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Dear Neighbor,
This was a full and productive week in Harrisburg, with a busy stretch of committee activity that included both informational discussions and legislative action. The combination of hearing from experts and advancing legislation underscored how much of the legislature’s work happens in committee rooms long before anything reaches the House floor. These meetings offered the chance to dig into the details, ask thoughtful questions, and move important issues forward.
In the sections below, I’ve highlighted several of the key items we covered this week and the work that still lies ahead as we continue through a busy June session.
House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee Meeting
On Monday, in the House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee, I spoke in support of HB 1567, Power Plant Host Community Standards, sponsored by my colleague Rep. Kyle Mullins. This bill would impose a mandatory community impact fee on power plant facilities with a capacity of 10 MW or greater and would require those facility owners to engage in community benefit discussions, including public hearings. As data center development and related energy demand continues to grow across the PJM grid region, this issue has become increasingly urgent.
In 2019, Pennsylvania failed to keep Three Mile Island online. Losing that major baseload resource hurt ratepayers across the commonwealth and the PJM region. The facility is now slated to be back in operation in 2027, but its output will now serve the very same private industry that is driving capacity costs higher for families and businesses throughout our region.
Data centers, power plants, and their related infrastructure do more than change the landscape of our communities. They also increase demands on police, fire, and EMS services. Across most of Pennsylvania, our fire and EMS response depends heavily on volunteers who already provide their time and service on top of full‑time jobs. We do not fund these services adequately, and large‑scale facilities add new risks and outsized responsibilities to departments that are already strained.
As communities bear the burden of increased energy costs and the effects of air pollution, water strain, noise, congestion, and industrial‑scale buildings, we need to think differently about how we prepare those communities for emergencies. Facilities that bring additional risk must be required to contribute toward the cost of preparing for and responding to that risk. HB 1567 recognizes that reality and gives our communities the support they need to stay safe.
Watch my full remarks here. |
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House Human Services Committee Meeting
On Tuesday, the House Human Services Committee, chaired by my colleague Rep. Dan Williams, held an informational meeting on Complex Care Assistant Programs and the home‑based services that support individuals with medically complex needs. We heard from advocates and home health care organizations about the challenges families face, the strain on provider agencies, and the ongoing difficulty of recruiting and retaining qualified home health professionals.
I shared two stories that reflect what so many families in our communities are experiencing. My nephew has complex medical needs and requires home health care, yet staffing shortages and the intensity of his care make it difficult to secure the services he is entitled to. I also spoke about a constituent whose adult son has a waiver requiring specific home health support but still cannot access consistent care because agencies cannot staff the hours. These families are doing everything right, but the system is not meeting them where they are.
In conversations with my sister and with constituents facing these same challenges, I promised that we would keep working to address these issues. That commitment guided my questions today.
I asked our testifiers what practical steps the legislature can take right now to improve access to care. We heard several clear recommendations, including addressing Medicaid‑funded overtime for home care workers. Even when nurses are willing to work additional hours to help fill staffing shortages, underfunded agencies are forced to absorb the cost. We also heard about the impact of nursing reciprocity in surrounding states, where higher pay and easier credentialing draw Pennsylvania nurses across state lines. Compensation and workforce stability remain central challenges.
We have a responsibility to ensure that children and adults with complex medical needs receive the care they deserve and that families are not left to navigate these challenges alone. I am committed to doing all we can to advance practical solutions and strengthen home‑based care across Pennsylvania.
Watch my full remarks here. |
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House Education Committee Meeting
On Wednesday, the House Education Committee voted on HB 2602, the Cyber Student Safety Act, sponsored by my colleague and Education Committee Chairman Rep. Peter Schweyer, passing the bill with a 14-12 vote. At its core, this bill is about child safety, and my YES vote comes with the deliberate intent of providing what justice we can for Malinda Hoagland while doing everything we can to protect other children across the commonwealth in the future.
Malinda was a 12-year-old child from Chester County who was tortured and ultimately starved to death while she was enrolled in a cyber charter school. Her father and his girlfriend intentionally removed her from her brick-and-mortar public school, where the teachers and staff who saw her every day had reported their concerns about her wellbeing to the appropriate child welfare agencies. Her father enrolled her instead in a cyber charter school, where no one was required to check in with her and no one could see the signs of abuse. The system failed her, and we have a responsibility to make sure it never happens again.
