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The latest news from the State Capitol |
Application Deadline Extended for 2022 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
The deadline for senior citizens and Pennsylvanians with disabilities to apply for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2022 has been extended to Dec. 31.
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 annually for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded.
The maximum standard rebate for homeowners is $650, but supplemental rebates for certain qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. The Department of Revenue automatically calculates supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners.
Claimants may file rebate applications online by visiting www.mypath.pa.gov. Applicants who still wish to file a paper application form may obtain the forms, along with free assistance, at my office, located at 1 E. Chocolate Ave., Suite 700, Hershey. Claim forms (PA-1000) and related information also is available online here or by calling 1-888-222-9190.
Rebates will be distributed beginning July 1, as required by law.
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Out and About…
I had a great time at the Middletown Area Arts and Craft Fair. There were more than 150 vendors supporting the Middletown Area Historical Society. The Middletown Area Steel Drum Band also played during the fair.
Congratulations to the Pennsylvania Order of DeMolay on its 100th anniversary. I'd also like to thank the House Masonic Caucus for sponsoring a House of Representatives citation to commemorate the occasion, which I had the honor of presenting. Pictured with me are Worshipful Grandmaster Jeff Wonderling, State Director Mike Larkin, State Master Councilor Cole Summerfield, State Junior Councilor Kenton Green and State Senior Councilor Gary Weyandt.
I had the opportunity to speak to the Pennsylvania Pipe Trades at the Hotel Hershey this week about legislative issues that pertain to them and their industry. I am pictured with UA Local 520 Business Manager Jim Enders.
Students from Milton Hershey came to Harrisburg for a tour of the Capitol building earlier this week. It was a pleasure meeting and talking with them.
I had a fantastic time at the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church Festival in Hershey last weekend. I met up with friends, Chris and Lou, and enjoyed some incredible food and entertainment.
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House OKs Measure to Reduce Cell Phone Bills
With people across the Commonwealth dealing with the burden of inflation, the House this week adopted a measure that would help bring down the cost of cell phone bills.
House Bill 1138 would exempt cell phone service from the 6% Sales and Use Tax, as well as the 5% gross receipts tax.
This is a much-needed change, as Pennsylvania currently has the seventh highest combined rate of taxes, fees and surcharges on cell phone bills at 16.62%. Statistics show nearly 70% of American households no longer have a landline and instead rely only on cell phones for voice communication. A growing number of people also use the cellular data on their smartphones for their only form of internet access.
The bill now moves to the Senate.
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Protecting Seniors’ Access to Prescription Drug Assistance
Continuing our commitment to supporting Pennsylvania’s senior citizens, the House this week approved House Bill 1184 that will help low-income seniors maintain access to prescription drug assistance through the PACE and PACENET programs.
Specifically, House Bill 1184 places a “moratorium” on the inclusion of income from a Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) in determining eligibility for the programs.
PACE and PACENET are available to residents age 65 and older. The annual income limit for PACE recipients is $14,500 or less for a single person and $17,700 for a married couple. The annual income limit for PACENET is between $14,500 and $33,500 for a single person and between $17,700 and $41,500 for a married couple.
Full details on eligibility and how to apply are available here.
House Bill 1184 is pending consideration in the Senate.
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Attention Hunters: Changes Made to Antlerless Deer License Purchase
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is reminding hunters of a series of changes to the process for purchasing antlerless deer licenses.
Antlerless licenses will go on sale during the first day of hunting license sales, which is Monday, June 26, starting at 8 a.m. Resident hunters can purchase their first antlerless license at that time. Nonresidents can purchase their first antlerless license on Monday, July 10. Additional rounds of sales will begin July 24, Aug. 14 and Aug. 28.
Hunters can buy 2023-24 antlerless licenses online at www.huntfish.pa.gov, or at any in-store hunting license issuing agent. View a map of those locations here.
The prices of the antlerless deer licenses remain the same at $6.97 for a resident antlerless license and $26.97 for a nonresident antlerless license. Pink envelopes will no longer be used in the antlerless license purchasing process.
Full details are available here.
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Juneteenth National Freedom Day
This Monday, June 19, is Juneteenth National Freedom Day. Considered the longest-running African American holiday, Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when union soldiers reached Galveston, Texas – the furthest point in the south – with news of the end of the Civil War, which had occurred two months earlier with the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in Virginia.
The troops’ arrival also came two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves and ending slavery in the United States. Learn more about the history of Juneteenth here.
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Driver License Centers Closed for Juneteenth
All PennDOT driver license and photo centers will be closed Saturday, June 17, through Monday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth National Freedom Day.
Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov.
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