State Sen. Nick Miller and I worked to secure two state grants totaling $292,581 for the Hanover Township Volunteer Fire Co. The funds will be used to purchase 30 Motorola APX 8000 Portable Radios and 14 APX 8500 Mobile Radios. This should allow for the completion of the project of upgrading and enhancing communication efforts of the volunteer firefighters, EMS personnel and command staff as they interact with agencies including the Northampton County Emergency Management Department and Pennsylvania State Police during emergencies they respond to, which include both Hanover Township and surrounding areas.

Did you know? Pennsylvania taxpayers can now deduct up to $2,500 of student loan interest from their taxable income on their state taxes.

Thanks to Act 56 of 2024, that I voted for, this is a chance to get more back in your bank account when you file your Pennsylvania income taxes by April 15. I co-sponsored the legislation to establish a student loan interest deduction in PA and was proud to advance this bill through the House Finance Committee which I chair. It became law as part of the Tax Reform Code of 2024.

Learn more about the tax deduction here.

The current state budget — which I proudly supported — includes the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, designed to make life more affordable for working families across Pennsylvania. Modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, the WPTC helps eligible workers keep more of their hard-earned money. If you qualify for the federal EITC, you automatically qualify for the state credit.

The Shapiro administration has launched an online calculator you can use to help determine if you qualify for the WPTC and estimate how much money you would receive from it.

From left to right: Rep. Samuelson, Founder Dave Fry, Board Member Kate Hughes, Managing Director Ramona LaBarre and Communications Manager Kat Moyer.

Godfrey Daniels is well known as a music listening room well beyond Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley and has been entertaining folks with live music since 1976. For 50 years, a wide range of artists performing folk, blues, bluegrass and more have drawn in audiences to their intimate space and it is a major player to this day in the local and regional music scene.

Remember, you can always contact my office if you have questions about anything in this email or other state-related issues. Give us a call at 610-867-3890, email RepSamuelson@pahouse.net, or stop by and see us at 104 E. Broad St. in Bethlehem.

District Office

104 East Broad Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018

(610) 867-3890

Pennsylvania State Capitol

209 Irvis Office Building

PO Box 202135

Harrisburg, PA 17120-2135
(717) 705-1881