Bizzarro begins new term in House, Leadership
Democrats continue to prioritize workers, working families
Rep. Ryan Bizzarro January 7, 2025 | 3:13 PM
HARRISBURG, Jan. 7 – Motivated by the wins for working families and older Pennsylvanians secured last session, Rep. Ryan Bizzarro is back for more as the Pennsylvania House of Representatives begins meeting for the 2025-2026 legislative session.
“Over the last two years we cut taxes and worked to make life easier for millions of Pennsylvanians, and I’m not done yet,” Bizzarro said. “I’ve spent the last two months working to get everyone ready for today and beyond – to keep passing good bills for a better Erie County.”
During the 2023-2024 legislative session, Erie County saw more than $92 million in state investments to fund schools, job training, nonprofits, first responders and the expansion of local businesses. Bizzarro’s actions in Harrisburg also allowed for local families struggling with daycare costs to get a tax cut, and for seniors to get more help affording property taxes, rent and prescription drugs.
Tuesday marks the official start of Bizzarro’s term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and he returns as a leader of the House Democratic Caucus, serving as the Policy Committee Chair.
“Taking government from Harrisburg into communities across Pennsylvania has helped shape the bills we pass,” Bizzarro said. “I look forward to hearing from more people in more places and sharing what House Democrats are doing to foster better jobs, better schools and better communities for everyone.”
Part of that effort includes working to find common ground with Senate Republicans, who walked away from important legislation Bizzarro voted on and passed in the House, including:
- Cutting taxes for working families with kids or other dependents.
- Ending junk fees on your monthly bills and stopping price gouging.
- The Patient Safety Act, which sets minimum staffing levels in hospitals.
- Helping people better afford retirement.
Bizzarro also remains committed to maximizing taxpayer dollars for working families by modernizing the PA Treasury. His reforms, including the MATH Act, have been supported by state Treasurer and Republican Stacy Garrity. The MATH Act consists of four bills that would allow Pennsylvania to keep pace with other states by increasing affordability in housing, supporting programs that help first-time homebuyers, updating how PA residents can recover unclaimed property and increasing economic development through investments in communities.
On Tuesday, Bizzarro joined the House in re-electing Rep. Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, to another term as Speaker of the House. Bizzarro was on the House Leadership team led by McClinton that oversaw the return of Democrats to majority control of the House in 2022, leading to her 2023 election that made her the first woman to be Pennsylvania’s Speaker of the House.
“Pennsylvania voters spoke loud and clear on Election Day, selecting lawmakers motivated to help workers and working families,” Bizzarro continued. “We connected with voters because of kitchen-table priorities, and I plan to join Speaker McClinton and my fellow House Democrats in continuing this work.”