Pennsylvania's 2025-26 House Session is Underway

Rep. Mary Jo Daley January 24, 2025 | 3:07 PM

PA Representative Mary Jo Daley banner image

Thank you to my husband, Bob, and my sister-in-law Nora for their support during House swearing-in this month!

Dear Neighbor,

Welcome to 2025!

It has been an honor to serve as your state representative, and I am thankful for the trust and support you’ve placed in me as we embark on a new legislative session in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

This month, I joined my fellow representatives in the state Capitol for our official swearing-in ceremony, and I look forward to getting back to work, capitalizing on the momentum of our last session. This will be the second consecutive term led by House Democrats in the majority.

I will once again chair the House Tourism, Recreational & Economic Development Committee, and I was chosen by my peers to continue serving as co-chair of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus. I am humbled by these responsibilities, and I pledge to lead by listening and work hard to represent your needs.

I am also co-chairing the PA Irish American Caucus this session, and I’m proud we led the way last session to establish both the Pennsylvania-Ireland Trade Commission and the Pennsylvania-Ireland Trade Commission Fund. Be assured, I will continue expanding this wonderful new relationship that Pennsylvania now enjoys with Ireland.

Looking forward, 2025 and beyond will bring many challenges. It already has. But by working together, Americans can overcome great obstacles to make great change. For my part, I pledge to continue working across the aisle, remain positive, treat others with respect, and serve the public with the fidelity and poise my fellow Pennsylvanians deserve.

Women’s Health Caucus begins its work

I’m proud to announce that I have been elected co-chair of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus for another term. The caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral caucus of legislators that partners with advocates to promote legislation and policies that grow equity and protect the health and wellbeing of women, gender-expansive people, and families in Pennsylvania.

The Women’s Health Caucus is also dedicated to safeguarding access to abortion in Pennsylvania. With the reversal of Roe v. Wade and the implementation of severe abortion restrictions nationwide, we recognize the critical need to ensure that Pennsylvanians retain the freedom to make their own health care choices.

We are getting right back to work for women in Pennsylvania. Next week, during House session, co-chairs of the Women's Health Caucus will join the co-chairs of the Black Maternal Health Caucus for a 2025 kickoff news conference in the state Capitol.

Follow me on social media to keep up with our work!

January and February Meet the Rep events planned

If there’s something state-government related on your mind, my “Meet the Rep” events are a good time to sit down together and talk!

Come visit my next “Meet the Rep” event at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 30 at the Bala Cynwyd Library. If you can’t make that one, I have another planned for 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 at the Belmont Hills Library in Bala Cynwyd.

We’ll talk about legislative issues facing Pennsylvania, as well as ways that the commonwealth can help make life easier for you through various programs and services.

An RSVP is required. Please email my office at RepMaryJoDaley@pahouse.net or call (610) 832-1679 to RSVP.

I hope to see you there!

My Veterans Event will feature guest speaker Ashley Ehasz

My office will host a Veteran's Tribute Lunch from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 at the Spring Mill Ballroom located at 1210 E. Hector St., Conshohocken.

The lunch will feature special guest speaker Ashley Ehasz, who is a West Point graduate, combat veteran, and former Apache helicopter pilot. Following her service, which included stations in Iraq and Kuwait, Ashley worked as a policy writer and project coordinator to implement the CARES Act for county government and now serves as a government and public service sector consultant. She is a resident of Bensalem.

My Veterans Tribute Lunch is dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifices of our area’s veterans, and I look forward to making the occasion special, ensuring each veteran feels recognized and valued for their selfless contributions protecting our freedoms.

Veterans can bring a guest. An RSVP is requested to RepMaryJoDaley@pahouse.com.

Save the date for my Senior Fair: May 1

I will hold a district-wide Senior Fair from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, May 1, at the Kaiserman JCC, 45 Haverford Road, Wynnewood.

This free event will feature vendors focused on senior life all under one roof – including state, federal and local agencies, veterans’ organizations, insurance providers, community organizations and more! Can’t wait to see you there!

My website works for more people

Beginning this week, every website associated with PaHouse.com, including my homepage at PaHouse.com/Daley, has an embedded Accessibility Menu allowing people living with disabilities to choose a site experience perfectly tailored to their needs.

My website has a host of resources to help you navigate state services, including links to state programs, updates on legislation, and information about my special events, including my monthly Meet the Rep events. Democracy works best when people are connected to their elected officials, and I’m happy this new feature works especially to that end.

Users can click the blue icon in the lower right corner. It will open a menu allowing people to choose the experience they want and need to use the site.

2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program application period now open

The 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Application Period is now open and accepting applications for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2024.

Thanks to changes we made 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 Montgomery 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.

You can apply online or 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 are also available in my office.

You can file your taxes with Direct File in PA

More than 2 million Pennsylvanians are now eligible to use Direct File, the IRS tool that allows you to file your federal and state tax returns online securely and for free. The IRS launched this tool last year, but 2025 will be the first year that PA residents can use it.

Check to see if you will be eligible to use Direct File to file this year’s federal and state tax returns at https://directfile.irs.gov/.

Heating-bill help available through LIHEAP

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps families living on low incomes in the form of a cash grant to help pay their heating bills. Households in immediate danger of being without heat can also qualify for a crisis grant. Both are grants that do not have to be repaid.

There are two ways to apply for LIHEAP:

Online: Apply for benefits using COMPASS.
Paper: Download and print a paper application, fill it out, and return it to your local county assistance office.

More information can be found here: LIHEAP (pa.gov).