Ciresi proposes legislative solution to provide more seniors with greater financial relief from property tax, rental burdens
Rep. Joseph Ciresi January 9, 2026 | 11:37 AM
HARRISBURG, Jan. 9 – At a time of increasing unaffordability – particularly in the housing market – state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, stepped up with a legislative solution: H.B. 2116, which would provide greater financial relief from high property taxes and rent burdens to Pennsylvania’s seniors and people with disabilities.
The legislation aims to increase the number of Pennsylvanians eligible for the state Property Tax Rent Relief Program and provide existing rebate recipients more financial support.
“In a time of increasing unaffordability, many of our seniors are struggling to stay in their homes due to high property tax or rent burdens,” Ciresi said. “In this time of crisis, we owe it to them and the communities they’ve been a part of for years to increase accessibility and provide more property tax and housing relief through the PTRR program.”
Ciresi’s legislation would:
- Eliminate the $30,000 income cap for supplemental rebates, which was not raised when the eligibility for the PTRR was last expanded. Supplemental PTRR rebates are currently issued automatically to applicants who qualify for PTRR rebates and pay more than 15% of their income in property taxes or live in high-cost locations.
- Allow homeowners to deduct the amount of property taxes paid from their PTRR eligibility income, both expanding eligibility for the program and offering higher rebates to those who already qualify.
- Expand eligibility for supplemental rebates to include renters and allowing the combined consideration of property taxes and rent paid to help those filing who have both property taxes and rent payments, including many residents of manufactured-home communities.
- Allow individuals who receive cash public assistance to qualify for the PTRR if they are otherwise eligible, counting their benefits regularly as part of eligibility income.
“The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has been a great resource to many of our constituents and has the potential to become an even greater aid to those who need it most during the affordable housing crisis,” Ciresi said. “At a time when the federal government is slashing critical programs, we need to step up and ensure that our seniors, who have worked hard all their lives, have the financial support they need to continue to live in the homes.”
Ciresi has previously introduced legislation to expand the PTRR program with H.B. 2721 in 2022 and H.B.113 in 2023.