A lifelong resident of Lancaster County, Mentzer graduated from Manheim Township High School and attended Elizabethtown College, where he was a business administration major.

Mentzer and his wife, Sally, currently reside in Manheim Township and have two children.

About Steve

Mentzer is an elder at First Presbyterian Church where he organized the Presbyterian Medical Equipment Delivery Project. As part of the project, he led several teams of missionaries to collect donated medical and surgical supplies from U.S. hospitals and redistribute them to third-world countries.

Steve Mentzer is a lifelong resident of Lancaster County. He attended Elizabethtown College, where he majored in business administration. He lives with his wife, Sally, in Manheim Township and has two children. He is an elder at First Presbyterian Church.

As president of the Central American Relief Efforts, he headed a non-profit organization that mobilizes U.S. volunteers and humanitarian aid to impoverished areas of Central America.

Mentzer is an elder at First Presbyterian Church where he organized the Presbyterian Medical Equipment Delivery Project.

Before founding Central American Relief Efforts, Mentzer worked as a financial consultant at Smith Barney and as account executive at Merrill Lynch, where he managed portfolios totaling $40 million in assets.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Mentzer has also been an active volunteer with many community organizations, including the Lancaster County Council of Churches, Susquehanna Association for the Blind, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Lancaster.

Steve Mentzer was president of Central American Relief Efforts, a nonprofit organization. He previously worked as a financial consultant at Smith Barney and as an account executive at Merrill Lynch.

About Steve

Steven C. Mentzer, of Lancaster County, was elected to represent the citizens of the 97th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in November 2012.

For the 2025-26 session, Mentzer has been appointed to serve as the Republican Chairman of Aging and Older Adult Services Committee, and as a member of the Insurance Committee and the Professional Licensure Committee.

MENTZER, Steven Curtis, a Representative from Lancaster County; born, October 24, 1956 in Lancaster County, Pa.; graduated, Manheim Township High School, 1975; attended, Elizabethtown College; financial consultant, Smith Barney; president, Central American Relief Efforts; elected, treasurer, Manheim Township; elected as a Republican to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2012; reelected to the House for 6 more consecutive terms; appointed, board, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) (2021-present).

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website

Steve was elected to represent Pennsylvania's 97th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2012 and was reelected for six consecutive terms. He was previously elected treasurer of Manheim Township.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

“This budget is based on the simple reality that Pennsylvania families cannot afford over-spending and tax increases. It places fiscal responsibility at the core and then focuses spending on the priorities of our citizens first,” Mentzer explained. “It continues my commitment to providing bipartisan leadership that focuses on people, not political games or partisanship.”

Mentzer Votes Yes on State Budget

The state’s present unemployment compensation system could not handle the influx of claimants during the recession of 2008, and it, again, couldn’t handle it during this Pandemic. The General Assembly has heard of constituent hardships that have occurred in not getting unemployment compensation payments on time, the fraud occurring, and frustrating lack of communication. We need to be proactive going forward, not just for the people desperate for funds, but also for the state workers who are overwhelmed.

State Needs to Fix Unemployment Compensation Problems

The House last week voted to approve legislation which I cosponsored, bringing construction permitting in line with those of surrounding states. House Bill 591, will allow construction sites that result in a land disturbance of more than one but less than five acres, to apply for a waiver of an otherwise required NPDES permit, bringing Pennsylvania’s NPDES program up to the same standards as the federal government and surrounding state programs.

Setting Uniform Construction Permitting Standards

Supports a state budget centered on fiscal responsibility without tax increases.

Calls for proactive improvements to unemployment compensation to address payment delays, fraud, and communication problems.

Co-sponsored House Bill 591 to allow permit waivers for some construction sites disturbing one to five acres.

- Supports a state budget centered on fiscal responsibility without tax increases.
- Calls for proactive improvements to unemployment compensation to address payment delays, fraud, and communication problems.
- Co-sponsored House Bill 591 to allow permit waivers for some construction sites disturbing one to five acres.

Economy

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

Healthcare

I have seen firsthand how much these programs do to rescue promising students from failing schools and afford gifted students opportunities that they otherwise would not have had access to. These programs also help with overcrowding in some areas as all students are no longer “forced” into the same school. That is why I have consistently supported the EITC and OSTC. In 2017, by a 147-39 bi-partisan vote, I joined my colleagues in voting to increase funding for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program by $50 million for a total of $175 million. In the 2021-22 budget, I voted to increase the EITC by $40 million.

Most Effective Economic Development Tool Also Best at Providing Educational Options

Supports the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs, and voted to increase Educational Improvement Tax Credit funding.

- Supports the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs, and voted to increase Educational Improvement Tax Credit funding.

Education

HARRISBURG –Rep. Steve Mentzer (R-Lancaster) announced today that a 48-acre crop farm in East Lampeter Township was preserved as part of Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program. “The preservation of our farmland is an issue important to my constituents and myself,” said Mentzer. “By preserving this 48-acre farm in East Lampeter, we protect open space in our community and ensure the farmlands that Lancaster County is known for stays around for generations to come.”

Mentzer Announces Farmland Preserved in East Lampeter Township

Supports farmland preservation to protect open space and maintain Lancaster County farmland for future generations.

- Supports farmland preservation to protect open space and maintain Lancaster County farmland for future generations.

Energy & the Environment

Public Safety

This week I will discuss safeguards in the bill to reinforce election integrity which include enhanced identification requirements and a more secure system for voting by mail. Voter ID is an issue that has been debated for many years. This bill requires a voter to show identification at the polling place. New forms of ID include: a county voter registration card, as well as, an ID issued by the secretary of the Commonwealth at NO COST to the elector who requests one, in addition to the many forms of ID now permitted by statute.

Safeguarding Election Integrity

There has been considerable controversy over ballot return locations or drop boxes. House Bill 1300 would require these locations to be in a fixed location, staffed by bipartisan judges of elections meeting the requirements of a polling place, identity verification, video recording and nightly securing of ballots. Ballot locations would be limited to one for each 100,000 residents of a county.

Currently, we require a voter to sign a mail-in ballot. This legislation strengthens the verification of signatures using new technology, AI-assistance, in matching signatures to the signature on the elector’s county records.

Early voting would be established starting in the 2025 primary election. This would allow counties sufficient time to prepare for this expanded voting process. Early voting centers would be required in all counties and could be open from 7a.m. to 8 p.m. on the second Friday prior to an election until the first Wednesday prior to an election.

Safeguarding Election Integrity – Part 2

House Bill 1300 would establish a curing process for mail-in ballots or absentee ballots with certain curable errors, including an inability to match the signature with the signature of record, the lack of a signature or date. Any curing must be completed prior to the close of polls on election day.

Supports House Bill 1300, which would require identification at polling places.

Supports House Bill 1300 limits and security requirements for ballot drop-box locations.

Supports House Bill 1300's use of technology-assisted signature verification for mail-in ballots.

Supports House Bill 1300's establishment of early voting centers in every county.

Supports House Bill 1300's process for curing specified errors on mail-in and absentee ballots.

- Supports House Bill 1300, which would require identification at polling places.
- Supports House Bill 1300 limits and security requirements for ballot drop-box locations.
- Supports House Bill 1300's use of technology-assisted signature verification for mail-in ballots.
- Supports House Bill 1300's establishment of early voting centers in every county.
- Supports House Bill 1300's process for curing specified errors on mail-in and absentee ballots.

Voting & Elections

Facebook

Steve Mentzer

Twitter

Edward Krutsch

Buket Urgen

Jess Branas

- 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