First elected to serve the residents of the 144th Legislative District in 2000, Rep. Katharine M. Watson continues to bring to Harrisburg what many consider the best preparation and experience a lawmaker can have: working with constituents at the local level through her township, school board and county positions.

Watson’s long career of addressing issues at the grassroots level greatly enhances her ability to ensure that the interest and concerns of the residents of the 144th District are listened to and addressed at the state level. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania and master’s program studies in secondary counseling and guidance at Villanova University.

As a state lawmaker, Watson draws on the wealth of knowledge gained from her experience working in Bucks County government, first as Director of Public Information and later as Deputy Administrator overseeing many daily operations and special projects and initiatives of the county commissioners (1996-2000). Locally, Watson has served her community as a township supervisor (1994-2000) and as a member of the Central Bucks School Board (1985-1989). A 33-year resident of Warrington Township, she also created and served as the first director of the Bucks County Highway Safety Program, a position she held for six years.

Most recently, legislation she authored to update the state’s teen driving law, House Bill 9, was signed into law as Act 81 of 2011.This law is the most comprehensive update to the Graduated Driver’s Licensing Law since 1999 and seeks to reduce distractions caused by teen passengers, expands behind-the-wheel training for permit holders, and makes sure that minors are buckled up.

For her efforts to help enhance highway safety, Watson was awarded the 2011 State Farm Insurance Champion of GDL Award, the Children’s Champion Award from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Legislator of the Year Award from AAA. She was also honored by the Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization that promotes safe teen driving.

Before her election to the House, Watson served as a commissioner representing Pennsylvania on the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission; she was appointed by Gov. Tom Ridge in 1996 and served until 2000. She is a former high school English teacher, having taught at Springfield High School, Delaware County. She also operated a home-based public relations firm, Coleraine Consultants, P.R.

Watson’s community involvement has spanned her 33-year residency. She is a past president of the John Barclay Elementary School Home and School Association; a former member of the Warrington Township Planning Commission; volunteer math tutor at Barclay Elementary; various activities with the Central Bucks East Soccer Booster Club; and was a Sunday School and Bible School teacher.

Legislative priorities include health care and prescription drug affordability; improving highway safety and transportation; quality education for all children; the preservation of open space; access to quality care services for older Pennsylvanians; and children’s issues including adoption.

During her first term, Watson introduced legislation to deal with repetitive DUI offenders, and shepherded legislation through the House to protect young children by expanding the booster seat law to require booster seats to protect children ages 4 through 7.

In her second term, Watson secured passage in the House for a new licensure system for assisted living facilities; was a co-author of the state’s revamped DUI law; succeeded in changing the auditing system for the state’s subsidy of Approved Private Schools which help thousands of children with special needs; and authored the “Flying While Impaired Law,” which makes it illegal to pilot an aircraft while under the influence of drugs or alcohol (the bill passed and was vetoed by the Governor).

In her third term, she continued to work on health care issues; re-introduced and secured passage of “Flying While Impaired,” which became Act 10 of 2005; and authored the expansion of driving regulations for new teen drivers.

In her fourth term (2007-08), she was selected as the co-chairman of the Health Care Reform Task Force which developed a 10-bill package that addressed the costs of health care and the uninsured; she served as a key negotiator on the House Republican plan with the administration. She authored, amended and secured final passage of Assisted Living Facilities Licensure (Act 56 of 2007); continued to be a consistent advocate for medical malpractice insurance reform; advocated for meaningful property tax reform; and supported clean, safe communities through the expansion of the state’s Growing Greener program.

During her fifth term, she again served as co-chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee’s Health Care Task Force, where she was instrumental in developing legislation to increase the affordability and accessibility of health care for Pennsylvanians. She also was named to be one of two House appointees to the Inter-Governmental Council on Long-Term Care.

In her sixth term in the 2011-12 legislative session, Watson serves on the House Transportation, Aging and Older Adult Services, Human Services, Insurance and Ethics committees and is chairman of the Transportation Committee’s Subcommittee on Transportation Safety and the Aging and Older Adult Services’ Subcommittee on Care and Services. She is also a member of the House Republican Policy Committee, which helps to set the caucus agenda.

Katharine “Kathy” Watson and her husband James reside in Warrington Township, Bucks County, and have one adult son, Derek, who is a professional photographer and designer.


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