Kerry is a graduate of State College Area High School and attended Pennsylvania State University. He is a graduate of the Certified Coroners Training Program conducted in Hershey by the state of Pennsylvania. Kerry resides in Bellefonte and is the father of five children – Michael, Heather, Amy, Kelley and Ryleigh. At the end of 2010, Ryleigh succumbed to cancer.

Meet Kerry Benninghoff

Kerry A Benninghoff graduated from State College Area High School, attended Pennsylvania State University, and completed Pennsylvania's Certified Coroners Training Program. He lives in Bellefonte and is the father of five children.

Prior to being elected to represent the 171st, Kerry worked in construction, cared for patients as a hospital orderly and served Centre County for two terms as county coroner.

Kerry previously worked in construction and cared for patients as a hospital orderly.

State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff was first elected to the General Assembly in 1996. He represents the 171st state House district, which consists of municipalities in Centre County and Mifflin County.

Kerry was first elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1996 and represents the 171st state House district.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Kerry believes government should improve the lives of those it serves, recognizing that every dollar government spends was taken from someone who worked hard to earn it. He is passionate about cancer research and other healthcare initiatives, ensuring an educational system that gives our children a clear path to good-paying careers, being a voice for victims of crime, as well as standing up for seniors while building a better future for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Kerry believes taxes should be low and works hard to ensure your dollars are spent wisely. He is a watchdog for government waste, a longtime advocate for greater transparency and supporter of government reform.

To address a decades-old problem, Benninghoff authored legislation early last year that would give businesses a tax credit for building additional truck parking spaces. While his bill sits with the House Finance Committee, Benninghoff is glad to see the problem begin to be addressed.

Shapiro Administration Follows Through on Benninghoff Request for Increase in Statewide Truck Parking

Benninghoff’s proposal would move $500 million over each of the next five fiscal years from the Rainy Day Fund to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and dedicate it to repairing the Commonwealth’s structurally compromised bridges. PennDOT would also be allowed to use a portion of this revenue for highway projects.

Benninghoff Proposal Addresses Pennsylvania’s Crumbling Bridges, Roads

Supports low taxes and government spending that is accountable to taxpayers.

Authored legislation to give businesses tax credits for building additional truck parking spaces.

Proposes transferring $500 million annually for five years from the Rainy Day Fund to repair structurally compromised bridges and support highway projects.

- Supports low taxes and government spending that is accountable to taxpayers.
- Authored legislation to give businesses tax credits for building additional truck parking spaces.
- Proposes transferring $500 million annually for five years from the Rainy Day Fund to repair structurally compromised bridges and support highway projects.

Economy

As of October 16, 2026, Kerry A Benninghoff’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Healthcare

HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) that would do away with redundancy in the process by which school bus drivers are tested has been passed unanimously by the House. “Bus drivers are currently required to take hearing tests,” Benninghoff said. “Those who use hearing aids and pass the first test must then have the hearing aids themselves tested by a certified audiologist. That’s not only redundant, it’s ridiculous!”

Benninghoff Bus Driver Testing Bill Passes Unanimously

“Bus drivers are currently required to take hearing tests,” Benninghoff said. “Those who use hearing aids and pass the first test must then have the hearing aids themselves tested by a certified audiologist. That’s not only redundant, it’s ridiculous!” Benninghoff’s legislation would eliminate the need to test the hearing aid.

Authored legislation to eliminate a separate hearing-aid test for school bus drivers who pass required hearing tests.

- Authored legislation to eliminate a separate hearing-aid test for school bus drivers who pass required hearing tests.

Education

Energy & the Environment

“We’ve been working on what is now Act 3 of 2026 for a very long time in an attempt to protect drivers from facing a 90-day suspension of his or her vehicle registration when changing auto insurance carriers,” said Benninghoff, who authored what began this session as House Bill 710. “Ironically, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll, who played a role in making this come to fruition, worked on this issue for a number of years when he was a state representative.”

Benninghoff’s Consumer-Friendly Auto Insurance Legislation Becomes Law

“Pennsylvania will now be implementing an online verification system (OLV) for automobile insurance coverage which doesn’t rely on conventional mail,” Benninghoff added. “With OLV, insurance providers will be required to report new policy information which will then be matched with canceled policies.” The system can also alert law enforcement in cases of uninsured motorists and prevention of counterfeit insurance cards.

“My frustration lies with the fact that the Shapiro administration has failed to provide us with answers to the questions we have about why these two facilities within 30 miles of each other are being targeted for closure,” said Benninghoff. “The governor’s plan will have a tremendous negative effect on our regional economy with the loss of family-sustaining jobs and the impact on suppliers who provide services to these facilities. If the goal is to save money, a better way to do that would be to sell the vacant prisons that already exist, liquidate them, and keep SCI Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp in service.”

Benninghoff, Kephart, Policy Committee Hold Hearing on Proposed Closures of SCI Rockview, Quehanna Boot Camp

Authored Act 3 of 2026, which uses online insurance verification to help prevent vehicle-registration suspensions when drivers change insurers.

Opposes closing SCI Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp, instead calling for the state to sell vacant prisons to reduce costs.

- Authored Act 3 of 2026, which uses online insurance verification to help prevent vehicle-registration suspensions when drivers change insurers.
- Opposes closing SCI Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp, instead calling for the state to sell vacant prisons to reduce costs.

Public Safety

HB 2534, PN 3284 By Rep. BENNINGHOFF
An Act amending the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known
as the Right-to-Know Law, in procedure, further providing for
exceptions for public records.
RULES.

Blocked source

“Current federal law severely limits the ability of states to make changes to their respective REAL ID application processes,” said Benninghoff. “With the date looming for Pennsylvanians to get a REAL ID, my legislation would simply allow applicants to present multiple forms of identification.” House Bill 238 would require PennDOT to accept a Social Security card, W-2 form, SSA 1099 form, non-SSA 1099 form, or a pay stub that fulfills the REAL ID requirements for reviewing a REAL ID application and verifying the applicant’s Social Security number.

State House Passes Benninghoff REAL ID Legislation

Sponsored House Bill 2534, a Right-to-Know Law amendment concerning exceptions for public records.

Advocates for greater government transparency and reform and identifies government waste as a concern.

Proposes allowing REAL ID applicants to submit multiple forms of identification, including documents used to verify Social Security numbers.

- Sponsored House Bill 2534, a Right-to-Know Law amendment concerning exceptions for public records.
- Advocates for greater government transparency and reform and identifies government waste as a concern.
- Proposes allowing REAL ID applicants to submit multiple forms of identification, including documents used to verify Social Security numbers.

Voting & Elections

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Kerry A Benninghoff

- Advocates for greater government transparency and reform and identifies government waste as a concern.
- Proposes allowing REAL ID applicants to submit multiple forms of identification, including documents used to verify Social Security numbers.

Twitter

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- 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.
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