Being on the House Game and Fisheries Committee, I recently got to participate in a Trout Stocking event in Philadelphia. I am an avid angler and so this event is always one of my favorites! Trout are stocked in Pennsylvania to provide high-quality recreational trout angling opportunities over a broader area of the state than could be provided by the wild trout resource alone. If you are 16 or older, you must have a valid PA fishing license – for more information on obtaining a fishing license, please visit Buy a Fishing License/Permit | Fish and Boat Commission | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Starting April 1, 2025, Pennsylvania will begin to charge electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) owners a yearly Road User Charge (RUC) fee. This fee is required by Act 85 of 2024 (later amended by Act 149 of 2024), which was passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Shapiro. 

The new law creates a fair way for all drivers to help maintain Pennsylvania’s transportation network, ensuring that EV and PHEV owners who pay no or very little gas tax are also contributing to Pennsylvania’s Motor License Fund for highway and bridge maintenance. Registrants driving a gas-powered car already contribute to the maintenance of Pennsylvania’s road and bridge network through gas taxes.

Vehicle owners that have a new registration for an EV or PHEV issued on or after April 1, 2025, will be subject to the RUC. Owners or registrants renewing their vehicle registration that expires after May 2025 for an EV or PHEV will also be subject to the RUC. The Department of Transportation will send an RUC coupon to the owner or registrant for the payment of the RUC for the initial/renewal registration. The owner/registrant in return will mail the RUC coupon to the Department of Transportation with a check or money order made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

Initially, the RUC will be paid separately from a customer’s vehicle registration payment. Failure to pay the RUC within 30 days of the enrollment date established by PennDOT will result in a prohibition on renewal of the EV or PHEV's registration.

Starting in July 2026, EV and PHEV owners can opt for a monthly payment plan or continue to pay the one-time flat fee.

Tom Clark, Consul General of Canada in New York, spoke to members of the PA House of Representatives last week. It was enlightening to hear his perspective on the current relationship between Canada and the US and how to keep our connection strong.

A team of students from Lower Moreland School District was chosen as the District 6 winner for the PennDOT Innovations Challenge, which includes the Philadelphia region. The Innovations Challenge is statewide and encourages students to develop innovative and strategic solutions to real-world transportation challenges.

Nick Solomon mentors the Lower Moreland High School team, which includes students Anna Akhobadze, Grace Joseph, Arwa Muneeruddin, and Josh Levinson.

For this year’s challenge, students were asked to develop a cost-effective, innovative solution to help PennDOT increase motorist awareness for seat belt safety and change driver behavior to improve roadway safety.

The winning regional team’s innovation used several resources to reach the public on the importance of using seatbelts. They established an educational curriculum to start teaching positive driving behaviors at a younger age. In addition, they launched a social media campaign and partnered with gas stations, current software safety applications, and health organizations to help promote seatbelt safety.

Regional Innovations Challenge winners will be invited to present their solutions to the PennDOT Secretary and a panel of judges in April, when a statewide winner will be determined.

Congratulations to Lower Moreland on their regional victory and good luck in the statewide challenge!

Last Thursday, we held our annual Expungement Clinic at the Upper Moreland Free Public Library. Along with Senator Maria Collett, Legal Aid of Southeastern PA, and Montgomery County Public Defenders - we were able to help 25 individuals - assisting them in expunging their records, if they were eligible. Always working to support members of the community - always working for you!