Dear Neighbor,

I was going to keep this week's newsletter short—but there's been a lot happening as we continue working to pass a budget for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year. As I have said before, budgets are first and foremost a statement of values and a product of compromise. Rest assured that I am continuing to prioritize those issues that I believe will make a positive difference in the lives of Pennsylvanians such as funding for education, seniors, working families, veterans, first responders, underserved communities, and much more. My hope is that all parties continue to work together in good faith to meet our Constitutional obligations and pass an on-time, responsible, and effective budget.

But I also want to take just a moment to address and dispel some of the noise and deliberate misinformation being spread by organizations funded by PA’s richest billionaire. The PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs use diverted public tax dollars to support scholarships to private schools and funding for educational enrichment programs. They are touted as a shining example of “school choice” and helping underprivileged kids escape failing local public schools. Together they constitute a $680M line item in our budget. For the sake of comparison, that is more than the entire annual budget of the Department of Agriculture, PA’s #1 industry, and the limits have nearly quadrupled in size in the last ten years. 

Unfortunately, today we have no idea if these programs are actually working or not. The Independent Fiscal Office recently testified that they can provide very few, if any, details on who is contributing or getting the credits; the schools, students, or organizations who are receiving those funds; or any relevant data on how effective the programs are in meeting their stated goals. In short, it is a “black box” program, lacking transparency, which is both irresponsible and unacceptable.

That is why my House Democratic colleagues and I proposed reforming these programs by adding mandatory reporting requirements, expanding pre-K options, and shifting unused credit limits to higher demand programs. The goal was not to “cut scholarships” (as you might have read in a text or on a Facebook ad) but rather to optimize the programs and make them more efficient. And we never proposed cutting a single dime from the $680M total!

Ultimately, the version passed out of the House with bipartisan support – House Bill 2632 – kept the current credit limits the same but did add the more stringent reporting and accountability requirements. The ball is now in the Senate’s court, and I hope that they, too, will stand up for PA taxpayers and demand that we be allowed to collect and report the data we need to see if this is a good use of your tax dollars or not.

Rest assured, my House Democratic colleagues and I are fighting for fair funding for all students and transparency for all taxpayers.

Those are the facts, not misleading talking points paid for by a billionaire.

Regardless, this is a good example of how facts and good intentions can be twisted or mischaracterized by half-truths. If you ever have questions about specific legislation or issues, I encourage you to reach out to me and my team directly. I look forward to hearing from you.

I’m happy to announce that Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection to support the development of a new regional glass recycling operation in Centre County.

This funding will support planning and engineering work needed to expand CCRRA’s glass recycling efforts and repurpose specialized processing equipment. Once operational, the project will help recycle more glass from communities across the multi-county region.

Investments like this strengthen our recycling capacity, reduce waste, and support a more sustainable future for our communities. I couldn’t be more grateful for the important work CCRRA does every day.

This month, the Shapiro Administration began distributing $103 million in summer food assistance benefits for eligible children as part of the SUN Bucks program, a federally funded summer benefit that helps families with groceries while schools are closed.

Families can determine if their child is automatically eligible or whether they need to apply by using the SUN Bucks Eligibility Navigator. If households are not automatically eligible but believe they may qualify, families are encouraged to complete an application before the deadline of August 31. Applications can be submitted online, by mail or completed at a local County Assistance Office.

There are several ways for a child to be automatically eligible for SUN Bucks without needing to apply, including:

• Qualifying for SNAP or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF);
• Qualifying for Medicaid with qualifying income for NSLP; or,
• Being eligible for free or reduced-priced school meals.

For the third year in a row, my office is collecting donations for a Fall Back-to-School Drive, in collaboration with the State College YMCA and the Centre County Pearls. We’ll be accepting donations of new school supplies all summer long and then distributing them to students and families at our annual August cookout at the Y in State College. Check out the flyer below for the most in-demand supplies!

And thank you as always for your generosity!

Earlier this week, I joined advocates and colleagues from the PA House and Senate at the Capitol in support of a package of proposed legislation to help create a fairer, more just, and safer Pennsylvania for everyone. That effort includes my own House Bill 2199, which would require school districts to extend anti-bullying protections to transgender and non-binary students, who experience such torment at rates nearly six times higher than their peers, with lasting consequences for their mental health, academic success, and sense of belonging.

To me, it couldn’t be more simple - bullying is wrong. No matter what. And every child deserves the opportunity to learn in a safe and welcoming environment.

