heat, PennDOT is preparing for cooler temperatures by gearing up for its winter maintenance program.
Positions available may include CDL equipment operators, mechanics, dispatchers, tradesman helpers and semi-skilled laborers. The positions pay between $17.38 per hour to $28.37 per hour. The winter maintenance program runs from September through April.
Anyone wishing to apply should visit www.employment.pa.gov and go to the PennDOT Winter Maintenance Program posting.
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Let's Get Connected
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Our District
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Web Site
rep .com
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| Office Locations |
| District Office: Reading Regional Airport - Main Terminal, 2501 Bernville Road, Box 4, Reading, PA, 19605 | Phone: (610) 378-4407, FAX: (610) 378-4412 | Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
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| Capitol Office: 432 Irvis Office Building, Harrisburg, Pa 17020-2005 | PO Box 202005 | Phone: 717-772-9940 |
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