The Big Questions from This Week's Town Hall!

Rep. Joseph Ciresi June 6, 2025 | 2:24 PM

Dear Neighbor,

Beginning this session week, the Legislature began its work on passing the 2025-26 state budget. I will keep you updated on progress on social media and in my weekly newsletters.

Also, in this e-newsletter:

?My Town Hall This Week

?House Communications & Technology Committee This Week

?Delivering for You in Harrisburg: Bills Passed This Week in the House

?Trump Cuts Delay Voucher Day

?Fall 2025 PA House Legislative Fellowship Program

?PennDOT Work Updates

My Town Hall This Week

I want to thank the very engaged residents who came to my town hall this week. I was really impressed with the caliber of the questions and enjoyed sharing my thoughts in response to them.

Here is a selection of the questions and comments from Wednesday night:

The importance of fully funding SEPTA, especially as we approach Philadelphia’s 250^th anniversary next year. Mass transit is too important to our economy to short-change.
How can we offer more education and awareness services for seniors (think scam prevention)?
Some parts of Pottstown are “food deserts.” How can we encourage healthier options and not so many vape shops? (Answer: Mostly driven at the local level.)
What’s the status of increasing the minimum wage in PA? (A: The House passed this bill for workers in 2023, but the Senate did not take it up. We are still pushing for it.)
Has the PA General Assembly protected Pennie (aka: Obamacare) from federal cuts? (A: Yes, in March, the House passed a series of protections. Again, they await action in the Senate).
Would I co-sponsor H.B. 31 (independent redistricting commission)? (A: Yes, I will.)
We should consolidate school districts and municipalities to save money and become more efficient.
Do you think PA should have open primary elections? (A: Open to the idea.)
How do we ensure the long-term viability of hospitals in the region? (Challenging question, but very important).

If you have any state-related questions or concerns, you don't have to wait for my next Town Hall! You can always stop by my office or call 484-200-8265 and my staff will be happy to help you!

A local resident with Fair Districts PA asks a question about legislation.

House Communications & Technology Committee This Week

As Majority Chair, I am proud that the PA House Communications & Technology Committee unanimously approved three bills and sent them to the full House for further consideration. All these bills would help foster and protect democracy in Pennsylvania by making both our Commonwealth & law enforcement more responsive to the public they serve and prevent voters from deceived by dishonest AI campaign ads.

Learn More: House Communications & Technology Committee unanimously approves bills to increase public engagement with state government and law enforcement and awareness of AI in campaign ads.

Delivering for You in Harrisburg

This week, my House Democratic colleagues and I passed important bills that will help our neighbors and improve our communities:

We’re ensuring access to affordable health care by requiring health insurance coverage for contraceptives (H.B. 1140).

We’re protecting consumers by banning “speculative ticketing,” a practice that allows unofficial sellers to list tickets for sale even though they do not actually possess – and may never have - those tickets (H.B. 463).

We’re supporting seniors and individuals with disabilities who qualify for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program by permitting these rebate payments to be issued at any time after an application is filed and approved by the PA Department of Revenue instead of having to wait until July 1 or later to receive their rebates (H.B. 1072).

As a long-time advocate for reforming our cyber charter schools, I am very proud that we delivered the bipartisan Cyber Charter Reform Act (H.B. 1500). Cyber charter schools have been a drain on their host school districts. This bill would return more than a half billion dollars to taxpayers, set limits on how much taxpayer money cyber charters can stockpile, stop cybers from offering gifts to parents to enroll their kids, and put low-performing schools on notice. Our bill makes sure the money spent on cyber charters is spent to educate our kids and makes sure YOU have a say about how cybers do business.

Trump Cuts Delay Voucher Day

My office is deeply disappointed to share that voucher distribution day for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is being postponed by several weeks and the number of available vouchers will be significantly reduced.

Make no mistake—this is a direct result of the White House’s ongoing cuts to many federal funding programs that support state-level programs across the nation, including here in Pennsylvania.

With the federal government failing to release funds that were already appropriated to state food programs like this, the state must step up and fill the funding gaps to combat hunger.

I was proud to vote this week for H.B. 1096 that would establish a statewide program to provide benefit incentives – called Food Bucks – to SNAP recipients purchasing qualifying fruits and vegetables.

Nobody should go hungry in the wealthiest and most powerful nation on Earth.

Our seniors deserve so much better.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Legislative Fellowship Program

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Legislative Fellowship Program is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2025 semester. Applications are due on July 1, 2025.

The Fellowship Program is based in Pennsylvania’s magnificent Capitol Building in Harrisburg. Fellows are assigned to work in House Standing Committees or House Leadership offices, are compensated for their work (which may also include college credit), and are provided opportunities to draft and present their own legislation, attend meet-and-greets with various public officials and staff, and tour some of the Commonwealth’s historic public spaces, to name a few.

Qualified applicants will be:

College undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students, or law school students.
Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university, or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution.
Pursuing any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

If you are interested in the Fellowship Program, please visit the website at: www.pahousefellowship.us. Applications can be submitted via email to: pahousefellowship@pabmc.net.

PA House of Representatives Archival Internship Program

This internship provides a great opportunity for interested students to receive a well-rounded archival experience. Interns will work with archivists and research analysts covering several facets of the job. Additionally, interns gain a better understanding of the PA House of Representatives and its members.

Apply here: Internships - PA House Archives Official Website

PennDOT & Route 422 Updates

Monday, June 9, through Friday, June 13, from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM, a lane closure will be in place on westbound U.S. 422 between the Sanatoga (Evergreen Road) and Route 100 interchanges.

Monday, June 9 through Thursday, June 12 from p a.m. – 5 a.m. the following morning, a lane closure will be in place on eastbound U.S. 422 between the Route 100 and Sanatoga (Evergreen Road) interchanges.

Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the work areas because backups and delays will occur. All scheduled activities are weather dependent.