Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility New Funding to Celebrate the World Cup, Making Progress in Harrisburg, and more!

New Funding to Celebrate the World Cup, Making Progress in Harrisburg, and more!

PA Representative Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz banner image

Dear Neighbor & Estimado Vecino,

 

I hope you are well. I want to share important information about my ongoing work. As always, please feel free to reach out to my office for help with any state-related issues. To stay informed, ?visit my official page. You can also check your?preferences?to make sure you're signed up for?my emails.?

 

Espero que estén bien. Me gustaría compartir información importante sobre mi trabajo en curso. Y no olvides?visitar mi página oficial?para mantenerte informado.?También puede verificar sus?preferencias?para asegurarse de que está registrado para recibir mis correos electrónicos.   

 

 

In Harrisburg

 

House Passes my Bill to Improve Sales Tax Compliance

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This week, the House passed HB 2300, my legislation which will help businesses become sales tax compliant, with overwhelming bipartisan support.

 

As a former small businessowner, I know how hard it can be to run a business. This legislation will ensure that businesses that are not compliant on their sales taxes are enrolled in a program to automatically send their sales tax to the state, allowing them to get back on track and continue serving the community.

 

 

Working for You in Harrisburg

This week, my House colleagues and I passed important bills that will help our neighbors and improve communities:

 

We’re making Big Tech pay their fair share by taxing digital ads (HB 1678) and using every penny to prevent any property tax hikes for older homeowners. We’re also expanding housing options and helping people afford to stay in their communities by preventing arbitrary limits on unrelated roommates, also known as the Golden Girls Law (HB 2109).

 

We’re supporting workers and small businesses by allowing small business owners to claim a tax credit for contributing to their employees’ health insurance premiums through Pennie (HB 2550).

 

We’re supporting our first responders by helping volunteer, municipal, and combined fire companies pay for new trucks, safety gear, and station upgrades (HB 2446).

 

We’re ensuring that every vote counts in a timely manner by allowing counties to pre-canvass mail ballots (HB 37) and keeping foreign money out of elections (HB 497).

 

We’re supporting families by guarding the right to fertility treatments in Pennsylvania (HB 836).

 

We’re expanding protections against nonconsensual sharing of real or AI-generated intimate images (HB 2252).

 

We’re protecting your health by banning PFAS “forever chemicals” in cosmetics, dental floss, juvenile products, and menstrual products (HB 2145).

 

You can learn more about these bills and watch us live at work on the House website.

 

 

Standing up for Safe Communities

I joined several of my colleagues from the PA Safe Caucus to highlight the important work that Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) programs have done to reduce gun violence, strengthen community safety, and save lives across Pennsylvania.

 

 

Property Tax/Rent Rebate Deadline Extended!

Applications for Property Tax/Rent Rebates are available, and the deadline to apply has now been extended to Dec. 31! This program gives money back to PA renters and homeowners for the taxes they paid in 2025 - including seniors, widows and widowers, and those with disabilities.

 

You can learn more here and contact my office for support with your application.

 

 

You May Have Unclaimed Property - We Can Help!

Many Pennsylvanians have unclaimed property -- money from dormant bank accounts, insurance payments, and uncashed checks --  and you may be one of them!

 

My office can help you receive this unclaimed property. Contact us or go to PATreasury.gov/unclaimed-property to see if there is anything available in your name.

 

 

In the District

 

THE WORLD CUP IS HERE!

The World Cup is here - in more ways than one! Not only did the competition start yesterday, but there are several games being played right here in Pennsylvania.
 
I had the honor of joining the Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce in announcing $250,000 in grant funding I secured to support the 222 Corridor Summer Soccer Series - which will bring opportunities to view the World Cup and connect over soccer right here in our community, as well as in Lancaster and Allentown.
 
In our community, soccer is more than a sport. It’s family, culture, pride, and a powerful way to bring people together. This investment will help drive tourism, support small businesses, and create opportunities that will benefit our local economy long after the final match is played.
 
