State Senator Lisa Boscola

Boscola announced March 14 she will soon introduce legislation to provide a sales tax holiday on school supplies. Aimed at combating the effects of inflation, this bill would provide targeted tax relief on items commonly found on back-to-school shopping lists, such as book bags, crayons, textbooks, and tablets. The legislation would establish a sales tax holiday to take place annually, from the first Saturday in August through the third Saturday in August. During this two-week holiday, school supplies, art supplies and instructional materials with a sales price of not more than $50 per item would be exempt from state sales tax. Personal computers and tablets with a sales price of not more than $1,500 per item would also be exempt. The average K-5th grader back-to-school list in Pennsylvania contains at least 17 items. Boscola’s proposal aims to make these items tax-free for shoppers during the holiday, so students show up ready to learn on day one.

Boscola announced Feb. 24 that $1,713,257 in state funding has been approved for four projects in the 18th District through the Multimodal Transportation Fund Program.

The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) approved the following Lehigh Valley projects:

•City of Bethlehem, Northside Alive Streetscape Development: $250,000

•Forks Township, Frutchey Hill Road Repair Project Phase 2: $1,000,000

•PD Hellertown, LLC, Hellertown Main Street and I-78 Interchange Improvements: $300,000

•Skyline Investment Group Easton, LLC, Dixie Cup Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Trail Connector: $163,257

State Rep. Bob Freeman

Freeman announced March 25 he authored a bill allowing all municipalities, regardless of population size, to establish land banks. Land banks are governmental entities that specialize in the conversion of vacant, abandoned and deteriorated properties into productive use. Current state law only allows municipalities with 10,000 residents or more to create landbanks, leaving smaller municipalities without access to resources that are critical for addressing blight. Freeman said the PA General Assembly passed a law a few years ago that allows municipalities of all population sizes to establish redevelopment authorities and doing the same for land banks is the logical next step. The bill is supported by the County Commissioners Association of PA, PA Municipal League, PA State Association of Boroughs, PA State Association of Township Supervisors, PA State Association of Township Commissioners and the PA Municipal Authorities Association. House Bill 369, which passed 162-40, moves to the state Senate for consideration.