Homebuyer privacy act signed into law
On Sept. 5, President Donald Trump signed into law H.R. 2808, the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that prevents homebuyers from being inundated with unsolicited calls, texts and emails from competing lenders offering loans. Representatives John Rose (R, TN-6) and Ritchie Torres (D, NY-15) introduced the bill that seeks to restrict the widespread and often abusive practice of selling mortgage credit “trigger leads.” Trigger leads are generated when a consumer applies for a mortgage, prompting a lender to make a credit inquiry with a consumer reporting agency. Read more at the National Association of Realtors website.
Source: NAR; 9/5/2025

SEPTA to spend project money to avoid service cuts
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration approved the use of $394 million in state capital project funds to help the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) restore bus, trolley and rail services that were cut to close a budget deficit. The move follows a court order directing SEPTA to reverse the reductions, which advocates said disproportionately harmed poor and minority riders. The funding shift, equal to about a year of the agency’s state capital allotment, is expected to cover operations for the next two years. Even with the restored services, SEPTA will raise fares by 21.5%, generating an estimated $31 million annually. The agency had warned it might cut half its service by Jan. 1 without additional state support.
Source: Daily Local; 9/8/2025

Small towns need help to address catastrophic flooding, says Scranton mayor
Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti warned that small towns across America are increasingly vulnerable to catastrophic flooding and called on Congress to restore federal hazard-mitigation funding in an opinion piece published in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Cognetti recalled the September 2023 storm that dropped six inches of rain in 90 minutes, stranding residents and damaging nearly 460 homes in her region. “What nurtures us can also devastate us,” she wrote, describing the Lackawanna River Valley that both sustained Scranton’s growth and fueled the flood. The city had hoped to use $2.5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program to buy out flood-prone properties and update building codes. But FEMA canceled $3.6 billion in projects this spring, leaving Scranton’s plans “swept away,” Cognetti said. BRIC, launched in 2018, was “a national commitment to protect property, prosperity and people’s lives,” Cognetti argued. She urged Congress to restore and expand the program, saying, “It’s cheaper, smarter, and more humane to prevent calamities than to clean up after them.”
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 9/10/2025 

Bucks County lawmakers spotlight housing affordability crisis
The rising cost of housing was the focus of a state House Majority Policy Committee roundtable on Sept. 9 in Bucks County, hosted by state Rep. Jim Prokopiak (D-140). He noted that, since 2017, rents and home prices in the region have climbed 50%, straining families and essential services. “We need to find ways to lower the cost of housing and make the American dream more attainable,” Prokopiak said. Lawmakers and testifiers pointed to wages that lag behind housing costs, a shortage of new construction, and restrictive zoning as key barriers. Pennsylvania ranks 44th nationally for new housing starts, due largely to zoning challenges. Families in unstable housing, they warned, are more likely to face food insecurity, health problems and educational setbacks. Anne Costello, a Bucks County Realtor and immediate past chair of the Suburban Realtors Alliance, said affordability has become a community-wide crisis. She cited 7% mortgage rates, rising prices and historically low inventory that leave families and first-time buyers with few options. Builders, she added, face steep costs and zoning rules that make affordable homes nearly impossible to construct. “There’s no single fix to this problem, but progress is possible — and it starts with collaboration,” she said. Prokopiak highlighted legislation he has introduced to expand moderate-income housing, stabilize rents and boost supply. Lawmakers also heard calls to streamline zoning approvals, which could lower costs and speed development. House Majority Policy Chairman Ryan Bizzarro (D-3) called housing a “human right,” stressing that expanding access would strengthen communities and fuel economic growth.
Source: Rep. Jim Prokopiak; 9/9/2025

Morrisville Municipal Authority requires water/sewer line certification at point-of-sale
Morrisville Municipal Authority Resolution #24-06 adds inspections of water service supply lines and sewer service collection lines at point-of-sale. The water line inspection is necessary to check that the supply line is not an older iron or galvanized steel pipe, which are no longer approved materials. The sewer line inspection is a video inspection of the sewer service to the property. Check the guidelines on the Morrisville Municipal Authority website.
Source: Morrisville Borough; 9/2025

