EDUCATION

Grove City College, Grove City, BS Management Engineering, 1980

Jill Cooper | iVoterGuide

Jill Cooper earned a Bachelor of Science in management engineering from Grove City College in 1980.

Voter Guide Profile for PA State Rep., Dist. 55 candidate - Jill Cooper

After graduating from Plum Senior High School and Grove City College, Jill began her professional career with the Alcoa Corporation, where she was employed for 14 years. She went on to become vice president of sales and marketing overseeing inside and outside sales staffs and traveled the world extensively for an Alcoa subsidiary until 2000, when she decided to step away from the business world to focus on raising her children.

About Rep. Jill Cooper

Jill Cooper previously worked for Alcoa Corporation and later served as vice president of sales and marketing for an Alcoa subsidiary.

About Rep. Jill Cooper

Pursuing a platform of fiscal responsibility, government restraint, education reform, and advocacy for small businesses and working families, Jill Cooper was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by the people of the 55th Legislative District in 2022. During the 2025-26 Legislative Session, she serves on the Education, Labor and Industry, Tourism, Economic and Recreational Development, Local Government and the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committees.

Jill Cooper was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 55th Legislative District in 2022.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

What is your position on the minimum wage?

The minimum wage was never intended to be a living wage. Instead of increasing the wage to a new minimum by government mandate, I am more partial to positioning our businesses for expansion by eliminating the bureaucratic barriers that limit them.

Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?

No

Opposes government-mandated minimum-wage increases and favors removing barriers to business expansion.

- Opposes government-mandated minimum-wage increases and favors removing barriers to business expansion.

Economy

My bill proposes to exclude retirement savings plans from the MAWD resource limit. This reform would ensure that workers with disabilities can save for their future without fear of losing essential health care benefits. By fixing this flaw, we can uphold MAWD’s clear purpose: to empower every Pennsylvanian to work, save and build a future with confidence and dignity.

Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District

“The concerns voiced by families across Pennsylvania were legitimate, and they deserved to be heard. This proposal went far beyond protecting public health. It raised serious questions about parental involvement, medical privacy, protections from warrantless searches in private homes and the extent of government power during a public-health emergency. I was proud to be among the 85 House members who joined House Health Committee Republican Chairman Kathy L. Rapp in submitting a detailed comment letter urging the department to abandon the regulation package.

Proposed Regulations Went Beyond Protecting Public Health, Says Cooper

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

I am Pro Life with exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother. I also support heartbeat bills.

Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.

Strongly Agree

I am Pro Life with exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother. I also support heartbeat bills.

Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.

Strongly Agree

Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.

Strongly Agree

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Agree

Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?

I strongly disagreed with the Covid vaccination mandate. People should have a choice based on their health and religious beliefs.

Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.

Strongly Agree

Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.

Strongly Disagree

Proposes excluding retirement savings from Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities resource limits so workers with disabilities can retain health benefits while saving.

Opposes the Department of Health's proposed Chapter 27 regulations, citing concerns about parental involvement, privacy, searches, and emergency government authority.

Supports abortion restrictions with exceptions for rape, incest, and the mother's life, as well as bills restricting abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.

Supports safety standards, including in-person physician consultations and reporting, for medication used for abortions.

Opposes taxpayer funding for abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, and funding through Title X grants.

Opposes COVID-19 vaccination mandates and says people should choose based on health and religious beliefs.

Opposes using taxpayer funds to provide gender-transition services.

- Proposes excluding retirement savings from Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities resource limits so workers with disabilities can retain health benefits while saving.
- Opposes the Department of Health's proposed Chapter 27 regulations, citing concerns about parental involvement, privacy, searches, and emergency government authority.
- Supports abortion restrictions with exceptions for rape, incest, and the mother's life, as well as bills restricting abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.
- Supports safety standards, including in-person physician consultations and reporting, for medication used for abortions.
- Opposes taxpayer funding for abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, and funding through Title X grants.
- Opposes COVID-19 vaccination mandates and says people should choose based on health and religious beliefs.
- Opposes using taxpayer funds to provide gender-transition services.

Healthcare

“Numerous studies consistently show that students learn more effectively when the school day begins at 8:30 a.m. or later. However, school districts shouldn’t have to choose between costly schedule changes and student success,” Cooper said. “This proposal gives districts the flexibility to make that change if they choose, without imposing an unfunded mandate. Strong ideas tend to earn bipartisan support, and I’m pleased this student-focused proposal was included in the final budget package, which was passed with support from both parties.”

Cooper Bill to Help Schools Choosing to Delay Start Times Passed

The legislation allows school districts the option to start later and use education grants to offset costs related to planning, implementing or operating adjusted schedules. The proposal was originally introduced as House Bill 2152 by Cooper and Rep. Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery) and was unanimously approved by the House Education Committee earlier this year before being incorporated into the final budget package.

“I was happy that my House Bill 2152 is included in the Education Code because it is a practical, research-backed way to support student well-being by helping districts adopt later start times that align with teens’ biological needs, improving focus, emotional balance and overall school climate. Rather than mandating change, the bill removes financial and logistical barriers and offers incentives through different grant funding pathways, making it easier for districts to implement a proven approach that reduces the negative impacts of student sleep deprivation. I am also happy that the Educational Improvement Tax Credit, which provides education support scholarships for low-income students, remains unchanged.

