Dear Neighbor,
The House convened for session on Monday and Tuesday this week, as we continue to await a response from the Senate on the state budget.
In addition to the budget proposal itself, House Dems have advanced numerous budget-related bills this legislative session. The House has passed more than 200 bills to cut costs for Pennsylvanians, put money back in people’s pockets, create jobs, protect health care, and help every student in every school across the commonwealth. We will be here, ready, willing, and able to move forward when the Senate comes back. Currently we are scheduled to return to session on Monday, July 7.
We are also closely monitoring the potential cascading impacts and drastic cuts coming from Washington, DC, as the ongoing chaos at the federal level complicates an already tough state budget process. Pennsylvanians can’t wait. We need to fund schools and critical programs that our families and communities rely on as we figure out our way forward through whatever may come from the federal cuts.
I encourage you to join me in contacting members of Congress to ask them to vote “No” on the federal budget bill and fight to protect Medicaid, keep hospitals and nursing homes open, and preserve aid for hungry people. While our own Congresswoman, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, has committed to voting against the bill, it’s worth reaching out to other members of the Pennsylvania delegation to hold them accountable for the devastating impacts this federal budget bill would have for our commonwealth.
I also encourage you to make your voice heard against the Trump administration’s withholding of more than $7 billion in federal education funds that help to pay for after-school and summer programs, support for students learning English, adult education programs, teacher training, and other services in schools across the nation. These are Congressionally appropriated funds, and their loss or delay would cause further harm to children, families, school districts, and communities.
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Proposed Cyber Charter reforms help students and taxpayers
In the 2023 and 2024 state budgets, I proudly voted in support of historic investments in public education. These investments mark the first steps toward meeting the General Assembly’s constitutional obligation to more than 1.7 million students in 500 public school districts across Pennsylvania and delivering relief for local property tax payers.
Despite these historic investments, Pennsylvania still faces a $4.5 billion gap between what the state currently contributes and what it needs to contribute to meet per-student adequacy targets, fulfill its obligation to underfunded districts, provide relief to local taxpayers, and ensure equal access to a quality education for every student in the commonwealth, regardless of their zip code.
With the state still falling short of its funding obligation, the burden continues to fall on local property tax payers. And in many underfunded districts across the state, even high property taxes are not enough to make up the difference.
At the same time, Pennsylvania school districts are burdened by flawed and outdated formulas for charter and cyber charter schools. Charters and cyber charters are public schools, funded with taxpayer dollars, but under current law, they don’t have to play by the same rules as neighborhood public school districts.
School districts across the state currently send more than $1 billion per year to unaccountable cyber charter schools.
In June, the House passed HB 1500, a bill that would hold cyber charters to more of the same standards and regulations as public school districts.?If it passes the Senate or advance as part of the budget, HB 1500 would bring significant savings to schools across the commonwealth. Here in Chester County, the Coatesville Area School District would realize savings of $2,972,046 for the 2025-2026 school year, while the Downingtown Area School District would see estimated savings of $1,118,761.
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The need for Cyber Charter Reform:
In February 2025, Auditor General Timothy DeFoor released a deeply concerning performance audit that found Pennsylvania’s cyber charter schools have amassed huge reserves of taxpayer dollars and spent extravagantly on non-educational expenses such as advertising, real estate, gift cards, cash bonuses, and vehicle and fuel payments for employees.
This means that three Pennsylvania Auditors General—both Republican and Democrat—have now come to the same conclusion: the cyber charter funding formula must be changed to reflect the actual cost of educating students and set reasonable limits on the amount of money these schools can keep in reserve.
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Pennsylvania’s current cyber charter laws:
- use flawed and outdated formulas instead of actual instructional costs to determine tuition rates,
- set no limits on reserve funds, allowing just a handful of cyber charters across the state to amass and hoard hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer money,
- make no requirement for cyber charters to spend tuition dollars on student services or disclose how public taxpayer dollars are spent,
- calculate a different cyber charter tuition rate for every single school district in Pennsylvania, even though cyber students receive the same services from the cyber charter no matter which district they live in.?
HB 1500 would improve accountability and transparency by establishing a Cyber Charter School Funding & Policy Council to review cyber charter budgets, finances, student performance, and cyber charter renewals. It would require low-performing cyber charter schools to notify parents of their failing status, and it would prevent cybers from offering gifts or cash incentives for families to enroll.
HB 1500 would protect taxpayers by prohibiting cyber charters from hoarding taxpayer dollars, setting one statewide tuition rate for non-special-education cyber charter students, and tying special education tuition rates to the same tiered rates used by public school districts.
HB 1500 also protects cyber charter students by requiring wellness checks and ensuring that taxpayer-funded tuition payments are actually spent on student services – not advertising costs, real estate investments, or unexplained payments to for-profit management companies.
While the state budget is still uncertain, I am hopeful that HB 1500 will either pass the Senate as a standalone bill or advance with the related code bills that advance alongside the budget. This legislation would help students across the commonwealth without costing taxpayers an extra dime, and it would put neighborhood schools in a better position. We will continue to share updates as budget talks progress.
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Fourth of July Festivities
The Fourth of July is next Friday, and celebrations are taking place across Chester County. Take a look to see what events are happening around you!
For more events and fireworks taking place everywhere from Philly Suburbs to the Jersey Shore, check out this roundup in the Inquirer!
Whether you celebrate at home or head out to one of the many events in our region, I hope you have a safe and happy Fourth!
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Firework Safety
If consumer-grade fireworks are on the schedule for your July 4th celebrations, please be mindful of your neighbors, and see the attached graphic for a refresher on firework safety.
Remember that animals in your neighborhood may have severe anxiety, noise sensitivity, or fear of fireworks.
The same goes for people! Those with mental or physical disabilities, and our veterans and violence survivors with PTSD, are likely to have very different experiences during these festivities than others.
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If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on any legislative or state-related issue, please contact our district office at repotten@pahouse.net.
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2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Deadline Extended
The deadline to file Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications, for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2024, has been extended to December 31, 2025. The state will begin to issue rebate checks on July 1, so the sooner you file, the sooner you will receive your rebate if eligible!
Thanks to changes passed in 2023, more people are eligible, with income limits adjusted to keep pace with Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has made it easier for seniors in Chester County to stay in their homes and afford groceries, medicine, and so much more.
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!
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Deadline Approaching for the Mobile Home Tax Reassessment Program
Do you own a mobile home on a rented lot in Chester County?
Mobile homes depreciate over time, unlike other forms of real estate. Because the tax assessment system makes no provision for that reality, mobile home taxes are accurate only in the first years after purchase, and they become increasingly inaccurate each year thereafter.
The United Way of Chester County has partnered with Legal Aid of Southeastern PA to help owners of mobile homes appeal their tax assessments for FREE!
To apply for a 2025 reassessments, fill out this form or call 877-429-5994. Last chance to apply is July 18.
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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 office will be closed on Thursday, July 3 and Friday, July 4 in celebration of Independence Day. We’ll be back in the office at 9:00 AM on Monday, July 7 to assist you with state-related services.
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, or visit my district office in Exton.
Please don’t hesitate to call, email, or contact us through my website and let us know how we can help!
Sincerely,
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Danielle Friel Otten
State Representative,
155th Legislative District
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Pennsylvania State Capitol
34 East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-5009
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District Office
631 Pottstown Pike
Exton, PA 19341
(484) 200-8259
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