As the State Representative of the 61st Legislative District since 2000, Kate M. Harper focuses her legislative efforts on the environment of the Commonwealth, addressing the effects of urban sprawl, managing traffic congestion, and protecting open space, especially ecologically sensitive areas and farms. 

Learn more on her Facebook page.

One of her most significant victories in her efforts to protect open space occurred in 2005 when Kate helped to secure the dedicated financial resources needed to sustain the “Growing Greener,” the Environmental Stewardship Fund. In response to the governor’s call for increased environmental spending, she was the prime architect of the legislative proposal that became known as Growing Greener II. Following popular voter approval, Kate’s Growing Greener II was established into law and approved borrowing in the amount of $625 million for farmland preservation and environmental projects. By providing for the debt service to be paid for through an existing tax on landfills, this was accomplished without new taxes. 

Kate’s environmental advocacy has stretched far beyond written legislation. Not only was Kate a member of Montgomery County’s first Open Space Task Force in 1993, but she later chaired the Montgomery County Green Fields Green Towns Task Force in 2003. Under her guidance, the task force designed and implemented a plan to raise $150 million to preserve farmland, buy open space, create new parks and trails, re-green towns and boroughs, and revitalize urban parks throughout the county. Kate also chaired the committee that wrote Montgomery County’s Open Space Plan. 

In recognition of her dedicated public service and environmental advocacy, Kate has received numerous awards, including:

• 2011 Legislator Recognition Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts
• 2011 Conservation Leadership Award from the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association
  2008 Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society’s Governmental Award
• 2006 Lower Gwynedd Township Citizen of the Year
• 2006 Legislator of the Year from the Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley Chapter of Community Associations Institute (CAI)
• 2005 Distinguished Service Award from the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association
• 2004 Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy’s Land Use Award
• 2003 Heritage Conservancy’s Conservation Award
• 2003 Recognition by Pennsylvania Land Trust Association
• 2001 Governor’s Individual Award for Excellence in Local Government
• 2000 Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Athena Award 

Kate was recently appointed chairman of the House Children and Youth Committee and also serves on the House Transportation Committee. She previously served as chairman of the House Ethics Committee.  

Kate’s state and community involvement also includes service on the Pennsylvania and Delaware Regional Water Committees; the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board Rules Committee; the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency; and the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network’s Board of Directors. She also chairs the Montgomery County Lands Trust, a non-profit conservancy. Kate previously served as chairman of the Lower Gwynedd Township Board of Supervisors and the Montgomery County Open Space Planning Board. She also served on the Montgomery Bar Association Board of Directors and chaired the bar association’s Long-Range Planning Committee. 

Kate obtained her undergraduate degree from LaSalle University and went on to earn her law degree from Villanova University. A practicing lawyer for more than 20 years, she is a partner with the Fort Washington-based firm Timoney Knox LLP and represents individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and municipal agencies. Kate also has the distinction of being one of the few Montgomery County lawyers to have argued a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Prior to joining the General Assembly, Kate was a community leader and township supervisor for more than a decade in Lower Gwynedd Township. 

Kate and her husband, Paul J. Kelly, CPA, still reside in Lower Gwynedd Township and have two sons, Paul and Tom. 

The 61st District includes portions of Plymouth Township, Whitpain Township, Lower Gwynedd Township, Upper Gwynedd Township, Montgomery Township, Towamencin Township, and North Wales Borough.