Church redevelopment in Chalfont is slow going
The former St. James Lutheran Church on Park Avenue in Chalfont has been vacant for years. Some residents and now a council member are growing frustrated over the slow progress of its redevelopment. Councilman Mitch Meyerson and his wife, Katy Meyerson, have been seeking answers from the owner of the property, developer JG Petrucci, as well as borough officials following the removal of stained glass windows from the church. The windows were briefly posted for sale online — concerning residents. The post was removed and later explained as a mistake by the salvage company. A recent partial demolition permit for the rear of the building is seen as progress, though the church's future remains uncertain. Greg Rogerson, a principal with JG Petrucci, noted challenges in redeveloping the property as a tavern, including traffic patterns, renovation costs and noise concerns. Borough Manager Sean Curran expressed optimism about the church’s redevelopment, while Councilman Meyerson is promising continued pressure on the developer to preserve the building and address safety concerns.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 9/4/2025

Pennsbury School District presents plans for new high school
Pennsbury School District administrators recently held a public hearing to present proposed plans for a new 497,000-square-foot high school with a maximum project cost of $269 million. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smith said a new high school is needed because its existing facilities are old, outdated and not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and they create physical and security issues. Three building options and four funding options were summarized for the attendees, estimated at about 100 community members. Many opponents of the project identified themselves as senior citizens and longtime residents of the district. Supporters of the plan were mostly people who identified as parents and new residents of the district. Both groups wanted to know how much the new high school will cost them. Pennsbury residents can submit questions and written comments until 4 p.m. on Oct. 6 to the district’s chief financial officer. A timeline for the project has the district considering construction bids by December.
Source: LevittownNow; 9/5/2025

Solebury officials temporarily rename former quarry as ‘Lake Solebury’
Solebury Township supervisors have temporarily renamed the New Hope Crushed Stone Quarry property on Phillips Mill Road as “Lake Solebury.” The interim name change will last until the board can solicit a new name from public input. The township purchased the 166-acre former quarry property in February for $2.4 million. Supervisor Kevin Morrissey said it will take some time for residents and officials to “explore the potential of the property” while recognizing that the ultimate name of the property will be “the result of considerable amount of township and community discussion, research and analysis.”
Source: Bucks County Herald; 9/3/2025 

London Grove to consider acquiring parcel for open space
The London Grove Township Board of Supervisors will consider acquiring a 2.8-acre portion of land on Wickerton Road for open space preservation. The property, located at 805 Wickerton Road, is part of Chester County Tax Parcel No. 59-11-20. Township officials said the purchase would be funded through the Open Space Earned Income Tax in accordance with the state’s Open Space Lands Act.
Source: Daily Times; 9/2/2025

Upper Uwchlan expands sewer capacity
Upper Uwchlan Township officials reported progress on several major sewer projects aimed at expanding service and improving wastewater treatment across the community. The Milford Farms sewer extension is moving forward with paving restoration underway after installation of an 8-inch gravity sewer line and a new pump station near Font and Milford roads. Homeowners will be able to start connecting service lines on Sept. 15, with all connections to be completed by September 2027. A facilities fee of $7,875 per property is due when securing permits. In the Meadow Creek neighborhood, a new sewer extension will eliminate the existing wastewater treatment plant. Homes and businesses within 150 feet of the new public line will be required to connect once construction begins this fall, with service connections scheduled to start in spring 2026. Costs for individual grinder pump connections and septic system demolition will be covered by a grant from Sunoco. The township is also advancing plans to convert the Eaglepointe wastewater treatment plant into a pump station that will send sewage to the expanded Route 100 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. Learn more about the projects here.
Source: Upper Uwchlan Township; 8/27/2025

Oxford Borough officials discuss truck traffic
Truck traffic was a topic of discussion for Oxford Borough Council at the August meeting. As an urban center, Oxford Borough sees more trucks coming through town than the municipalities that surround it. East Nottingham Township and West Nottingham Township are both facing the prospect of increased truck traffic because of the impending sales of farms and the proposed commercial uses for those properties. In East Nottingham, the Herr Farm could be sold, and in West Nottingham the Kimble Farm could change hands. In anticipation of increased truck traffic, an Oxford police officer recently completed the Municipal Police Vehicle Size and Weight Enforcement Training Program offered by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Source: Chester County Press; 9/3/2025

West Chester officials acknowledge shortcomings of new parking app
West Chester Borough parking director Ramsey Reiner is urging drivers to prepare before coming downtown as West Chester continues its transition away from traditional meters to the Flowbird parking app. Reiner recommended downloading the app and setting up payment information in advance to avoid delays once parked. “I’m not saying this is a flawless system,” she said. “There are some bugs when relying on technology.” There can be problems with connectivity to the internet, or new users navigating the app for the first time. The borough phased out coin meters due to high collection and maintenance costs, not because of theft, Reiner said. Collecting coins required staff hours, a $10,000 counting machine prone to breakdowns, and a $6 monthly charge per meter.
Source: Daily Local; 9/10/2025