Dear Neighbor,
As the year winds down, the Pennsylvania House is preparing for its final session days of 2025. These closing days are always a chance to reflect on what we have accomplished together and focus on the work that still lies ahead. They also provide an opportunity to continue that work and take some critical steps in the lengthy legislative process. Next week, the House session agenda includes important legislation that I introduced with my colleagues Rep. Liz Hanbidge and Rep. La’Tasha Mayes.
On Tuesday, our HB 1957 – Reproductive Rights Amendment, is expected to come up for second consideration, where members can introduce amendments and provide feedback. If the bill is agreed to at that stage, it will then advance on Wednesday to third consideration, giving members one more opportunity for debate before a final vote to determine whether it moves to the Senate.
The House Judiciary Committee held a public hearing to discuss this legislation on October 22. Immediately following the hearing, the committee voted to advance the bill, teeing it up for consideration on the House floor.
Our bill would give Pennsylvania voters the opportunity to ensure that reproductive liberty is permanently protected in our state constitution. This legislation comes at a pivotal moment in the national conversation on reproductive rights. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, the authority to regulate reproductive health care has shifted to individual states. In response, voters in more than a dozen states including Ohio, Michigan, Vermont, and California have approved constitutional amendments or ballot initiatives to protect reproductive rights. Our proposed amendment gives Pennsylvania the opportunity to join this national movement.
HB 1957 would reaffirm every Pennsylvanian’s right to privacy and ensure that the state shall not deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate personal decisions. This includes the right to choose or refuse an abortion, contraceptives, or fertility care, all without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, or relationship status.
As we prepare for the final votes of 2025, it is also worth reflecting on the work that was done—and not done—this past year, as Pennsylvanians endured a four-month budget impasse that brought frustration to every corner of the commonwealth. Throughout the budget standoff, the House continued to pass bipartisan bills to protect our communities, create good-paying jobs, and provide for seniors and working families. However, we failed to make meaningful progress on environmental goals, energy policy, or other priorities like minimum wage increases or firearm safety.
The budget we ultimately passed in November invests in our schools, strengthens health care and human services, supports childcare, and drives community and economic development, all without raising taxes or dipping into the Rainy Day Fund. Education funding, as always, was a central focus of this year’s budget. We fully funded the second installment of adequacy and tax equity payments for public schools, a $565 million increase statewide. We enacted long overdue reforms to cyber charter schools to strengthen accountability and transparency. The budget also invests $100 million in school safety and mental health grants, helping districts build safer environments and expand access to critical services for students. Support for public libraries increased by more than 7%, ensuring communities have access to resources that foster learning and opportunity. I am especially proud to see the continuation of the Student Teacher Support Program, legislation I championed in previous sessions, which was level funded at $30 million to ensure aspiring teachers receive financial support during their training and can enter the profession without unnecessary barriers.
Beyond education, the budget also invests roughly $100 million in community and economic development programs that strengthen local economies, support business growth, and create opportunities across Pennsylvania. We delivered a $200 million tax cut for working families through the new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. Almost a million hardworking Pennsylvanians qualify, with families receiving up to $800 back depending on household size. Even individuals without children benefit, with credits starting at $65. For example, a family that qualifies for a $2,000 federal credit will now receive an additional $200 from Pennsylvania, simple and direct relief that makes a difference. By putting money directly back into the pockets of working people, this tax cut will help families afford essentials like groceries, utilities, and gas while strengthening local economies across the Commonwealth.
Together, these budget wins reflect what is possible when we stand up for our values and put Pennsylvanians first. But our work is far from finished. The state budget process begins again in just two short months, and we must set our sights on avoiding another standoff in 2026. That means realigning our priorities to ensure continued progress in education, community development, and tax relief, while finally addressing critical issues like environmental and energy policy. By building on this year’s successes and tackling the challenges ahead with clarity and resolve, we can deliver a stronger, fairer, and more sustainable future for every Pennsylvanian.
Public Comment on the PUC Model Tariff for Large Load Customers
Electric bills are rising in Pennsylvania and beyond, thanks to a huge increase in demand driven by the actual and projected energy needs of data centers.
Just one large-scale data center can consume as much power as tens of thousands of homes. As data centers’ demand on our electric grid grows, it is critical that residential ratepayers and the stability and reliability of our energy grid are protected. Pennsylvania families and taxpayers should not be left footing the bill for the massive power needs of data centers or bearing the environmental or public health impacts of data center development.
Now through December 22, the PUC is accepting public comments on its tentative order proposing a model tariff for Large Load Customers like data centers. (A “tariff” in this case is the official document that spells out how the electric utilities will structure their rates, charges, and terms of service for large, high-energy-use customers.)
If you are concerned about the financial, environmental, and public health impacts of data center development, contact the PUC and make your voice heard!
Get step-by-step instructions for submitting your comment to the PUC.