Cooper: Budget Is Improvement on First Proposal, But PA Has More Work to Do

EDUCATION

The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.

Strongly Agree

Sponsored House Bill 2152, allowing districts to use education grants to offset costs of voluntary later school start times.

Supports allowing districts to use education grants to offset costs of voluntary later school start times.

Supports retaining the Educational Improvement Tax Credit, which provides scholarships for low-income students' education.

Supports education funding programs that allow funds to follow students among public, private, and homeschool options.

- Supports allowing districts to use education grants to offset costs of voluntary later school start times.
- Supports retaining the Educational Improvement Tax Credit, which provides scholarships for low-income students' education.
- Supports education funding programs that allow funds to follow students among public, private, and homeschool options.

Education

Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.

A. I support safe, reliable ,responsible American energy and believe we should be energy independent as a Nation.

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

Coal and Natural Gas

Supports American energy independence and identifies coal and natural gas as the most reliable sources to meet growing electricity demand.

- Supports American energy independence and identifies coal and natural gas as the most reliable sources to meet growing electricity demand.

Energy & the Environment

As your voice in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, it is incumbent on me to prioritize both. That’s why I oppose the unchecked spread of flock cameras and similar automated license plate readers across our communities — and why I cosponsored two new House measures that propose clear, common-sense guardrails regarding this technology.

I co-sponsored a two-bill package aimed at protecting our Fourth Amendment right regarding unreasonable search and seizure in the digital age. It would require law enforcement to obtain a warrant before using automated license plate data to search for or track a specific person or vehicle, except in narrow emergencies.

The package also limits how long data can be retained and requires the posting of signs when cameras are present, similar to laws regarding speed cameras. Local government would have the option to pause the use of camera systems until proper safeguards are in place.

I also co-sponsored legislation that targets the privatization and sales of our travel data. Under the proposal, private vendors would be prohibited from selling, disclosing or transferring automated license plate reader data without explicit authorization from the contracting law enforcement agency. Information would still be able to be shared among first responders.

Recently, legislation I co-sponsored, House Bill 377, to prohibit the sale and manufacturing of products with tianeptine, the active ingredient in these products, was passed by the House.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.

Strongly Disagree

2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

I strongly support the 2nd Amendment.

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?

Choose not to answer

I support trained law officers at every school building.

Co-sponsored legislation to limit automated license plate reader use through warrant requirements, retention limits, camera notices, and emergency exceptions.

Co-sponsored legislation to prohibit vendors from selling or transferring automated license plate reader data without law-enforcement authorization.

Co-sponsored House Bill 377, which prohibits the sale and manufacture of products containing tianeptine.

Opposes the sale and manufacture of products containing tianeptine.

Opposes redirecting police-department funding to community programs.

Supports the Second Amendment and placing trained law enforcement officers in every school building.

- Co-sponsored legislation to limit automated license plate reader use through warrant requirements, retention limits, camera notices, and emergency exceptions.
- Co-sponsored legislation to prohibit vendors from selling or transferring automated license plate reader data without law-enforcement authorization.
- Opposes the sale and manufacture of products containing tianeptine.
- Opposes redirecting police-department funding to community programs.
- Supports the Second Amendment and placing trained law enforcement officers in every school building.

Public Safety

ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.

Strongly Disagree

Supports requiring photo identification to vote.

Opposes states joining the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.

- Supports requiring photo identification to vote.
- Opposes states joining the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.

Voting & Elections

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Jill Cooper

Voted for the 2026-27 state budget while saying it still spends too much and does not fully address Pennsylvania's structural deficit.

HARRISBURG – Upon the passage of the 2026-27 General Fund budget, Rep. Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland) issued the following statement regarding her favorable vote:

“I voted ‘yes’ on this 2026-27 budget because while far from perfect, the $50.8 billion budget is a better outcome than Gov. Josh Shapiro’s original $53.26 billion proposal, which would have raised taxes, drained our Rainy Day Fund and threatened our long-term financial health. This final agreement avoids those mistakes and protects taxpayers, helps families trying to make ends meet and nurtures a business environment for our employers trying to grow.

“That said, I want to be clear: this budget still spends too much and doesn’t fully deal with our long-term structural deficit. It also misses an opportunity to expand school choice for families who are waiting for better options. While this budget avoids the worst outcomes, I believe we still have more work to do to get our spending under control and put Pennsylvania on a stronger path.”

- Voted for the 2026-27 state budget while saying it still spends too much and does not fully address Pennsylvania's structural deficit.
- Opposes government-mandated minimum-wage increases and favors removing barriers to business expansion.

- Sponsored House Bill 2152, allowing districts to use education grants to offset costs of voluntary later school start times.
- Supports retaining the Educational Improvement Tax Credit, which provides scholarships for low-income students' education.
- Supports education funding programs that allow funds to follow students among public, private, and homeschool options.

- Co-sponsored legislation to limit automated license plate reader use through warrant requirements, retention limits, camera notices, and emergency exceptions.
- Co-sponsored legislation to prohibit vendors from selling or transferring automated license plate reader data without law-enforcement authorization.
- Co-sponsored House Bill 377, which prohibits the sale and manufacture of products containing tianeptine.
- Opposes redirecting police-department funding to community programs.
- Supports the Second Amendment and placing trained law enforcement officers in every school building.

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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.
- 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

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives