PHILADELPHIA, March 31 – State Reps. Morgan Cephas and Sean Dougherty, both D-Phila., announced today that Uber has extended its Senior Ride Program for West Philadelphia in partnership with ACHIEVEability and is expanding the program to serve Northeast Philadelphia in partnership with KleinLife.Cephas initiated a pilot program with Uber for free rides during SEPTA service cuts in the summer of 2025 to ensure that area seniors who rely on public transportation would be able to reach their doctor appointments, do their grocery shopping, pick up medication, or meet other critical needs.That pilot program was highly successful, facilitating over 1,000 total rides while empowering older adults with confidence and independence by effectively utilizing smartphone technology. Read more
State Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., announced support for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s skill games decision. On June 15, the court ruled that skill games must be designated as slot machines and adhere to the state’s gambling law. Read more
Amidst Pennsylvania’s affordable housing crisis, state Rep. Morgan Cephas plans to introduce legislation to establish a database of publicly financed affordable housing properties throughout the Commonwealth. Read more
State Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Philadelphia, today announced $500,000 in Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement grant funding for three housing and community development programs in her district. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Strategy (JJSES) Who May Apply: Private non-profit agency or unit of local government Use: To build on the work that has been completed to date and advance statewide training and technical assistance around the JJSES framework with a strong focus on continuous quality improvement and fundamental fairness Funds: A total of $450,000 in federal Title II Formula Grant funds is being announced to support this initiative. PCCD expects to fund one grant with a budget not to exceed $450,000 over the 12- month project period. Matching funds are not a requirement of this funding opportunity, but a sustainability plan must be included as part of the application submitted. Application Deadline: July 13, 2026 More information: PCCD Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvements Who May Apply: State, county, or municipal forensic crime laboratories to support activities that improve the quality and timeliness of forensic services. Use: To improve the quality and timeliness of forensic services throughout Pennsylvania, with an emphasis on combating opioids and synthetic drugs through laboratory accreditation, the certification of forensic scientists, and the purchase of laboratory equipment. Funds: A total of approximately $740,000 in federal Paul Coverdell Forensic Read more
PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Community and Economic Development: PA SITES Who May Apply: Municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities, industrial development agencies, and for-profit organizations. Use: To develop competitive sites for businesses to relocate or expand within Pennsylvania. Funds: $400 million in funding is available. Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and approved on a quarterly basis More information: DCED Website Department of Environmental Protection: Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program Who May Apply: Pennsylvania residents whose total household income is below 400 percent of the Federal Income Poverty Level. Use: This program provides a rebate to Pennsylvanians who purchase or lease alternative fuel vehicles. Funds: Rebates vary depending on type of vehicle purchased. Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted and evaluated on a first come, first served basis as long as funds remain available. Please note applications must be received within six months of the date of the vehicle purchase. More information: DEP Website Department of Environmental Protection: WIIN 2107: Voluntary School and Childcare Lead testing and Reduction Grant Who May Apply: Childcare facilities and schools located in Pennsylvania with Read more
State Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila, said today that she will introduce legislation to cap surge pricing for transportation network companies in Pennsylvania, including Uber and Lyft, during large-scale events such as concerts and sporting events. Read more
State Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., and Overbrook West Neighbors CDC successfully hosted the 6th Annual Overbrook Night Market on Wednesday, May 14, welcoming more than 12,000 eventgoers to the Upper Lancaster Avenue corridor for an evening celebrating community, culture, food, and local businesses. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: 2026/27 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Single Solicitation for Local Initiatives Who May Apply: Units of government (including counties) and non-profit organizations Use: To implement projects and programs that directly address the PCCD Objectives and Goals outlined in PCCD’s 2026-2030 Strategic Framework Funds: A total of $8,221,880 in federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds is being announced to support this initiative. PCCD expects to fund approximately 30-35 grants with budgets not to exceed $250,000 over the two-year project period. Application Deadline: July 14, 2026 More information: PCCD Website Department of Aging: Resilient environments for Aging and Dementia in Your Communities (READY Communities) Who May Apply: Non-profits, county and municipal governments, and coalitions of organizations Use: For community-based projects focused on improving the lives of older adults, people living with dementia, caregivers, and their communities Funds: A total of $325,000 is available with a minimum award of $10,000 and a maximum award of $50,000 Application Deadline: June 12, 2026 More information: Aging Website Department of Environmental Protection: Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants Who May Apply: School districts; Municipal authorities; Political subdivisions; Incorporated Read more
Yesterday, May 11, state Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., celebrated the grand opening ceremony of Good Shepard Senior Residencies. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Environmental Protection: Growing Greener Plus Act 167 Plans Who May Apply: Counties Use: To prepare and adopt a watershed stormwater management plan. Funds: Grant awards will be at least $30,000 and not more than $50,000. Application Deadline: June 22, 2026 More information: DEP Website Department of Environmental Protection: Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act Grants Who May Apply: Municipalities, municipal authorities, and appropriate incorporated nonprofit organizations Use: The design, construction and/or rehabilitation of treatment facilities on ABS Legacy AMD discharge sites, but grants may also be awarded for ABS bond forfeited land reclamation projects. Application Deadline: June 22, 2026 More information: DEP Website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Community and Economic Development: PA SITES Who May Apply: Municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities, industrial development agencies, and for-profit organizations. Use: To develop competitive sites for businesses to relocate or expand within Pennsylvania. Funds: $400 million in funding is available. Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and approved on a quarterly basis More information: DCED Website Read more
