Across Pennsylvania, over 37% of women and 30% of men have experienced domestic abuse, and in 2022 alone, over 100 people in our state lost their lives in a domestic violence incident. It is our responsibility to ensure that individuals across our state have the resources they need to avoid these incidents and to prevent cases of domestic violence from progressing to the point of someone losing their life.

A lack of money is frequently a determining factor for why people stay in abusive relationships. That is why I plan to introduce legislation that would allow survivors of domestic abuse in Pennsylvania to make early retirement withdrawals without paying state income taxes on such withdrawals. Victims of domestic abuse should not have to remain with their partners because of financial dependence, and the added money a victim would receive from not paying state taxes on these withdrawals could help in allowing them to leave an abusive relationship.

The federal government already permits this exemption from its early retirement withdrawal penalty, and I hope you will join me in doing our part to help ensure the safety of our friends and family members in Pennsylvania.