Dear Neighbor,
This week began and ended on a very sad note, as my House colleagues and I learned on Sunday of the untimely passing of our dear friend and colleague, State Representative Matt Gergely. Today I attended his funeral services, and the outpouring of love and support for his family served as a true testament to how well he was loved and what a strong and lasting impact he has made through his decades of service to his community. Matt will be very dearly missed, and my heart goes out to his wife Holly and their two sons.
Matt represented the 35th Legislative District, in Allegheny County. He first took office in 2023, following a special election to replace former state representative, now Lieutenant Governor, Austin Davis, and won re-election in November 2024. A special election will be held on March 25 to fill Rep. Gergely’s seat.
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Over the past several weeks, my team and I have been hard at work preparing for the first week of voting session. In preparation for the upcoming session, I have met with committee chairs and fellow committee members to discuss how each committee plans to operate and what our priorities will be as we move toward budget season.
I am newly assigned to the Education Committee this session, and I am eager to work with my colleagues on the important issues there. There have also been some changes to the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee (ERE), where I served for my first three terms. This session, ERE has been split into the Energy Committee, chaired by Rep. Liz Fiedler, and the newly formed Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee, chaired by long-time ERE chair Rep. Greg Vitali, where I will serve.
As a returning member of the Government Oversight, Health, Human Services, and Liquor Control committees, I’m excited to continue the work my colleagues and I began last session and finally bring some of the legislation we have been working on to the finish line.
The Education, Environmental, Health, Human Services, and Liquor committees are all scheduled to meet next week, so we are off and running!
Click here to view the upcoming House Committee Meetings.
Click here to watch House Committee Meetings and Session.
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PSEA Special Education Roundtable
On Thursday, my team and I attended a Special Education Roundtable hosted by PSEA. This event was a great opportunity for legislators from the southeastern region of the state to hear directly from special education teachers and support staff on the issues our educators are facing. We shared what we as legislators can do to address our teacher shortage, improve educator safety, and increase collaboration between our teachers, schools, and state education agencies.
Following the roundtable, I had the opportunity to speak with several of the educators who work in the 155th Legislative District and learn more about how I can support them as they seek to provide the best services they can for our students. As the school year moves on and budget season approaches, I look forward to having more conversations like these to ensure the needs of our students, educators, and school communities are prioritized.
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CCLS Customer Satisfaction Survey
The Chester County Library System wants your feedback!
CCLS just launched their annual Customer Satisfaction Survey for 2025 and would like to hear from you. The results of this survey will help to improve services and ensure our community is best served.
The survey is available until February 21 and can be completed here.
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If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on any legislative or state-related issue, please contact our district office at RepOtten@PaHouse.net.
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2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period NOW OPEN
The 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period is now open and accepting application for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2024.
Thanks to changes we made in 2023, more people are eligible, with income limits adjusted to keep pace with Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has made it easier for seniors in Chester County to stay in their homes and afford groceries, medicine, and so much more.
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older.
Please call or stop by my office to find out if you’re eligible and get assistance applying for your rebate. We’d be glad to answer any questions and set up an appointment to help you complete your application online!
For those who prefer to file by mail, paper applications will be available in my office soon, and we will update here when they come in.
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LIHEAP Applications are Available!
The application process for the annual Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is open!
LIHEAP provides help with home heating bills so that Pennsylvanians can stay warm and safe during the winter months. Assistance is available for both renters and homeowners.
For eligibility requirements and information on how to apply visit:?dhs.pa.gov/LIHEAP.
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SEPTA Senior Key Cards and Card Renewals
If you have a SEPTA Senior Key Card that has expired or will expire within the next month, we can renew it in our district office. To renew your card before it expires, please stop by my district office, or call us to make an appointment.
My office can also process applications and take photos for new SEPTA Senior Key ID Cards, which allow seniors 65 and older to travel for free on all SEPTA Regional Rail and transit routes within Pennsylvania. Just stop by my district office and bring a form of ID with your date of birth on it, such as a PA driver’s license or non-driver ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate. We’ll enter your information into SEPTA’s online system, take a quick photo, and then SEPTA will mail your new card to you directly.
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2-1-1 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health and Human Services
211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide health and human services for everyday needs and those in crisis situations.
2-1-1 works with county governments and provider agencies to ensure important local program information is easily accessible.
Visit 211sepa.org for more information.
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Mental Health Resources: Call 9-8-8
Chester County residents experiencing mental-health-related crisis or distress can dial 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.?This system is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people in crisis to a trained mental health professional.
Chester County offers additional resources for those in crisis, including Chester County’s warm line, 1-866-846-2722, operated by Certified Peer Specialists, who are individuals in recovery with a lived experience of mental health challenges.
Chester County’s Teen Talk Line ensures seamless referral to Mobile Crisis for youth in need of immediate or higher-level support. The call line is 855-852-TEEN (8336), and the text line is 484-362-9515.
Visit the?Department of Human Services website for more information about the 988 system and other state and local mental health resources.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, please don’t give up hope, and please know that you do not need to walk this path alone. We are here and we will do whatever we can to help.
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My staff and I are here to help make state government work better for you! For assistance with the above programs or any other state-related services, please email repotten@pahouse.net, call 484-200-8259, or visit my district office in Exton.
Please don’t hesitate to call, email, or contact us through my website and let us know how we can help!
Sincerely,
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Danielle Friel Otten
State Representative,
155th Legislative District
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Pennsylvania State Capitol
34 East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-5009
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District Office
631 Pottstown Pike
Exton, PA 19341
(484) 200-8259
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