In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation entitled The Sam Worley Elderly Tax Relief Act, which will provide meaningful and long-overdue property tax relief to long-term elderly homeowners in Pennsylvania.

For decades, many of our senior citizens have faithfully paid property taxes while contributing to their communities and strengthening our Commonwealth. Yet as property taxes continue to rise, many seniors living on fixed incomes face growing financial pressure that threatens their ability to remain in the homes they worked a lifetime to own.

This legislation is designed to recognize long-term residency, encourage housing stability, and provide financial relief to elderly homeowners who have demonstrated sustained commitment to their communities.

The Sam Worley Elderly Tax Relief Act would:

• Provide a full exemption from school, county, and municipal property taxes on the primary residence of qualifying elderly homeowners.
• Establish eligibility for homeowners who:
  • Are 75 years of age or older
  • Have resided in Pennsylvania for at least 10 consecutive years
  • Have owned and occupied the same primary residence for at least 10 consecutive years
  • Continue to occupy the residence as their primary home
• Allow the exemption to continue for a surviving spouse, regardless of age, provided the spouse continues to live in the home as their primary residence.
• Require annual verification to ensure continued eligibility and prevent misuse.
• Provide fraud prevention safeguards, including repayment of improperly exempted taxes and civil penalties when false information is submitted.

The purpose of this legislation is simple: to allow long-term elderly residents to remain in their homes without the burden of continued property taxation in advanced age.
Many seniors have paid property taxes for decades—often longer than the mortgage itself lasted. At some point, continued taxation on long-owned homes becomes a growing hardship rather than a reasonable civic obligation.
This legislation is named in honor of Sam Worley, a World War II veteran who paid property taxes into his one-hundredth year of life—an example of dedication, service, and lifelong responsibility to community and country.

I respectfully invite you to join me as a co-sponsor of this important legislation to support Pennsylvania’s senior citizens and strengthen the stability of long-term homeownership in our Commonwealth.

Thank you for your consideration.