Reading has been selected as an official FIFA Fan Zone, and I am excited to see our city take center stage as we welcome visitors and celebrate everything our community has to offer.
You can find a full breakdown of the 222 Corridor's events here.
 
Experience Reading & Berks County will also be hosting watch parties at Santander Arena on July 3, 4, 18 and 19. All four watch parties are free, but registration is required, which can be done here.
 

 

Supporting Dreams Becoming Reality

It was an honor to attend the Turning Dreams into Reality Breakfast, hosted by the Literacy Council of Reading-Berks, which serves our community through working to end illiteracy and helping to teach English as a second language. You can learn more about their work here.
 

 

Honoring our Sierra Leonean Community

Members of my staff attended a Sierra Leone Association of Reading Gala. Under the leadership of President Mohamed Sillah, SLAR continues to make a lasting impact across Berks County through service, civic engagement, and youth development. With their fundraisers and community partnerships, nearly $100,000 has been raised to support education in our community.
 
Thank you for the work you do to invest in youth, strengthen communities, and build a brighter future for Berks County! You can learn more about their work here.
 

 

Reading Wants to Hear from You

City property owners, businesses and developers seeking to have land added to or removed from Reading’s City Revitalization and Improvement Zone, or CRIZ, have until July 31 to submit applications for consideration during the 2026 map change cycle.
 
More information and application material can be found here.
 

 

New Farming Grants Now Available

Horizon Farm Credit just launched a new $20,000 grant for Young, Beginning, and Small Farmers and will award 10 grants. You can learn more here.
 

 

My Property Tax/Rent Rebate Days

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is accepting applications for rebates on taxes paid in 2025! My staff will be at the Spring Township Municipal Building (2850 Windmill Road, Sinking Spring) every second and fourth Friday of the month, ahead of the Dec. 31 application deadline, to help you apply. The next event will be on June 26.
 

 

Community Events

 

New Youth Resource Hub Now Available

The Daniel Torres Hispanic Center has created a page to help Reading families find free and low-cost programs for children and teens. You can check out the RDG Youth Resource HUB, in both English and Spanish, here.

 

 

You Are Not Alone: Crisis Intervention Resources

Holcomb Crisis Intervention in West Reading offers a free crisis program to support our neighbors experiencing varying levels of crisis, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in both English and Spanish.

 

You can learn more about their work here, and if you or someone you know needs help, you can walk in, call 610-379-2007, or text 484-816-7865 for support.

 

 

Local Food Resources

If you or someone you know needs food assistance, please reach out to my office to find out where you can find help. You can also click here to go to Helping Harvest's website, which has a map of over 350 charitable food program partners in our area.

Helping Harvest will also be collecting non-perishable food items throughout the year at their programs and events. You can learn more about those and how to ensure our neighbors are fed here.

 

 

Mobile Mammogram Screenings Available

Routine mammograms are important to find the first signs of breast cancer. Tower Health has started its Mobile Mammography stops for 2026, with stops across our community. You can find locations and days here.

 

As always, my team and I are here to help you navigate state programs and services. Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or ideas. If you can't make it into my district office, you can visit one of my satellite offices! Find my office information below:

 

Centro Hispano Casa Senior Center

25 N. 2nd St., Reading, PA, 19601

Every Thursday from 9 a.m. to Noon

 

Spring Township Municipal Building

2850 Windmill Road, Sinking Spring, PA, 19608

2nd and 4th Fridays of each month from 9 a.m. to Noon

 

We also host DAV Services (Disabled American Veterans) in my office.

1111 Penn Ave., Wyomissing, PA 19610

Every other Monday from 9 a.m. to Noon

 

Pennsylvania State Capitol

104-A East Wing Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-1858

District Office

1111 Penn Ave.
Wyomissing, PA 19610

(484) 577-2756

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