State Senate
-
LGBTQ+ lawmakers renew calls for Pa. Fairness Act after Trump’s attacks on transgender rights
Pennsylvania House Democrats passed the Fairness Act in the previous session. Now lawmakers are renewing calls to pass protections for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians after Trump signs executive orders attacking transgender rights.
-
Pa. lawmakers gear up to defend reproductive rights
Members of the Pa. Women’s Health Caucus celebrated their legislative victories from the previous session and announced their agenda to protect reproductive rights over the next two years.
-
Proposed AI-powered cyber charter school draws criticism as approval deadline nears
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has until Wednesday to approve an application for the state’s first AI-powered cyber charter school. Education advocates see it as a crash grab.
-
Fetterman renews call to turn Pa.’s Whole Home Repairs program into national initiative
US Sen. John Fetterman reintroduced a national version of Pennsylvania’s Whole Home Repairs program last week turning the popular program into a five-year pilot program.
-
Shapiro administration distributes $11 million in afterschool programs for underserved communities
“When we invest in afterschool programs, we’re being smart about safety, and we’re saving lives. There’s no more important metric, when we talk about getting stuff done, for the good people of Pennsylvania,” Lt. Gov. Austin Davis said.
-
Shapiro administration announces $45 million for high-speed internet projects at local schools, libraries and community centers
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration approved funding expanding high-speed internet access in dozens of public schools, libraries and community health centers across the commonwealth.
-
Education advocates call on Pa lawmakers to close $4 billion funding gap
Education advocates called on Pa lawmakers to close the $4 billion funding gap between poorer and wealthier school districts over the next four years. A 2023 report found that 387 of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts have inadequate funding gaps.
-
New Pa. law protecting pets from domestic abuse starts next week
Act 146 of 2024, which protects pets from domestic abuse situations, will go into effect starting Jan. 17, 2025. The Humane Society states that 71% of domestic violence victims reported that their abuser also targeted their pets.
-
Pa. House Democrats hopeful for bipartisanship at start of new legislative session
Pa. House Democrats will control the chamber even though one of their members suffered a medical emergency last week. They will lead operations of the House even though it is tied 101 to 101 for the start of the new legislative session.
-
21 states started 2025 by raising their minimum wage. Pennsylvania wasn’t one of them
Pennsylvania’s minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 since 2009. It’s the lowest minimum wage compared to all of the commonwealth’s neighboring states.