Please take a moment and watch my full remarks here!

This week, my Democratic colleagues and I, along with many of our Republican colleagues, passed three important bills to regulate data centers and protect our communities. We know that this is a critical issue and, despite the refusal of Senate Republican leadership to act, we continue to send them options to deal with this important and urgent issue.

First, by an overwhelming vote of 197-5, the House passed House Bill 2198, which repeals all state tax incentives for data centers, reversing a policy enacted five years ago.

The House also passed House Bill 2650 with strong bipartisan support. This option would retain those tax credits, but only if the developer adheres to the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) guidelines, including protecting the reliability of the electric grid and not shifting development or energy production costs to consumers.

Finally, we also passed House Bill 2496, which would allow municipalities to institute a 180-day pause on data center development applications to help them better protect residents and assess any proposed projects. This bill passed nearly unanimously with only one of my Republican colleagues voting in opposition.

These three proposals join several others that would protect consumers, the environment, and our local communities which are already in the Senate awaiting further consideration. They include House Bills 1834, 2150, 2151, and 2246.

Please call your state senator today and urge them to support these important bills that provide PA communities with much needed protections against data center development!

I’m excited to share that our regional PENNVEST Project Specialist will be hosting a session in Centre County on July 9th. This will be a great opportunity for elected officials and authority representatives to learn more about PENNVEST, including available funding programs, how to apply, and what to expect after receiving critical infrastructure funds.

PENNVEST is a financing authority that provides low-interest loans and financial assistance for water, wastewater, stormwater, and non-point source pollution projects. These investments support communities in addressing infrastructure needs that impact public health, safety, environmental protection, regulatory compliance, and economic development.

If you’re interested, please sign up here to reserve your spot—and feel free to share this with others who may find it helpful!

June has been off to a phenomenal start here in Centre County. In the first week we had a wonderful time joining Trout Unlimited and Clearwater Conservancy for their Youth Fishing Event.

It was especially great to see so many kids experience fishing for the very first time, and it was even better to see some of them catch their first fish! Thank you to everyone who helped create such a fun and memorable family-friendly outdoors day.

I was also honored to join Agriculture Secretary Redding and others at the Boalsburg Farmers Market for the official launch of the 2026 Farmers Market Nutrition Program and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

These programs help WIC recipients and low-income seniors access fresh, PA-grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs while supporting local farmers and markets. At a time when so many are feeling the impact of rising costs, programs like these are more important than ever. If you think you may qualify, contact the Centre County Assistance Office, or the Centre County Office of Aging to learn more!

Two weekends ago, was a double header of amazing events that showed off the best of Centre County. Saturday was State College Pride, which just keeps getting bigger and better! We joined over 50 vehicles and 1200 marchers in the most colorful and joyful parade imaginable.

And afterward, we joined thousands more friends and neighbors from near and far to celebrate love, inclusion, and the belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect - the values that make our community great!

On Sunday, I was honored to hold the finish line tape and present medals to the top three male finishers at the IRONMAN 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley North American Championship. I’ve competed in these events in the past and know how much hard work and dedication it takes to step on the starting line, let alone to win such a prestigious race.

Seeing so many athletes celebrate the culmination of their hard work was inspiring, and seeing the best of Centre County on display made me so proud of our community.

Finally, last weekend again offered a wonderful reminder of the diversity and vibrancy of our community. I began the day in Snow Shoe for the Lions Club's America 250 Celebration, which featured auctions, raffles, vendors, and even a petting zoo! Afterward, I headed to State College for the annual Juneteenth Block Party on Fraser Street. There, attendees enjoyed great music, spoken-word artists, dancers, and cultural performances. And, as in Snow Shoe, some amazing food!

It was great seeing so many of you out and about, and I hope to see even more of you at upcoming events such as the ceremonial transfer of ownership from the state to Eagle Iron Works and Curtin Village on Sunday at 1 PM. Hope to see you there!

As always, thank you for your continued trust and support. My office will be closed Thursday July 2nd and Friday July 3rd in observance of the July 4th weekend. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at RepTakac@pahouse.net or call our office at 814-308-0569.

And please follow us on  Facebook,  Instagram, and Bluesky to find out more about what we’re up to and our upcoming events in the community! 

District Office

216 W. Hamilton Ave.
State College, PA 16801

(814) 308-0569

Pennsylvania State Capitol

103-B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-0750