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Dear Neighbor,
We hope everyone enjoyed a nice Memorial Day. While the weather was not working in our favor, Downingtown was able to get their parade and memorial service in, and the rain did not deter our good neighbors from joining. Despite a short work week, there was no shortage of activity here in central Chester County. My team and I were focused in the district this week and meeting directly with residents across our communities.
On Wednesday, my team was at the Downingtown Library meeting neighbors, answering questions, and helping connect people with state agencies and resources. One of the most common requests was assistance with the SEPTA Senior Key Card, which allows older adults to ride SEPTA transit and Regional Rail within Pennsylvania for free. With so much happening in our region for America250, now is the perfect time to stop by our district office and apply for your pass so you can take part in the events and activities planned throughout the year.
I also joined my colleagues in the Southeast Delegation for a meeting with electric vehicle manufacturers, hosted by my colleague Rep. Greg Scott. The visit included a test drive and store tour in King of Prussia, where we had the chance to see several models up close and take them out on the road. We discussed HB 2013, Rep. Scott’s bill that would allow the direct sale of electric vehicles in Pennsylvania, and heard directly from manufacturers including Lucid, Rivian, and Scout Motors about how this legislation would give consumers a less restrictive buying experience and support the continued growth of the EV market in our state.
We are back in Harrisburg next week for a busy week of committee meetings and session. The beginning of June also means we are ramping up toward the heart of budget season. There is a strong commitment to advancing a responsible budget that invests in our schools, supports economic growth, strengthens our energy and infrastructure systems, and continues our work on public safety, healthcare access, and workforce development. The Governor’s proposal is currently before the legislature with discussions underway, and I look forward to sharing updates with you as the process moves forward and decisions get made in the weeks ahead.
Southeast Delegation Electric Vehicle Discussion
On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues in the Southeast Delegation for a meeting with electric vehicle manufacturers in King of Prussia for a detailed look at how Pennsylvania’s current laws shape the EV marketplace. My colleague Rep. Greg Scott, who hosted the meeting, walked us through his legislation aimed at creating parity for all EV companies operating in the Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania’s rules for EV sales were written at a time when the market looked remarkably different. In 2014, the General Assembly amended the Board of Vehicles Act to allow direct-to-consumer sales, but only for EV manufacturers that had already been in business for at least twelve months. At the time, Tesla was the only company that met that requirement, and because the law was written so narrowly, it will remain the only company that ever qualifies under that standard.
You can see the impact of that carve-out at the King of Prussia Mall. Tesla is allowed to walk customers through a vehicle and complete a sale right in the showroom. Rivian, just a few doors down, can show its American-made vehicles and answer questions, but current law prevents staff from discussing pricing or financing, and they cannot complete a purchase in the store. Other EV manufacturers using similar business models face the same restrictions, leaving them unable to compete on equal footing and limiting consumer choice.
During our visit, we met with Lucid, Rivian, Tesla, and Scout Motors. Each company underscored that Pennsylvania’s current framework squeezes newer EV manufacturers out of the market and leaves consumers with fewer options. Rep. Scott’s bill, HB 2013, would update the Board of Vehicles Act to allow all EV manufacturers to use a direct-to-consumer sales model. The goal is to create a level playing field, increase competition, and give Pennsylvanians more choices when shopping for an electric vehicle. |
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Your Water, Your Bill, Your Rights: A 7-Part Series Part 6 of 7: “Arizona Learned the Hard Way. Pennsylvania Still Has Time.”
Arizona spent years allowing large commercial users to pump groundwater from rural aquifers with no tracking and no limits. By the time the state closed the loophole, aquifer levels had already dropped in measurable and permanent ways. What happened there is a clear example of virtual water trade, where water leaves a community not through a pipeline but through the products created with it.
In Part 6 of my seven-part series on water rights in Pennsylvania, I look at how the same dynamic can play out here. Data centers can draw millions of gallons from local aquifers, use that water for cooling, and send the economic value elsewhere while communities are left with the loss. I also examine how other states have strengthened protections around critical water infrastructure and why Pennsylvania’s current laws do not yet address these risks.
Pennsylvania is water rich, but so was the Southwest before a century of unmanaged extraction took its toll. We have the advantage of time, a constitutional right to pure water, and a planning framework that only needs to be finished. Now is the moment to build the protections that will keep our water secure for the long term.
Read my full post on Substack to learn how Arizona’s experience can guide Pennsylvania’s next steps and what we can do now to safeguard our aquifers and communities. |
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One Year Since PRESS Introduction: It’s Time for PA to Diversify its Energy Portfolio
It has now been over one year since I introduced my PRESS legislation, almost a year since it passed the House Environment Natural Resources Protection Committee, and the need for it has never been more clear.
A recent PennEnvironment report has made abundantly clear that our Commonwealth is falling behind in implementing renewable energy sources to the grid. While solar installations have doubled in the last two years, our overall growth is still far too slow for the needs of families, businesses, schools, and municipalities facing rising electric costs.
For two decades, Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (APES) helped promote new and innovative forms of energy generation. But those standards are now outdated, and we are falling behind as energy demand surges and the tech economy continues to grow.
That is exactly why I introduced PRESS. This legislation will modernize and expand our energy portfolio by adding nuclear power and next generation technologies while incentivizing lower emissions for gas-fired power plants. Not only will this legislation diversify our energy portfolio, but it will deliver tens of thousands of jobs and position Pennsylvania as a leader in the energy arena for the next twenty years.
We cannot sit around and do nothing while other states pass us by in the race to diversify our energy sources and create clean, reliable, and affordable energy. |
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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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PUC Alerts Consumers of Changes to Summer Electric Prices
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has announced that electric generation prices for all PUC‑regulated utilities will change on June 1. These updates occur twice a year and affect the “Price to Compare,” which is the default supply rate for customers who do not shop for a competitive supplier.
Many households have seen higher utility bills over the past year, and families across our region are watching their energy costs closely as we head into the summer months. During periods of extreme heat, electric bills can rise quickly because air conditioners and cooling systems run longer and more frequently. Understanding how both price changes and increased usage affect your bill can help you plan ahead.
What This Means for Consumers:
Beginning June 1, utilities will update their “Price to Compare,” which is the default supply rate for customers who do not shop for a competitive supplier. Even small adjustments can have an impact during hot weather.
At the same time, summer usage typically increases as cooling systems work harder. For many households, higher usage is the biggest driver of summer bills, even more than the rate change itself.
How You Can Prepare Now:
Consumers who cannot resolve billing or service issues directly with their utility or electric generation supplier may contact the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Services at 1-800-692-7380 for assistance, consumer education, and additional information about available utility programs.
Learn more about these summer rate increases here. |
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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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