Pa. House passes legislation freezing property taxes for longtime homeowners

(13 hours ago)

HARRISBURG, Oct. 8 – The Pennsylvania House on Monday unanimously passed a bill aimed at freezing property taxes for longtime homeowners. House Bill 2536 would amend the state constitution by removing the limitation permitting Longtime Owner-Occupant Programs only in Allegheny and Philadelphia counties, thereby enabling future legislation to allow all local taxing authorities the option to adopt such a program to provide greater levels of tax relief to seniors. LOOPs provide property tax relief to homeowners who have lived in their homes for at least 10 years by exempting or deferring property tax increases – even if their home assessment values increase in future years. “We’ve been hearing about the impact high property taxes have, particularly on our senior citizens, for decades, so I am very pleased that my colleagues in the House unanimously supported our bill,” said state Rep. Christina Sappey, D-Chester , who sponsored the bill. “This legislation would provide local governments a way to help those who have lived in their homes over a decade and have felt the burden of rapidly rising property taxes the most. Our state constitution already allows Philadelphia and Allegheny counties the option of creating LOOPs. It’s time to make this mechanism available to the whole state. I believe creating options to address property tax burdens on an ever-aging state is a worthwhile endeavor.” Read more

 

O’Mara announces grant supporting local female police officers

(1 day ago)

State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara today announced a $120,000 grant to renovate Swarthmore Police Department headquarters, where work began at the end of last month. Read more

 

Sept. 20 e-mail: Mental Health Fair Happening Tomorrow

(Sep 20, 2024)

In recognition of Suicide Prevention Month, I wanted to ensure people know about locally available mental health care. Read more

 

Borowski & O’Mara join veterans to celebrate success of effort to make their gathering places safer

(Sep 17, 2024)

State Reps. Lisa Borowski and Jennifer O’Mara, along with the Delaware County Veterans Memorial Association, celebrated today a $40,000 grant the legislators helped secure to place automatic external defibrillators in all American Legion and VFW posts in Delaware County. Read more

 

Local Democratic lawmakers praise $10 million grant awarded to Delaware County Community College

(Sep 11, 2024)

Delaware County Democratic legislators applauded the Shapiro administration's move in granting $10 million to Delaware County Community College’s expansion project. Read more

 

Scanlon, Southeast Delegation join Fiedler to applaud signing of Solar for Schools

(Sep 10, 2024)

MEDIA, Sept. 10 -- U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Delaware/Chester/Montgomery, state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, and other members of the PA House Democratic Southeast Delegation celebrated the recent enactment of state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler’s Solar for Schools program Monday morning. Solar for Schools is a new state grant program designed to help school districts across Pennsylvania install solar panels on school grounds or roofs. The grants will cover up to 50% of the cost of solar projects for schools and can be paired with federal funding available through the Inflation Reduction Act. “My colleagues and I in Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act. This provides incentives for schools, nonprofits, and houses of worship to deploy wind, solar, and other renewable energy technologies to generate clean electricity,” Scanlon said. “I'm so excited that decades after I was on the school board, our state legislature, led by Representative Fiedler, stepped up and took this really important step so our school districts can do renovations, implement solar energy and other clean energy options, and reap the savings of those options. The IRA is an essential step, but it can’t be the last step.” "Solar for Schools is not just an opportunity to bring clean energy and good jobs to our school communities. It’s an innovative way to pair state and federal funds to benefit Pennsylvania’s Read more

 

State Representative Jennifer O’Mara secures $175,000 grant for Springfield Police Department to upgrade fleet

(Sep 09, 2024)

“Our police officers in Springfield are the backbone of our community's safety and security, working tirelessly every day to ensure that our neighborhoods are safe and secure,” said O’Mara. Read more

 

Sept. 6 e-mail: Recognizing Suicide Prevention Month

(Sep 06, 2024)

September is Suicide Prevention Month, an ideal time to remind people that help is available and that no one has to fight these battles alone. Read more

 

Vet's death leads to installment of AEDs at Delco VFW and American Legion posts

(Sep 04, 2024)

Pennsylvania state representatives Lisa Borowski and Jennifer O'Mara said they secured a $40,000 state grant that will be used to buy and install AEDs at all VFW and American Legion posts in Delaware County by the end of the year. The state representatives are partnering with the Newtown Square Fire Company, which will provide VFW staff members with training on how to use AEDs. Read more

 

Benham closes out statewide pharmacy tour with stops in southeastern PA

(Aug 27, 2024)

Celebrates new law to reform pharmacy benefit manager policy Read more

 

Aug. 23 e-mail: Kicking Off the School Year: Stay Safe and Informed

(Aug 23, 2024)

As a new school year begins, I’d like to extend my best wishes to Delco’s students, teachers, and school staff. Read more

 

Rep. O'Mara's August 2024 print newsletter

(Aug 14, 2024)

Print newsletter featuring information on Rep. O'Mara's latest bills, new laws, upcoming events, and more. Read more

 

August 9 e-mail: Working to make higher education more affordable and accessible

(Aug 09, 2024)

I was honored to join Gov. Josh Shapiro, Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, a bipartisan group of state and local legislators, higher education leaders, and students at Cheyney University for a ceremonial signing of historic higher education reforms, part of the 2024-25 budget. Read more

 

July 26 e-mail: Upcoming public hearings on proposed Aqua PA rate increases

(Jul 26, 2024)

The PUC has scheduled in-person and telephone public input hearings for next month regarding Aqua PA’s proposed rate increases for water and wastewater services. Read more