HARRISBURG, April 28 – To recognize the historic and ongoing contributions of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, four alumnae of the sorority, state Reps. Lindsay Powell and La’Tasha D. Mayes, both D-Allegheny, Gina H. Curry, D-Delaware, and Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., hosted Delta Day in the state Capitol today. Delta Day is celebrated by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. , which was founded in 1913 by 22 collegiate women on the campus of Howard University. Today, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. is one of the preeminent service-based sororities, with more than 300,000 predominantly Black members and more than 1,000 chapters worldwide. The sorority has maintained a commitment to social activism, academic excellence and civic engagement. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. has 29 chapters in Pennsylvania. On Delta Day, members from throughout the Commonwealth come to the Capitol to connect with elected officials, advance legislation and serve as a voice for others. “It was an honor to welcome sorors from across Pennsylvania to continue our long history of sisterhood, service and leadership to advocate for our communities,” Powell said. “Having even just one voice at the table can be powerful, but the hundreds of us here today prove that our lifelong service to our communities will continue.” “As a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., I am deeply honored to stand alongside everyone here Read more
PA Black Maternal Health Caucus celebrates another successful Black Maternal Health Week at the Capitol Read more
“Our responsibility is to ensure that utility rates are fair, justified and sustainable —because at the end of the day, these decisions impact every household and every employer in our communities,” said Rep. Morgan Cephas, who represents portions of Philadelphia and co-hosted the hearing. “We need transparency, accountability and a clear understanding of what’s driving these increases—and what can be done to protect workers, working families and seniors.” Read more
Stephanie Shepard, executive director of the Last Prisoner Project, served nine years of a ten-year sentence, before returning to a community with a shifting attitude toward the substance at the heart of her conspiracy to distribute marijuana conviction.Cannabis, she said, has grown into a massive industry, though many of the people benefitting from it “really didn’t look like me or many of the people that I was incarcerated with.”And while she hailed lawmakers’ efforts to legalize or decriminalize recreational cannabis, she urged a panel of Democratic state House members Monday to stay focused on the people most affected by criminalization.Rep. Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia) was also in attendance, and described her journey from skeptic to supporter of cannabis legalization.“My colleagues know it took me a while to get here when it comes to cannabis,” she said. “What really brought me to the table was both Rep. Parker and Rep. Krajewski talking about the decriminalizing of cannabis, and what does that look like for those whose communities have been targeted, whose communities have been taken advantage of, have been overpoliced, which was something that was not a part of the original conversation when they were talking about legalization here in Pennsylvania.” Read more
Some lawmakers in Harrisburg continue to press for legal cannabis, while a bipartisan measure to legalize cannabis for adults is stalled in the Pennsylvania State Senate.State Representative Morgan Cephas is asking the key question regarding House Bill 20 with what's being called the clean slate provision when it comes to non-violent marijuana offenses."I don't want to see legalization unless there is some impact on those who've been arrested, whose lives have been changed," Rep. Cephas (D) said. Read more
Education leaders and state lawmakers are encouraging more people to enter the teaching profession through a student-teacher stipend program aimed at easing financial barriers amid ongoing staffing shortages across Pennsylvania.State Rep. Morgan Cephas said those gaps underscore the importance of building a more diverse teacher pipeline. She recalled the influence of two Black teachers in her own life.“They reminded me of my father,” she said. “They were disciplined but also nurturing. They challenged and pushed me. When students see themselves in their teachers, they are able to thrive.” Cephas said financial barriers are also a key obstacle for aspiring educators.“The path to becoming a teacher has required more than just passion and purpose,” she said. “It has required sacrifice that not everyone can afford to make.”“The people who cannot afford it are often the ones we need most,” she added. “When they fall behind, we all fall behind. We lose talent at a time when we are already facing a teacher shortage, and we reinforce inequities in a system that should be rooted in opportunity and access.” Read more
In a country with one of the highest maternal mortality rates among wealthy nations, Black women are two-to-three times more likely to die in childbirth than their peers. Years of repeated attention have barely moved the needle, but dozens of state Capitol advocates this week were clear-eyed about how they’d change those numbers.“This is about justice, but justice is not enough to sustain us alone. We also need joy,” said Rep. La’Tasha Mayes (D-Allegheny) on Tuesday. “Because ‘justice’ is the fight and ‘joy’ is the inspiration. Joy is what keeps us going when we’re overwhelmed by the numbers. “Joy is what reminds us to keep fighting for healthy families, thriving communities and lives that are not cut short,” she added. “Every single week, we find the joy and the justice.” Justice and joy are themes for Black Maternal Health Week events across the country, where an estimated four in five pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. In Pennsylvania, 129 women died in 2021 — the most recent year available — 98% of which were preventable, according to the state’s maternal mortality review committee. Black mothers shared their stories before crowds and with each other, detailing the close calls and doctor indifference that brought them into the advocacy space. Keynote speaker Mercedes Sheri Wells made national news after an Indiana hospital discharged her ten minutes before she gave birth on the side of the road in November. Read more
HARRISBURG — Problem-solving at the laundromat. Prenatal nutrition advice at the pharmacy. Mental health screenings through an app.The Shapiro administration recently unveiled a five-year strategy to improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women. Already, the group helming the effort has awarded nearly $600,000 to fund initiatives targeted at year-one goals, like supporting moms with substance use disorder.After it collects data on how effectively care and education improved, the Shapiro administration plans to create a structure for the remaining years.But while maternal health advocates broadly say the plan is packed with good initiatives, some are concerned about where the money will come from for goals that require consistent investment. Read more
HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania lawmakers are advancing efforts to address maternal health disparities after testimony revealed a woman gave birth roadside following hospital discharge while in active labor. Read more
The latest grant applications are available. Read more
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