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In this Update:
Gebhard to Introduce Tax Deduction for Homeschool Educational Expenses
This week, I circulated a sponsorship memo for legislation to create a personal income tax deduction, up to $5,000 per child, for eligible educational expenses for families who homeschool. Under current law, families who choose to educate their children at home assume full financial responsibility for curriculum, instructional materials, standardized testing, tutoring services, educational technology, and other necessary learning resources, while they continue to contribute to public education funding through state and local taxes. This legislation seeks to provide targeted tax relief that recognizes those expenses and supports parental educational choice. At a time when families are navigating rising educational and household costs, this measure offers practical, targeted support to Pennsylvania’s 44,000 home school students. Learn more here: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=48259 Senate Acts to Address Electric Generation Shortfall, Expand Energy Development
Reliable and affordable electricity is a fundamental need for families and the businesses that provide their jobs. The Senate recently passed legislation to streamline energy generation projects and preserve the reliability of our region’s power grid. Senate Bill 704 directs the state departments of Community and Economic Development and Environmental Protection to work together to identify suitable sites for natural gas electric generation projects. The goal is to address electricity generation shortages in the PJM power grid and attract investment by speeding up site preparation. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Other measures we passed to promote access to affordable energy prevented the creation of a new electricity tax and would authorize creation of a Pennsylvania Independent Energy Office to ensure a more cohesive strategy for managing energy resources. Congratulations to Kasey Weimer on Scoring 1,000 Points
Congratulations to Kasey Weimer, a senior at Northern Lebanon School District, on scoring her 1,000th career point. I was happy to present her with a Senate citation in recognition of this outstanding achievement. As only the 11th player in school history to reach this milestone, Kasey has certainly made her mark. I wish her continued success in all her future endeavors. Measure to Speed Up Plugging of Abandoned Wells Approved by Senate
There are an estimated 350,000 abandoned oil and gas wells statewide posing safety and environmental risks. The Senate approved legislation to streamline plugging operations, eliminating uncertainty and accelerating cleanup efforts. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection requires well pluggers to clean out a well to its total depth before plugging. Senate Bill 712 removes longstanding roadblocks by defining what constitutes a reasonable effort to reach the attainable bottom of a well, eliminating ambiguity that has led to costly delays. This clarity will help Pennsylvania fully leverage nearly $400 million in federal funding to plug more wells in less time. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Poultry Owners Urged to Continue Efforts to Combat Avian Influenza
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is reminding poultry owners – backyard flock owners and commercial producers – to continue taking steps to protect their birds from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Since the current outbreak began in 2022, Pennsylvania has lost more than 14.3 million birds, with approximately half of these lost since the beginning of 2026. Steps to reduce HPAI risk include:
Poultry owners should report sick birds or unexplained deaths to 717-772-2852. Anyone encountering sick or dead wild birds should contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD. You can find more information here. Next Commonwealth Vehicle Auction is April 14
Used commonwealth fleet vehicle auctions featuring more than 200 vehicles are open to the public, including dealers. The next auction is April 14. The auctions are conducted at the Manheim Keystone Pennsylvania Auto Auction, 488 Firehouse Road in Grantville, Dauphin County. Auctions begin at 10 a.m. and prospective buyers should register on the Saturday, Sunday or Monday before the sale. There is no registration on sale day. You can see what was sold at prior auctions and the most updated offerings, along with registration information and more here. Additional information, including payment options, can be found in the auction policies or by calling 717-469-7900 Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Nearly two million Pennsylvanians proudly claim Irish ancestry, reflecting generations of families, workers and community leaders who helped shape our commonwealth’s heritage. Whether you’re Irish or Irish-for-a-day, I hope you enjoy St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. Local Events
Saturday, March 14, 4-5pm: Easter Egg Hunt at Cabela’s Saturday, March 14, 10am-1pm: Thrive-Intellectual Disability/ Health and Wellness Fair Wednesday, March 25-28, 9am-4pm: Lancaster-Lebanon Quilt Show Saturday, March 28, 11am: 4th Annual Elks Reading Program in Honor of Lt. William Lebo Saturday, March 28, 2pm: Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 28, 9am: Easter Candy Scramble Saturday, April 4, 4pm: The Happy Gilmore Experience at Coleman Memorial Park Saturday, April 11, 5:15pm: Sound the Alarm Fundraiser for Bowmansville Fire Company
*Please do not reply to this email, as that mailbox is unattended. To better serve the constituents of the 48th District, I have set up a contact form on my website. Please email cgebhard@pasen.gov if you would like to send me a message. If you are not already subscribed to this newsletter please sign up here. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or visit https://senatorgebhard.com/ |
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