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Stranded legislation: Pa. lawmakers in both chambers lament lack of consensus
State Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) had introduced the Fairness Act, to extend Pennsylvania’s anti-discrimination law to LGBTQ+ people, in every legislative session since 2001 before it passed in the state House this spring. Five months after lawmakers sent House Bill 300 to the Republican-controlled Senate with a bipartisan 102-98 vote, the historic legislation remains on […]
Pa. Supreme Court justices question GOP effort to impeach Philly DA Larry Krasner
Chief Justice Debra Todd suggested articles of impeachment, like other unfinished legislation, die when the General Assembly's session ends.
PennDOT may pursue disqualification of contractor in wage theft case, Pa. Supreme Court rules
The state Supreme Court rejected PennDOT contractor G.O. Hawbaker's claims that the agency lacks authority to stop it from bidding on road projects.
Judge rules Pa. mail-in ballots returned on time with wrong or missing dates must be counted
In a decision that echoes earlier rulings, a western Pa. federal judge ruled mail-in ballots with wrong or missing dates must be counted.
In effort to boost recruiting, Pa. lawmakers pass bill to lower police academy fitness requirement
Lowering fitness standards for police academy recruits could improve recruiting, but some say it could result in more cadets washing out.
Pennsylvania Democrats seek balance between environmental policy and loyalty to labor
Democratic leaders, however, caught between the competing interests of the environmental movement and building trade unions — both traditionally strong allies of the party — didn’t share the goal of putting sweeping climate and environment legislation up for votes.
Pennsylvania ranks near the bottom in national study of charter school performance
A decade’s worth of testing data ranks Pennsylvania among the states with the lowest charter school performance. In a study of students’ scores in reading and math on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, researchers compared charter school performance in 35 states and Washington, D.C. Alaska had the highest scores compared to the average followed […]
Fight over tax money for private school tuition snags education funding bill again
A months-long stalemate over public education funding appeared likely to continue on Wednesday as state House lawmakers stripped GOP-backed school choice funding from a spending bill. The state Senate passed the legislation on Wednesday authorizing hundreds of millions in new funding for K-12 schools, community colleges, educational support units and public libraries with a 45-5 […]
State House passes COLA legislation for retired public school teachers and state workers
Retired teachers and public servants would receive a cost of living adjustment in their monthly pension payments for the first time in more than 20 years under legislation passed by the Pennsylvania House on Tuesday. House Bill 1416 would provide increases of 15% to 24.5% to about 69,000 retired public school educators and other state […]
Voting rights groups call for investigation of Election Day problems in Northampton County
Northampton County voters were affected by a programming error and lack of contingency plan, the groups say.
Gun safety measures head to Pa. House over GOP objections
GOP lawmakers argued that measures holding parents responsible when children access guns and safe storage requirements would punish gun owners.
Pa. House panel considers how hydrogen hubs can help meet climate goals
Robust regulation is key to ensuring Pennsylvania's hydrogen hubs contribute to the commonwealth's climate goals, a state House committee heard Monday.