Dear Neighbor,

Our work in Harrisburg continues! I am happy to announce that two bills I introduced have made it out of committee and will come to a vote.

House Bill 819 would help to expand access to rigorous academic courses, such as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes.

House Bill 411, a reintroduction from last session, would provide a cost-of-living adjustment to state employees who retired prior to 2001. I will be sure to keep you updated on their progress.

On the House chamber floor, we voted to protect your health care by passing legislation to enshrine the most popular & critical aspects of the Affordable Care Act, so you can continue to enjoy those long fought-for safeguards no matter what happens at the federal level. This package of four bills – now under consideration by the state Senate – would:

• Allow parents to keep their children insured on their plan until age 26. (H.B. 404)

• Stop insurance executives from “capping” your coverage (i.e. stop paying for your care) if they decide your care has become too expensive. (H.B. 535)

• Protect coverage for pre-existing conditions, and make sure you cannot be turned down for coverage because of one. (H.B. 618)

• Require health insurance policies to cover preventive health care services. (H.B. 755)

I also had the honor of hosting the Consul General of Germany, Till Knorn, who spoke in the PA House about the special connection between Germany and Pennsylvania.

Don’t forget PA’s child/dependent care tax credit this season

Families with child or dependent care expenses: if you’re eligible, please take advantage of PA’s Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit before the April 15, 2025, tax filing deadline.

This credit, expanded under a law we passed last session in the legislature, provides financial relief to working families with child or dependent care expenses.

The credit matches 100% of the federal Child Care Tax Credit, offering a maximum of $1,050 for one child/dependent and $2,100 for two or more, with minimums of $600 and $1,200, respectively. Eligibility includes expenses for children under 13, spouses, or other dependents who are physically or mentally incapable of self-care. The credit is refundable, meaning taxpayers can receive a full refund after tax obligations.

To claim the credit, taxpayers must file a PA-40 form along with PA Schedule DC, Federal Form 2441, and 1040 Schedule 3. The Department of Revenue encourages filing through myPATH, Pennsylvania’s free online tax filing system.

You can find more information about the tax credit here or contact my office.

New Electric Vehicle Tax to Take Effect

A heads up for constituents who drive EVs: Starting April 1, 2025, PA will begin to charge electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) owners a yearly Road User Charge (RUC).

In 2024, Act 85 (later amended by Act 149) was passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro, setting the Commonwealth on a path to modernize how EV and PHEV vehicle owners support road and bridge maintenance.

If you drive a gas-powered car, you already help pay to maintain Pennsylvania’s road and bridge network through gas taxes. The new law creates a fair way for all drivers to help maintain Pennsylvania’s transportation network, ensuring that EV and PHEV owners who pay no or very little gas tax are also contributing to Pennsylvania’s Motor License Fund for highway and bridge maintenance.

If you own an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, here’s what you need to know:

1) If your registration expires after May 2025, you’ll need to pay the new fee.

2) PennDOT will send you a form with the payment details.

For more information, click here. 

Attention Montgomery County Veterans:

Join us in our office on April 10 from 10 a.m. to noon

to register your DD214 and receive a Veteran’s Discount Card:

In addition to the events above, please save the date for:

Shred & E-waste Event: Saturday, May 31

10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Montgomery Mall in North Wales

Family Fest: Saturday, June 21

10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Souderton Borough Community Park

Learning about Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lansdale's (VMSC) new lifesaving

Pre-Hospital Whole Blood Program, which gives paramedics the ability to administer whole blood transfusions on emergency scenes and in the ambulance. 

Honoring Dr. Charles D. Amuso at the Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet. Some of Dr. Amuso’s most notable contributions include overseeing the construction of the new Souderton Area High School while superintendent, and developing the Rotary scholarship program for graduating seniors at the high school and Dock Mennonite Academy. He currently chairs the North Montco Technical Career Center Education Foundation. 

I had a wonderful time speaking with Dock Mennonite Academy students

about working in state government.

Pennsylvania State Capitol
G-11 Irvis Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 783-8515

District Office

100 West Main St., Suite 110
Lansdale, PA 19446

(267) 768-3671