Preparing for Fall: At Home & in Harrisburg

Rep. Danielle Friel Otten September 5, 2025 | 4:32 PM

PA Representative Danielle Otten banner image

Dear Neighbor,

I hope everyone enjoyed their Labor Day Weekend and was able to take some time to relax and enjoy the last days of summer. With the budget impasse still underway and the SEPTA situation continuing to unfold, the Senate is scheduled to return to session on Monday, September 8. We don’t know yet what bills they plan to consider, so we can only hope they will be taking serious, substantive, good-faith steps toward a budget that helps Pennsylvanians. The House is currently scheduled to return to session later this month, and we’re more than ready to go back sooner if the Senate is able to make meaningful progress and send us some bills to vote on.

In the meantime, as we turn the page from summer to fall, there is a lot to be excited about here in central Chester County, with fall sports getting into full swing, community events taking place across the district, and the beauty of Pennsylvania’s fall foliage to look forward to (We expect our first Fall Foliage Report from DCNR in the coming weeks!).

Team Otten will be out-and-about in the district this weekend, so make sure to stop by and say hi if you see us!?

GEYA Baseball Parade?

Before we get too wrapped up in the excitement of fall sports, we’ll take some time to celebrate our “boys of summer” TONIGHT at the GEYA Baseball Parade, as we honor the team that made it all the way to the Little League World Series in Williamsport last month. The parade will begin at 6:30 PM at Pickering Valley Elementary School, continuing onto Station Boulevard, to Park Road, and ending at Hickory Park.?

Here are some of the best spots to cheer them on:?

The Stables Kitchen and Beer Garden

Windsor Christian Academy?

Hickory Park?

Team Otten will be there at Hickory Park to congratulate the team and present them with citations from the PA House of Representatives. Come out and show your support!?

More information here.?

Caln Community Day?

On Saturday, Team Otten will attend Caln Community Day at the Caln Municipal Park from 3 PM – 8 PM. Stop by to say hello, find out about state programs and services our office can help with, and enjoy an afternoon of family fun with an amazing firework display to cap it off!?

Legislative Roundtable on School Funding

On Thursday, I joined my PA House Democrat colleagues Rep. Paul Friel and Rep. Chris Pielli and PA Senate Democrat colleagues Senator Carolyn Comitta and Senator Katie Muth for a roundtable discussion organized by Children First PA on the challenges our schools and administrators are facing as we continue to deal with the ongoing budget impasse.

When we fail to invest in public schools at the state level, our local school districts have no choice but to increase property taxes, cut programs, or both, resulting in harm to our kids, our seniors, our school communities, our property values, and the future of our Commonwealth. Last year, we passed a budget that puts students first and takes long-overdue steps toward true equity and equality, funding stability and predictability, and fulfilling our constitutional mandate to provide “a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth.

But last year’s investments were meant to be just the first down payment in a seven-year plan to create a framework for fair, equitable, and stable state funding for public education. We must continue to make these investments in public education, not only to meet our court-mandated and constitutional obligations, but to ensure our schools have the resources they need to ensure every student in Pennsylvania has access to a quality education regardless of zip code.

Changes to SNAP

In July 2025, Republicans in Congress passed a bill that makes changes to the SNAP program and President Trump signed that bill into law. As a result, some SNAP recipients now must meet work requirements and report that they are meeting this requirement to DHS.

Starting on September 1, 2025, certain SNAP recipients will need to report work, education, training, or volunteer hours to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to maintain benefits. These requirements will expand throughout Fall 2025.

These rules apply to you if you:

Are between 18-54 years old;

Do not have a dependent child under 18; and,

Are considered physically and mentally able to work

For more information on these changes and how to keep your SNAP benefits, click here.

Time Is Running Out to Take Advantage of Federal Clean Energy Tax Credits

The federal budget enacted in July 2025 phases out the federal home energy tax credits created under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 several years earlier than expected.

The deadlines are fast approaching, but there is still time to take advantage of these tax credits before they expire. These programs can save you thousands of dollars up front and help you lower your monthly utility bills for years to come. If you’ve been thinking about installing rooftop solar, buying an electric vehicle, or switching to a heat pump or other energy efficient home energy upgrade, now is the time to act.

The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) and its partners have put together a set of resources to help you calculate potential savings, verify eligibility, confirm expiration dates, and take advantage of clean energy tax credits while you still can.

Click here to view the full tax credit timeline, including details about:

EV Credits: Find out which new and used EVs still qualify for federal tax credits of up to $7,500 until September 30, 2025.

Residential Clean Energy Credits: Claim 30% of the total cost of solar panels, battery storage, and geothermal systems if you purchase by December 31, 2025.?

Energy Efficient Home Upgrade Credits: Make home energy upgrades, like insulation, windows, or efficient electric appliances, by December 31, 2025, to claim the credit.

If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on any legislative or state-related issue, please contact my district office at repotten@pahouse.net.

Lionville Park & Rossi Park Master Plan Community Survey

Exciting things are in the works in Uwchlan Township!

Uwchlan Township is currently working on a master plan for improvements to Lionville Park and the creation of a brand-new park at the former Rossi Property - and they want to hear from you!

The survey is short & simple and will help shape the future of Lionville Park and Rossi Park.

Take the survey here.

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!

For those who prefer to file by mail, paper applications will be available in my office soon, and we will update here when they come in.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Sincerely,