HB 2602 strengthens safety checks to ensure that all students, regardless of what type of school they attend, receive appropriate wellness checks and clear follow-up when risks are identified.
Watch my full remarks here. |
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As we move deeper into the June session, the pace continues to pick up. We are continuing to gear up for the most complex and critical part of the legislative year: the state budget.
I appreciate the opportunity to represent our community in these conversations and to make sure our district’s priorities are reflected in the decisions being made. |
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Please contact my district office at repotten@pahouse.net if you have questions or would like to share your thoughts on any legislative or state-related issue. |
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Celebrate Summer and the Semiquincentennial in Chester County
This summer provides an opportunity for our community to take part in America’s Semiquincentennial, a milestone that will bring international attention to our region. With major events like the MLB All-Star Game and the FIFA World Cup coming to Pennsylvania, visitors from around the world will get a glimpse of what makes Southeastern Pennsylvania such a remarkable place to live. Beyond the excitement of these events, our corner of the state stands out for its mix of history, natural beauty, and vibrant local communities. If you are looking for some ideas close to home, the Brandywine Valley website is a great place to start.
We are fortunate to live in an area where the story of our nation is still visible in the landscape around us. The fields and roads near the Battle of the Brandywine, the trails at Valley Forge, and the historic sites just outside Philadelphia remind us how much of America’s early history unfolded right here. The Semiquincentennial offers a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with that legacy and explore the places that helped shape our country. You can find events and resources through America250PA and America250Chesco.
There is so much to see and experience across our region, and summer is the perfect time to get out and enjoy it. |
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Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period Extended
The 2026 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period has been extended through December 31, 2026. Rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2025 will be distributed beginning July 1, so submit your application now to get your rebate as soon as possible!
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older.
Please call or stop by my office to find out if you’re eligible and get assistance applying for your rebate. We’d be glad to answer any questions and set up an appointment to help you complete your application online!
For those who prefer to file by mail, paper applications are available in my office. |
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SEPTA Senior Key Cards and Card Renewals
If you have a SEPTA Senior Key Card that has expired or will expire within the next month, we can renew it in our district office. To renew your card before it expires, please stop by my district office, or call us to make an appointment.
My office can also process applications and take photos for new SEPTA Senior Key ID Cards, which allow seniors 65 and older to travel for free on all SEPTA Regional Rail and transit routes within Pennsylvania. Just stop by my district office and bring a form of ID with your date of birth on it, such as a PA driver’s license or non-driver ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate. We’ll enter your information into SEPTA’s online system, take a quick photo, and then SEPTA will mail your new card to you directly. |
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2-1-1 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health and Human Services
211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide health and human services for everyday needs and those in crisis situations.
2-1-1 works with county governments and provider agencies to ensure important local program information is easily accessible.
Visit 211sepa.org for more information. |
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Mental Health Resources: Call 9-8-8
Chester County residents experiencing mental-health-related crisis or distress can dial 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This system is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people in crisis to a trained mental health professional.
Chester County offers additional resources for those in crisis, including Chester County’s warm line, 1-866-846-2722, operated by Certified Peer Specialists, who are individuals in recovery with a lived experience of mental health challenges.
Chester County’s Teen Talk Line ensures seamless referral to Mobile Crisis for youth in need of immediate or higher-level support. The call line is 855-852-TEEN (8336), and the text line is 484-362-9515.
Visit the Department of Human Services website for more information about the 988 system and other state and local mental health resources.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, please don’t give up hope, and please know that you do not need to walk this path alone. We are here and we will do whatever we can to help. |
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My staff and I are here to help make state government work better for you! For assistance with the above programs or any other state-related services, please email repotten@pahouse.net, call 484-200-8259, contact us through my website, or visit my district office in Exton and let us know how we can help! |
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District Office 631 North Pottstown Pike |
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Pennsylvania State Capitol 34 East Wing PO Box 202155 (717) 783-5009 |
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