HARRISBURG, April 24 – Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation ( H.B. 643 ) introduced by state Rep. Sean Dougherty that would increase aid for affordable housing in Pennsylvania. The bill would allow a future increase in funding for the PA Housing and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund, enabling more people to have safe, affordable housing. PHARE revenue from the state’s Realty Transfer Tax will reach a statutory cap of $100 million in the 2027-28 fiscal year. Starting in 2028 and going forward, the bill would raise this cap to $110 million to help PHARE keep up with high demand for this source of housing aid. “Affordable housing is a necessity that all Pennsylvanians deserve easy access to,” said Dougherty, D-Phila. “This bill takes a very necessary step to making more affordable housing options a real opportunity for many Pennsylvanians who are in need of it.” The bill now heads to the Pennsylvania Senate for future consideration. Read more

The PA House passed legislation today sponsored by state Rep. Regina Young, D-Phila./Delaware, that would allow for energy efficiency plans for electric distribution companies such as PECO or Penelec to be approved regardless of whether they use mechanical insulation. Read more

HARRISBURG, April 9 – Legislation introduced by state Rep. Danilo Burgos to re-establish the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative passed the PA House today. House Bill 764 would restore the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which originally operated from 2004 to 2010. The program would once again provide grants for the construction, rehabilitation or expansion of grocery stores, farmers markers and other healthy food retail establishments in low- to moderate-income areas in need. “Restarting this program would allow us to help people who continue to suffer from hunger and malnourishment, as well as improve the quality of fresh produce available to people and promote local agricultural products throughout Pennsylvania,” Burgos said. “Food deserts continue to be serious problem in urban and rural areas alike. This program is proven to help with food insecurity, and it is time to restore it.” State Reps. Morgan Cephas, Nathan Davidson and Greg Scott joined Burgos in authoring the bill and advocating for its passage. Cephas, D-Phila., who serves as the Chairwoman of the Philadelphia House Delegation, said, “I’m very supportive of re-establishing the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative which was a successful lifeline for so many communities in Philadelphia. Rampant health issues including malnutrition and obesity can be linked to a lack of access to fresh foods and Read more

Bill would move PA to join 17 other states in ensuring that every vote counts Read more

Legislation would prohibit paying voters to vote or register to vote Read more

“Thousands of Pennsylvania workers have had their lives turned upside down, and the loss of the critical services they provide will have devastating consequences for Pennsylvania,” Kenyatta said. “DOGE continues to try and hide its many errors through dishonest and messaging about what it’s doing to eliminate ‘fraud.’ What they are really doing is trying to find any way to slide billionaires more tax cuts at the expense of working people.” Read more

PHILADELPHIA, March 28 – State Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., joined Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and other city officials on Wednesday to honor actor and musician Will Smith in a street renaming ceremony in West Philadelphia. Smith is an Overbrook High School graduate and credits his upbringing in West Philadelphia as integral to becoming a successful celebrity and businessman. Cephas, herself a native of West Philadelphia, presented Smith with a PA House citation in honor of his career and his impact on the city and urban culture. “Will Smith’s impact goes beyond entertainment. He’s used his platform to uplift and inspire – beyond West Philadelphia where he was born and raised – shaping culture and opening doors for future generations of artists,” Cephas said. Philadelphia renamed the 2000 block of 59th Street, where it intersects with Lancaster Avenue, as “Will Smith Way.” The 192nd Legislative District comprises communities in West Philadelphia which are north and west of Market Street, including Overbrook, Overbrook Park, Wynnefield, Carroll Park and more. Read more

HARRISBURG, March 26 – Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives recognized and honored Caseem Wongus of Kensington for his heroism during the Northeast Philadelphia plane crash in January. Wongus saved a 9-year-old boy who was on fire. He smothered the flames with his jacket and helped get the boy into a patrol car to be taken to the hospital. He was honored with a citation from state Reps. Sean Dougherty, Jared Solomon and Jose Giral, all D-Phila. Photos from the citation presentation can be viewed here: Rep. Sean M Dougherty | Photo Gallery Read more

State Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., made the following statement in support of today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the Biden administration regulations on “ghost guns:”“I’m encouraged by the high court’s decision today,” Cephas said.“The regulations established by the Biden administration in 2022 have shown dramatic results in the reduction of ‘ghost guns’ being found at crime scenes. Not just in Philadelphia, but across the nation we’ve seen fewer untraceable weapons and weapon parts being associated in violent crimes.“I’m glad the court recognized that these regulations are working, but we still have a problem with untraceable and easily obtainable gun kits in our communities. Here in Pennsylvania, I’ve introduced legislation to crack down on the purchase of these firearms in multiple sessions. Last year, the House approved my bill, but it was never considered by Senate GOP leaders. I’m reintroducing legislation this year to ban ‘ghost guns’ and prohibit undetectable firearms, and I’m hopeful the General Assembly will make it a priority given the results we’ve seen from the Biden policies coupled with public support. We can strengthen federal law with commonsense regulations, end access to these deadly weapons, and ultimately save the lives of innocent Pennsylvanians.”The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 to leave in place the 2022 regulations to combat gun violence, which included directives to crack down on the sale and purchase of gun kits, and mandating... Read more

Pa. state Rep. Joe Hohenstein joined colleagues in celebrating the passage of multiple pieces of legislation that would help secure Affordable Care Act (ACA) protections here in the commonwealth. Hohenstein says that with all of the uncertainty happening on the federal level the #PAHouse needed to take action in order to protect everyone’s healthcare. Read more