Many of you may have heard about the recent court ruling ordering Allegheny County to conduct a countywide property reassessment.

I know this news has raised a lot of questions – and concerns – for homeowners throughout our region. And while this reassessment was court-ordered, I believe the ruling highlights a much larger problem that Pennsylvania has failed to address for far too long.

Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that does not require counties to conduct property reassessments on a regular schedule. Some counties have gone more than 50 years without one.

The result is a system that can be unpredictable, inconsistent, and unfair. Similar properties can be assessed very differently, and homeowners can see their property tax burden shift simply because one property was recently sold or appealed, while another hasn’t been reassessed in decades.

Taxpayers deserve better.

That’s why Rep. Emily Kinkead and I are preparing to introduce legislation that would require all 67 counties across Pennsylvania to conduct property reassessments on a regular 10-year cycle. Our proposal will echo legislation introduced in the Senate by Sen. Wayne Fontana, and would strengthen the role of the State Tax Equalization Board in making sure counties comply.

To be clear, our legislation is separate from the court-ordered reassessment now facing Allegheny County. That decision came from the court, not the state legislature. However, the ruling underscores why Pennsylvania needs a better system in the first place. A lawsuit shouldn’t be what finally triggers a fair and accurate assessment of property values.

Property taxes affect homeowners, renters, school districts, and municipalities across Pennsylvania. We have an opportunity to replace an outdated and inequitable system with one that is fairer, more transparent, and more predictable. I’ll keep you updated as our legislation is formally introduced and moves through the House.

Back to school season is officially here! Some students in our district are already back in classrooms, while others will head back next week.

This year feels a little different for me, since before I had the privilege of representing our community in Harrisburg, I was a teacher. This will be my first fall in many years that I won’t be heading back into a classroom myself.

As students throughout our district head back to school, I’m thinking about all of them – and about the teachers and staff getting their classrooms and buildings ready to welcome them.

For some kids, the first day of school can’t come soon enough, but it’s important to know that for others, the start of the school year can bring anxiety and stress. If that is your student, they’re certainly not alone, and if anxiety grows more than the typical back-to-school nerves, there are people in the community ready to help.

Outreach Teen & Family Services, located at 615 Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon, has been supporting local children, teens, and families for more than 50 years. Outreach offers affordable and accessible counseling, coaching, education, and support for young people and their families. For more information, visit OutreachTeen.org or call 412-561-5405.

To all our students: I hope this year brings you teachers who inspire you, friends who make you feel welcome, opportunities to discover something new, and the confidence to ask for help when you need it. Be curious, work hard, and be kind to one another.

To my fellow educators – along with the paraprofessionals, bus drivers, crossing guards, cafeteria workers, custodians, school nurses, administrators and everyone else who makes a school community work – thank you. I know firsthand how much you give to your students every day.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit has released its Proposed Final Network, the latest step in its effort to redesign bus service throughout Allegheny County – and several proposed changes could directly affect riders here in our district.

Proposals for our district include a new bus route providing seven-day local service across the South Hills, with connections to the West and South Busways, all three light rails, Pittsburgh International Airport and Downtown Pittsburgh.

The plan also calls for restoring a direct connection between Mt. Lebanon and Oakland! Many of you might remember the former 44U, a route that was discontinued in 2011. Restoration of that route would greatly benefit University of Pittsburgh students commuting from the area, as well as locals who work in Oakland at UMPC, Pitt, and other East End employers.

I’m a huge supporter of public transportation, and it’s vital for our neighbors to be able to use it for work, school, medical appointments, shopping and other essential destinations. I also advocate for the people who use our transit system having a voice in what comes next.

If you want to voice your opinion, the public comment period on the PRT plan is open through Sept. 30. You can also attend a PRT public hearing at the Heinz 56 Center, 345 Sixth Ave, 7th Floor in Downtown Pittsburgh on Aug. 25 and Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to noon and 3-6 p.m.

I encourage you to look at the proposed network and share your feedback. It’s an opportunity for YOU to help shape public transportation in our communities for years to come.

