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In this Update:

• Senate Votes to Cut Taxes and Put PA Families First
• Reducing the Backlog in PA Rape Kit Testing
• Cutting Red Tape for Charities 
• Providing Discounted Fishing and Hunting Licenses to Law Enforcement
• Why Do PA Energy Costs Remain High?
• Your Input Wanted on Statewide Transportation Improvement Program 

Senate Votes to Cut Taxes and Put PA Families First

The Senate approved legislation to dramatically decrease costs for Pennsylvania families by cutting taxes on electric bills and school supplies, strengthening the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program and eliminating the current sales tax exemption for data centers.

Making up the largest tax cut in Pennsylvania history, the proposal would eliminate the gross receipts tax on electric bills and require utility companies to pass the reduction on to consumers, saving ratepayers more than $1.7 billion over the first year. It would also implement a two-week sales tax holiday in August for school supplies, such as book bags, crayons, textbooks and tablets.

The highly successful EITC program, which provides scholarships to help families send children to schools that best meet student needs, would receive an additional $25 million under the legislation, bringing the total to $705 million. EITC scholarships remain one of our top priorities for empowering Pennsylvania parents.

House Bill 1667, as amended by the Senate, would also respond to concerns being raised across the commonwealth by eliminating the existing sales tax exemption for data centers.

The Senate action aims to provide greater affordability at a time when hardworking Pennsylvania families are feeling the strain of rising costs. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives.

Reducing the Backlog in PA Rape Kit Testing

For years, Pennsylvania has worked to reduce the backlog of untested rape kits and to ensure survivors of sexual assault are treated with the urgency and dignity they deserve.

We passed a 2024 law to move forward with a statewide sexual assault evidence tracking system so survivors can better understand where their kit is in the process.  During the implementation of the system, inconsistency on collection of kits were found from one jurisdiction to another. 

Senate Bill 1212 establishes a clear, statewide expectation that sexual assault evidence that has been collected should be treated consistently. The measure was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about the latest action to reduce the backlog in rape kit testing here.

Cutting Red Tape for Charities 

The Senate voted to update charitable financial reporting requirements to better reflect the resources of nonprofits. The change would ensure transparency without imposing an unnecessary burden that undermines the charity’s mission.

Senate Bill 1183 would update the level of financial review required for charitable organizations based on the amount of annual contributions they receive. Reviews range from independent CPA audits for larger nonprofits to no reviews or audits for smaller ones. The thresholds have not been updated since 2017.

The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about updating charitable audit requirements here.

Providing Discounted Fishing and Hunting Licenses to Law Enforcement

In gratitude for the service of police officers across our commonwealth, the Senate approved legislation to provide current and retired law enforcement with discounted hunting and fishing licenses.

Under Senate Bill 469, law enforcement officials would be able to acquire each license for $1.

It may be a small gesture, but discounted licenses can help the men and women patrolling our communities take a break from a stressful job and enjoy the outdoors. The measure now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about Senate Bill 469 here.

Why Do PA Energy Costs Remain High?

A topic I hear often about from constituents is skyrocketing electric rates. Here’s what’s driving this frustrating trend:

Pennsylvania is the number one exporting state in the nation for net electricity. We’re the energy hub for the 13 states that are part of the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland grid, known as PJM.

Without Pennsylvania’s reliable energy sources, including natural gas, coal and nuclear power, states like Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia would literally be in the dark. They don’t produce nearly enough reliable baseload power for their own needs.

The Shapiro Price Cap
Last year, a lawsuit by Gov. Josh Shapiro led to a grid-wide price cap of $330 per megawatt day. Pennsylvania had been paying about $270 per megawatt day in the capacity market. Virginia was paying $444 and Maryland was paying $466 per megawatt day.

With the Shapiro Price Cap in place, every state is paying the same: $330 per megawatt day, meaning Pennsylvania families and employers are paying MORE while people in Virginia and Maryland are paying LESS.

If we want lower electricity rates, we must require other states to do their fair share or pay more to help keep the PJM grid viable. Click here to read more about why energy costs remain high for Pennsylvanians.

Your Input Wanted on Statewide Transportation Improvement Program

The 2027 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), a list of transportation projects identified for funding statewide, is available for public review and comment through June 30.

The STIP is made up of 24 regional Transportation Improvement Programs and a variety of additional programs. It is updated every two years after the regional programs are submitted and approved, and will be adopted as part of the 12-Year Program update by the State Transportation Commission in August.

You can review the plan and submit your comments here.

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