DO NOTHING DOYLE

Across 16 years, Heffley authored dozens of bills, but was the prime sponsor of only two standalone general statutes that became law: Act 23 of 2015 (military licensing credit) and Act 33 of 2021 (tax sale bidder pre-registration), along with local bridge designation legislation.

Since 2023, Heffley has served as the Republican Chairman of the House Human Services Committee, giving him significant jurisdiction over Medicaid oversight, addiction recovery programs, child welfare, and disability services across Pennsylvania.

While Heffley championed school property tax elimination (co-sponsoring HB 76), local school taxes remain in effect in all five Carbon school districts. He has helped secure state grants for local bridge, road, and municipal infrastructure projects.

After years of uncontested elections, an eleventh-hour grassroots write-in campaign in May 2026 put Penn Forest Township Supervisor Christian Bartulovich (a registered Republican) on the Democratic line, producing Heffley’s most competitive race since 2016 (59.7% to 40.3%).

Position: Strongly supports complete elimination of school property taxes; co-sponsored HB 76 (Property Tax Independence Act).

The Reality: HB 76 failed in the state Senate in 2015 and never became law. Carbon County homeowners continue paying local school property taxes.

Position: Publicly opposes clear-cutting Pocono forests for speculative data centers; backed a 100-day municipal moratorium in Carbon County.

The Context: Clashed with Penn Forest Township officials who noted state planning laws require municipalities to permit all lawful land uses.

Position: Consistently opposed. Voted NO on SB 3 (Medical Marijuana Act of 2016) and voted NO on HB 1200 (Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization in 2024).

Stated Rationale: Expressed concerns regarding adolescent brain health, mental health impacts, and gateway risks.

Position: Voted NO on HB 1500 (raising PA minimum wage to $15/hr in 2023).

Stated Rationale: Argued that blanket wage mandates damage rural small businesses in Carbon County that cannot match Lehigh Valley compensation scales.

Record: Voted YES on Act 89 (2013 transportation package); prime-sponsored the Sgt. AJ Baddick Route 903 Bridge bill; regularly announces state gaming Local Share Account (LSA) grants.

Ongoing: Persistent traffic congestion on Route 209 and rural broadband dead zones remain unresolved.

Record: Co-sponsored Act 120 of 2020 (PBM prescription drug transparency) and Acts 88/89 of 2018 (Kinship Care Navigator for opioid-impacted families); introduced EBT chip security legislation.

Debates: Sponsored HB 1095 to add citizenship audits for public assistance.

Authored and passed legislation requiring state licensing boards to credit relevant military training toward civilian certifications, easing workforce entry for veterans returning to Carbon County.

Authored statutory reform requiring 10-day advance pre-registration and anti-tax delinquency affidavits for bidders at county tax auctions to stop out-of-state speculators from accumulating blighted homes.

Secured the designation and funding for the major replacement bridge carrying Route 903 over the Lehigh River in Jim Thorpe, dedicated in honor of fallen local paratrooper Sgt. Andrew J. Baddick.