My office has had quite a few seniors call or stop in with questions about changes coming to PRT’s fare system, particularly what those changes mean for their Senior ConnectCards.

What you need to know is that changes are indeed coming, but Senior ConnectCard holders do not need to take any immediate action.

While PRT is in the process of replacing its older system with a new fare system called ReadyFare, the transition is happening in phases, and the phase for updating Senior ConnectCards is not here yet!

When the changeover does begin, seniors will have plenty of time to update their cards, and my office is here to help. In the meantime, your current Senior ConnectCard continues to be accepted and seniors age 65 and older continue to ride PRT for free!

This week, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order establishing stronger requirements for data center developers with a focus on protecting energy affordability, our environment, and the ability of local communities to have a say in projects that affect them.

Under the order, the Department of Environmental Protection will only review permit applications after developers have received local approval and made legally binding commitments to meet the state’s Responsible Infrastructure Development requirements.

I strongly support this action, and I’ll continue fighting alongside my colleagues in the House for greater accountability from Big Tech developers and much stronger requirements for these projects.

There are some incredibly talented young people living in our district making their mark on a global stage, including the TerraBridges Robotics Team.

Last week, I joined Sen. Devlin Robinson and Rep. Natalie Mihalek at Upper St. Clair High School to celebrate the students, educators and mentors of USC Robotics, including the TerraBridges team that recently came home with an international championship victory!

TerraBridges beat out some of the best robotics teams from around the world, and seeing what these students designed and built was so impressive. On top of their incredible technical skills, they’re learning how to work together, think creatively, troubleshoot when something doesn’t work, and keep at it until they figure it out.

I’m so proud to see this kind of talent and innovation right here in our district, and it’s a great example of why investing in STEM education is an investment in our region’s future.

Dormont welcomed a brand-new Sutphen pumper to its fire fleet last week – four years after the vehicle was first ordered! This one is especially meaningful to me, as I was proud to cast my vote to purchase the truck while on Dormont Borough Council.

Making sure our first responders have safe, reliable, and up-to-date vehicles and equipment is one of the most important investments a community can make. Since our local fire departments regularly assist neighboring communities, this investment also helps protect residents beyond Dormont’s borders.

I was glad to join Chief Stakich and members of the Dormont Fire Department, members of Borough Council and former Fire Chief Mat Davis to help push the new truck into the station – a fire service tradition marking the arrival of a new apparatus. Here’s to many years of service of protecting Dormont and our neighboring communities!

My Senior Resource Fair & Vaccine Clinic is approaching! There will be opportunities to learn about programs, benefits, health resources and other services from organizations and agencies that serve older adults and their families.

Renting a house or apartment comes with rights and responsibilities, but figuring out exactly what those are isn’t always easy.

That’s why I’m hosting a Renters’ Rights Forum this fall, taking place Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 6-8 p.m. at Dormont Public Library. You’ll have a chance to connect with local experts, ask questions, and obtain information and resources that can help. Whether you have questions about leases, repairs, security deposits or other landlord-tenant issues, you can learn more about your rights and where to turn when you need help.

There are several new state grant opportunities available that could benefit municipalities, schools, nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations in our region.

Two new grant memos are now available on my website, focusing on Creative Industries and Economic Development, as well as Main Street and Workforce Development opportunities. You can always visit my website for the latest on grants, deadlines, and how to apply.

My district office can help residents with a wide range of state-related issues, including Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications, PennDOT and driver’s license questions, unemployment compensation, state benefits, disability placards, birth and death certificates, unclaimed property, professional licensing and more.

If you’re not sure whether your problem involves state government, give us a call anyways at 412-343-3870! If we aren’t the right office for you, we’ll do our best to connect you with someone who can help. You can also always stop into the office at 650 Washington Road, Suite 102 in Mt. Lebanon.

District Office

650 Washington Rd., Suite 102
Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228

(412) 343-3870

Pennsylvania State Capitol

117B East Wing

Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-1850