2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Craig Staats

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A graduate of Central Bucks public schools and Johnson and Wales University, Staats earned a bachelor’s degree in business management. He lives in Richland Township in upper Bucks County and has two adult sons, Dylan and Nicholas.

About Craig Staats

Craig Staats earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Johnson and Wales University. He lives in Richland Township in upper Bucks County and has two sons.

STAATS, Craig T., a Representative from Bucks County; B.S., business management, Johnson & Wales University, 1986; served, United States Navy; business broker; restaurant industry (25 years); elected, supervisor, chair, Richland Township; elected, judge of elections, Richland Township.

Craig T. Staats — PA House of Representatives Archives (Member Biography)

Craig Staats served in the U.S. Navy and worked as a business broker and in the restaurant industry.

Craig was elected as a supervisor in Richland Township.

As a state representative, Staats aims to promote job growth through the adoption of business-friendly policies that will attract job creators to the Commonwealth and help them to thrive and grow.

He also supports efforts to ease the property tax burden on Pennsylvania citizens and to improve public education by focusing on greater control at the local level.

The plan takes important steps to make Pennsylvania more competitive by maintaining scheduled corporate tax rate reductions and advancing permitting reforms that will help employers invest, grow and create jobs in our Commonwealth.

Staats Highlights Fiscal Responsibility, Education Investments and Energy Relief in Budget Agreement

Help Us Make Youth Activities More Affordable

I joined Sen. Frank Farry and Reps. Joe Hogan, KC Tomlinson, Kristin Marcell and Shelby Labs in supporting legislation that would provide Pennsylvania families with a tax credit of up to $2,000 per child for eligible youth activities.

We know how quickly the costs of these activities can add up for families. House Bill 2753 and Senate Bill 1441 would help with eligible expenses such as equipment, uniforms, travel, training, lessons, registration and participation fees.

Help Us Make Youth Activities More Affordable

Plans to promote job growth through business-friendly policies intended to attract and retain employers in Pennsylvania.

Supports efforts to reduce Pennsylvania residents' property-tax burden.

Supports maintaining corporate tax-rate reductions and permitting reforms intended to encourage employer investment and job creation.

Supports House Bill 2753 and Senate Bill 1441, which would provide eligible families up to $2,000 per child for youth-activity expenses.

- Plans to promote job growth through business-friendly policies intended to attract and retain employers in Pennsylvania.
- Supports efforts to reduce Pennsylvania residents' property-tax burden.
- Supports maintaining corporate tax-rate reductions and permitting reforms intended to encourage employer investment and job creation.
- Supports House Bill 2753 and Senate Bill 1441, which would provide eligible families up to $2,000 per child for youth-activity expenses.

Economy

“There are some serious questions here about privacy, parental rights and just how much authority we are giving a state agency,” said Staats. “Those questions deserve clear answers before regulations this broad move forward. When government is talking about access to medical information, entering private property or speaking privately with children at school, people have every right to ask where the limits are.”

Staats Raises Concerns with Proposed Department of Health Regulations

“I understand the Department of Health needs the tools to protect the public when disease spreads,” said Staats. “There also must be limits on government authority and protections for families and their privacy. Changes this significant deserve careful review and input from the people elected to represent Pennsylvanians.”

The lawmakers asked the department to substantially revise the proposal or withdraw it and develop a new regulatory package in consultation with the General Assembly.

It also includes responsible human services reforms that target waste and strengthen integrity within Medicaid and SNAP programs. By requiring regular eligibility checks and cross-referencing records, we can protect benefits for those who truly need them while reducing fraud and unnecessary spending.

Calls for limits on state health agencies' authority and protections for families' privacy and parental rights in disease-control regulations.

Supports regular eligibility checks and record cross-referencing for Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

- Calls for limits on state health agencies' authority and protections for families' privacy and parental rights in disease-control regulations.
- Supports regular eligibility checks and record cross-referencing for Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

Healthcare

The budget makes new investments in education, including a $50 million expansion of tax credit scholarships for low-income students. That expansion will help thousands of families choose the best educational setting for their children while maintaining strong support for public schools.

“Women and girls deserve a fair playing field,” said Staats. “That is why I am a co-sponsor of House Bill 158. Female athletes have worked hard for the opportunities available to them, and I believe those opportunities deserve to be protected.”

House Bill 158 would require athletic teams and sports covered by the legislation to be designated as male, female or coed based on sex and would prohibit students of the male sex from participating on teams designated for females.

Staats Calls on House Majority to Bring Women's Sports Legislation Up for a Vote

Supports greater local control over public education.

Supports expanding tax-credit scholarships for low-income students while maintaining support for public schools.

Co-sponsored House Bill 158, which would designate school sports teams by sex and bar male students from female-designated teams.

- Supports greater local control over public education.
- Supports expanding tax-credit scholarships for low-income students while maintaining support for public schools.
- Co-sponsored House Bill 158, which would designate school sports teams by sex and bar male students from female-designated teams.

Education

“Additionally, his budget calls for oppressive energy policies through the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act (PACER) energy tax. PACER directly taxes coal and natural gas power plants with an unfair carbon tax which would be passed along to consumers in the form of higher energy bills,” added Staats.

Staats Criticizes Shapiro's Budget Proposal as Unsustainable

Other legislative priorities include road and bridge improvements in upper Bucks County and the preservation of open space.

Opposes the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act carbon tax on coal and natural-gas power plants.

Prioritizes preserving open space in upper Bucks County.

- Opposes the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act carbon tax on coal and natural-gas power plants.
- Prioritizes preserving open space in upper Bucks County.

Energy & the Environment

HARRISBURG – Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks) voted against House Bill 1042 this week, saying the legislation fails to provide meaningful accountability for those convicted of second-degree murder and creates uncertainty for victims and their families.

“Families who have already endured the loss of a loved one deserve certainty that our justice system will continue holding violent offenders accountable,” said Staats. “The Attorney General made it clear the amended bill falls short of that standard. I could not support legislation that raises serious concerns about public safety and the rights of crime victims.”

Staats Opposes Felony Murder Sentencing Bill Over Public Safety Concerns

“These grants support the kind of infrastructure work that keeps our communities running day in and day out,” Staats said. “Upgrading water systems, wastewater facilities and fire protection is not flashy work, but it is essential. I am glad to see Commonwealth Financing Authority funding directed to projects that protect public safety and strengthen our towns.”

Staats, Coleman Announce Over $1.2 Million in Commonwealth Financing Authority Grants for Local Infrastructure Projects

Voted against House Bill 1042, saying its felony-murder sentencing provisions could compromise public safety and victims' rights.

Supports Commonwealth Financing Authority funding for water, wastewater, and fire-protection infrastructure projects.

- Voted against House Bill 1042, saying its felony-murder sentencing provisions could compromise public safety and victims' rights.
- Supports Commonwealth Financing Authority funding for water, wastewater, and fire-protection infrastructure projects.

Public Safety

As of October 16, 2026, Craig Staats’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

Rebecca Prendergast

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws, including introducing tax bills. 
- State representatives and their staff respond to constituent concerns and questions through emails, phone calls, and website announcements. 
- State representatives oversee the executive branch and can vote to overrule a veto by the Governor.  
- They are elected to two-year terms and have a salary of $106,000, with a 1-3% annual increase

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