PENNSYLVANIA — State Representative Danielle Friel Otten has celebrated a productive week in Harrisburg with the progression of several key legislative initiatives. The lawmaker from Chester County was involved in committee hearings for two of her bills, saw another proposal signed into law, and witnessed the successful passage of a resolution recognizing pop megastar and Pennsylvania native, Taylor Swift.
Otten praised the legislature’s collective efforts as the General Assembly passed tax code and fiscal code bills with provisions to support working families. A key victory came on Wednesday when Governor Josh Shapiro signed a school code bill into law, authorizing funding for Otten’s student-teacher stipend program. The initiative, which received strong bipartisan support, allocates $10 million to tackle the statewide teacher shortage by providing stipends of up to $15,000 for prospective teachers during their student teaching semester.
Earlier in the week, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a public hearing on H.B. 1467, Otten’s proposal to modernize Pennsylvania’s renewable energy standards. The ambitious bill aims to ensure Pennsylvania generates at least 30% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. Supporters included renewable energy advocacy organizations and David Altoff Jr., director of the Energy Programs Office of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
A significant moment arrived on Wednesday morning when the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on a joint resolution co-sponsored by Otten and State Rep. Liz Hanbidge. The proposed legislation, known as H.B. 1888, suggests a Reproductive Rights Amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution, reaffirming every individual’s right to personal, sexual, and reproductive healthcare decisions without discrimination.
In a lighter moment, the House passed Otten’s resolution recognizing Taylor Swift for her recent selection as TIME magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year, acknowledging the singer’s positive impact on Pennsylvania’s economy, voter registration numbers, consumer protections, and pro-labor practices.
The General Assembly also passed the Fiscal Code bill, allowing state agencies to spend money included in the general appropriations bill passed in August. This means eligible families who qualify for the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit can claim a state tax credit equal to 30% of the federal credit. As a result, nearly a quarter million working families will see their state tax credits more than triple beginning with the 2023 tax return people will file in the spring of 2024.
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