Progress on Medical Debt; Standing Up for Reproductive Rights & Commonsense Gun Reform; Tax Resources – and More!

Rep. Arvind Venkat April 11, 2025 | 2:48 PM

Progress on My Bill to Bring Medical Debt Relief

This week, the House Health Committee advanced my bill (H.B. 79) that would help prevent more Pennsylvanians from falling into catastrophic medical debt by increasing transparency and awareness about hospital-based financial assistance programs. The bill now heads to the full House for consideration. Visit this page to hear my committee remarks.

Around the State Capitol

As an ER doc, I have treated every kind of gun injury imaginable – and those you don’t want to imagine. As a legislator, I am proud to stand with CeaseFirePA advocates from around the state to call for commonsense gun safety legislation. Visit this page to hear my remarks from the rally.

In my medical career, I have treated women with every kind of emergency condition related to pregnancy. Abortion and reproductive health care are necessary and fundamental aspects of emergency care. I was proud to stand with colleagues this week in Harrisburg as we work to defend this essential care from continuing political threats.

It was a privilege to welcome pharmacists and pharmacy students from our district to the state Capitol during Pharmacy Legislative Day, organized by the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association.

I was also proud to join bipartisan colleagues for the launch of the House Fire & EMS Caucus. Our firefighters and EMS professionals work tirelessly to save lives, even as their departments face mounting financial and logistical challenges.

On a related note, I recently joined House and Senate colleagues in Baldwin Township for a policy hearing with emergency responders to collaborate on how we can best support them. I am committed to promoting policies that ensure that these frontline heroes have the resources they need to stay safe as they continue their lifesaving work.

I was also proud to stand with my colleagues in support of our vigilant PA law enforcement officers as we launched the bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus.

In other law enforcement news, the Pennsylvania State Police announced this week that to foster transparency and accountability in policing, PSP patrol troopers at every station across the state are now equipped with body-worn cameras to record their public interactions. You can read more here.

How We Voted This Week in the House

This week in the PA House, I voted for – and the House passed – legislation to:

Improve disclosure of patient test results.
Provide grants to increase consumer access to healthy, affordable food.
Add 911 call takers and dispatchers to the definition of “emergency responder” so they can qualify for wellness and stress management programs.
Update PA’s stalking law to limit the use of personal tracking devices.
Ensure placement of carbon monoxide alarms at child care sites.
Make radon data available to people at risk.
Augment pensions for long-retired public workers, who have had no pension adjustment to account for inflation in more than 20 years.
Increase workplace safety for public employees.
Strengthen compensation for people injured at work.
Make it easier for grieving families to plan memorial events.
Enhance reporting about state drug and alcohol initiatives.
Help minors who lack a stable home address to obtain driving privileges.

Visit this page for a closer look at these and other bills we passed this week.

Around the District

While door knocking in Hampton Township last weekend, I continued to hear fear, anger, and opposition from residents about Trump administration policies that are dismantling critical programs and protections, strangling our economy, and increasing costs. My colleagues and I are working hard in Harrisburg to counteract the impact of these policies, but we need your help. Please speak out loudly but peacefully and register your concerns by contacting our federal officials listed above.

Veena and I had a wonderful time at Literacy Pittsburgh’s food festival, “One Big Table: An International Tasting.” This multicultural celebration brought together local entrepreneurs, advocates, officials, and residents for the vitally important cause of strengthening literacy for our region’s adults, families, and immigrants.

Below, I attended an excellent conference hosted by Sewickley Academy’s TEDx Youth. The theme – Motivation and Discipline in the Face of Adversity – is one I reflect on regularly in my role as an emergency physician and legislator.

I also joined fellow federal and state elected officials (below) for a legislative panel at the Allegheny League of Municipalities conference, where we had a productive dialogue with local elected officials.

Kudos to These Talented A.W. Beattie Career Center Students!

Congratulations to North Allegheny and A.W. Beattie Career Center (AWBCC) senior Kyle Langdon, above left, who earned the SkillsUSA Pennsylvania Championship in the Carpentry competition. You can read more here.

Also above, North Allegheny and AWBCC senior Zoey Sexton (at right, pictured with a fellow competitor) earned first place in the SkillsUSA Pennsylvania Championship in the Medical Assisting competition. Zoey qualified for the Nationals and will head to Atlanta in June! Read more here.

In exciting news from the Pennsylvania Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America State Leadership Conference, AWBCC and North Allegheny Junior Khyronessa Avotri (above left) won silver for the Repurpose, Redesign category and sophomore Sidney Rice won gold in Fashion Construction. Visit this page to read more.

Above left, North Allegheny sophomore Noah Ellis, a first-year student in the AWBCC Culinary Arts program, earned the FCCLA State Championship in PA Knife Skills and advances to the Nationals this summer! Read more here.

At right, North Allegheny senior Lauren Helkowski – a third-year student in our Culinary Arts program – earned the FCCLA State Championship in the Food Art competition! Visit this page to read more.

Senior Property Tax Discount – and Other Tax Resources

Age- and income-eligible senior homeowners in Allegheny County may be eligible for a 30% discount on property taxes on their primary residence. You can learn more here. In addition, please check out the resources below.

Extended hours

As the April 15, 2025, deadline to file 2024 Pennsylvania personal income tax returns approaches, the PA Department of Revenue is extending its call center hours to assist late-season filers. Taxpayers can call 717-787-8201 during the extended hours:

April 11: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
April 12 (Saturday): 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
April 14 – 15: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Additional support is available through

The Online Customer Service Center.
Revenue District offices (appointment encouraged), open weekdays
from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Refund status updates via the “Where’s My Income Tax Refund?” tool or 1-888-PATAXES.

Free filing options

myPATH: file state taxes online without creating an account.
Direct File: new this season, lets eligible taxpayers file both federal and state returns in one place.

Available tax credits

Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Credit.
Tax Forgiveness for retired and low-income individuals

Anyone earning more than $33 in taxable income in 2024 must file a return by midnight, April 15, 2025.

Food Justice Fund accepting grant applications

through April 14

Online applications for the Food Justice Fund grassroots grants are now open, and the deadline to apply is April 14. The program will distribute $1.5 million in grants up to $75,000 each. Awardees will be selected in Fall 2025, and project funds must be spent by June 30, 2026. Visit this page for more information, including eligibility.

You can find a list of all recent state grant program openings at this page.

As always, if you need help with any state-related matter, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.