Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District

December 4, 2025

Ensuring Cash Acceptance at School Events

What else could dim Friday night lights quite like standing in the ticket line at your kid’s high school football game, reaching for your wallet, only to be told “Sorry, we’re cashless this year.”

To buy a $7 ticket, you’re forced to download an app you have never used. Using unreliable stadium Wi-Fi, getting a flurry of payment failed messages, finally, you complete the purchase. Halftime is now over, and you’ve missed your son’s marching band performance. All because someone decided cash is obsolete for payment at more than 1,200 public and private high schools in Pennsylvania.

Between athletics, social events, field trips and performing arts shows, extra-curricular activities are an important part of a young person’s development into adulthood. It is therefore important these events be accessible to all involved.

That’s exactly why I wholeheartedly supported House Bill 685, which requires school districts and venues hosting interscholastic athletics or activities to accept cash as a form of payment at the gate. It’s a simple, commonsense solution to a problem that had been frustrating families across the Commonwealth, and I’m thrilled it became law as part of the state’s Education Code update in 2025.  Now, no one must worry about being turned away for lacking the right app or digital setup.

In researching the topic, I was surprised to learn that admission to many school events could only be purchased online. In fact, even Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) events were cashless, until legislation began gaining traction in the General Assembly. 

Many schools in Pennsylvania were requiring attendees to use credit or debit cards and, in some cases, even to make an online purchase ahead of time using a website or mobile application.

In my opinion, electronic payments and pre-purchasing of admission tickets have their value. They can give participants peace of mind that an event won’t be sold out and give organizers an idea of how many people they should expect. But for some students and their families, these really aren’t options.

Not everyone uses a smartphone and some simply prefer to pay cash, which is legal tender for a reason, and schools should accept the nation’s own currency. If a sign reads “$7 admission,” a $10 bill should be good enough.

I can’t imagine excluding a grandparent from attending their granddaughter’s soccer game because they don’t trust online transactions, or a middle school student attending their first dance because her parents only had the money to give her a few hours prior to the event. 

It is important to note that schools are not prohibited from accepting electronic payments. However, the new law requires that a cash option must be made available.

Obviously, it is not the intent of school administrators and event planners to disenfranchise Pennsylvania students or their families, and maybe someday, cashless transactions will not present such challenges. But right now, these challenges do exist, and I was happy to support the proposal.

Here are some additional news topics and reminders I would like to share.

Deadline Nears for Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program - Older adults and Pennsylvanians with disabilities have until Dec. 31 to apply for the state’s 2024 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. Remember, assistance through my office is always free. You need not pay a private firm for assistance.

Income limits increased again this year to $46,520 for both homeowners and renters. This is due to a 2023 law I supported that calls for adjusting the income limit based on annual increases in the Consumer Price Index. Remember to exclude 50% of Social Security when determining your income. The maximum rebate is $1,000. 

The program is open to residents age 65 years and older; widows and widowers 50 years and older; and people with disabilities 18 years and older.

Visit pa.gov for additional information, apply online or check the status of an application submitted previously. You can also contact my Washington Township/Export office at 724-387-9113 or New Kensington office at 724-472-4102 for assistance. The 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program will open for applications in mid- to late January.

Heating Assistance Program Now Open - As cold weather has arrived, residents who struggle with their home heating bills are reminded they can now apply for assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps individuals and families pay their heating bills through home heating energy assistance grants. It also provides crisis grants to help in the event of an emergency or if a resident is in danger of losing his or her heat due to broken equipment, lack of fuel or termination of utility service. The program runs through April 2026.

To qualify for LIHEAP in Pennsylvania, you must meet income requirements, which are set based on your household size. For example, the maximum annual income for an individual is $23,475 and for a family of four it is $48,225. For each additional person, add $8,250 to the income limit.

Residents may apply for LIHEAP online at dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS, by phone at 1-866-857-7095 or by contacting the Westmoreland County Assistance Office at 1-800-905-5413. For assistance, contact my Washington Township/Export office at 724-387-9113 or New Kensington office at 724-472-4102.



Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com
RepJillCooper.com / Facebook.com/RepJillCooper