 

July 12 e-mail: Bipartisan budget passed

(Jul 12, 2024)

The efforts of months-long negotiations came to fruition as the legislature passed the state’s annual budget and Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the main spending bill into law last night. Read more

 

Bill would ease debt and tax bills for student borrowers

(Jul 02, 2024)

HARRISBURG, July 2 – As Pennsylvania lawmakers work to finalize the state budget and tuition bills are hitting mailboxes for the fall semester, two state lawmakers are looking to provide needed financial relief to student borrowers. State Reps. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, and Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., have introduced legislation ( H.B. 2476 ) that would exempt tuition reimbursement from the personal income tax, as well as codify that student loan forgiveness is not taxable income. According to the lawmakers, current and former college students in the U.S. have taken out approximately $1.75 trillion in student loans. Pennsylvania borrowers have an average of $39,375 in debt, making the state the third-highest average for student loan debt. The cost of both public and private four-year colleges has tripled since 1980, even when accounting for inflation, contributing to the need for students to take out more loans. “Pennsylvania is a state where borrowers struggle with student loans more than most,” O’Mara said. “It’s even more disheartening when they are handed a tax bill for what relief they do get from their employers in the form of tuition reimbursement. Students are constantly evaluating their career and financial paths to include ways to make college more affordable. When they find an employer who wants to help with those costs in exchange for getting a great employee, they shouldn’t be Read more

 

House lawmakers, families and advocates renew call for anti-bullying legislation in Pa.

(Jun 26, 2024)

HARRISBURG, June 26 – House lawmakers, families and advocates this week renewed their call to pass legislation that addresses anti-bullying policies in Pennsylvania schools. At a Capitol news conference on Monday, the family of Sammy Teusch, a child who was bullied at his school in Indiana and died by suicide on May 5, joined state Reps. Danilo Burgos and Joe Hohenstein, both D-Phila.; Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware; Kiria Cora, executive director of the Cora Foundation; and others to call upon the legislature to act on anti-bullying legislation. The legislation includes O’Mara’s House Bill 1293 , which would require schools to notify parents and legal guardians when their child is involved in or experiences bullying, and a comprehensive series of bills known as the Rights and Protections for All Students package, introduced by Hohenstein and others. The urgent plea follows a series of meetings with advocates and the families of victims of bulling – including the Teusch family. The lawmakers said increased bullying incidents have profound impacts on students’ mental health, academic performance and overall well-being. Burgos, who chairs the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus, urged for the passage these bills. “ Passing anti-bullying legislation to address and prevent bullying in schools is not about punishment but about prevention, Read more

 

June 14 e-mail: House passes landmark education funding reform bill

(Jun 14, 2024)

It’s budget month in Harrisburg, and as negotiations continue, the House did pass one bill to deliver historic education funding that would benefit every student in Pennsylvania. Read more

 

Pennsylvania Celebrates 45th Anniversary of Taiwan Relations Act

(Jun 05, 2024)

On Tuesday, State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara and fellow members of the bicameral Taiwan Caucuses marked the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. Read more

 

Rep. O’Mara and Taiwan Caucus chairs welcome Ambassador Lee from Taiwan to Harrisburg

(Jun 04, 2024)

“Pennsylvania’s partnership with Taiwan has brought immense economic, cultural and social benefits to both sides. As we commemorate the 45-year anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act and the adoption of House Resolution 439, we reaffirm our commitment to the values of democracy, mutual respect and shared success,” O’Mara said. Read more

 

Pa. House passes legislation freezing property taxes for longtime homeowners
13 hours ago

O’Mara announces grant supporting local female police officers
1 day ago

Sept. 20 e-mail: Mental Health Fair Happening Tomorrow
Sep 20, 2024

Borowski & O’Mara join veterans to celebrate success of effort to make their gathering places safer
Sep 17, 2024

Local Democratic lawmakers praise $10 million grant awarded to Delaware County Community College
Sep 11, 2024

Scanlon, Southeast Delegation join Fiedler to applaud signing of Solar for Schools
Sep 10, 2024

State Representative Jennifer O’Mara secures $175,000 grant for Springfield Police Department to upgrade fleet
Sep 09, 2024

Sept. 6 e-mail: Recognizing Suicide Prevention Month
Sep 06, 2024

Vet's death leads to installment of AEDs at Delco VFW and American Legion posts
Sep 04, 2024

Benham closes out statewide pharmacy tour with stops in southeastern PA
Aug 27, 2024

Aug. 23 e-mail: Kicking Off the School Year: Stay Safe and Informed
Aug 23, 2024

Rep. O'Mara's August 2024 print newsletter
Aug 14, 2024

August 9 e-mail: Working to make higher education more affordable and accessible
Aug 09, 2024

July 26 e-mail: Upcoming public hearings on proposed Aqua PA rate increases
Jul 26, 2024

July 12 e-mail: Bipartisan budget passed
Jul 12, 2024

Bill would ease debt and tax bills for student borrowers
Jul 02, 2024

House lawmakers, families and advocates renew call for anti-bullying legislation in Pa.
Jun 26, 2024

June 14 e-mail: House passes landmark education funding reform bill
Jun 14, 2024

Pennsylvania Celebrates 45th Anniversary of Taiwan Relations Act
Jun 05, 2024

Rep. O’Mara and Taiwan Caucus chairs welcome Ambassador Lee from Taiwan to Harrisburg
Jun 04, 2024