Author

Peter Hall has been a journalist in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 20 years, most recently covering criminal justice and legal affairs for The Morning Call in Allentown. His career at local newspapers and legal business publications has taken him from school board meetings to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and many points of interest between. He earned a degree in journalism from Susquehanna University.
Pa. lawmakers propose bills to study AI’s potential, safeguard against threats
By: Peter Hall - June 1, 2023
As the marvels and shortcomings of artificial intelligence increasingly capture headlines, Pennsylvania lawmakers are proposing legislation to track and regulate the emerging technology’s use.
Pa. House moves legislation on Illegal dumping and retirement savings
By: Peter Hall - May 25, 2023
Illegal dumping, a new state retirement system and arbitration for family disputes are among the issues the state House tackled this week.
Pa. Supreme Court hears arguments on order halting greenhouse gas reduction program
By: Peter Hall and Cassie Miller - May 24, 2023
‘We know that the proceeds from the RGGI auction have the potential for further growth in a Pennsylvania clean energy economy,’ Katie Blume, of Conservation Voters PA said.
Pa. House panel moves forward on Gov. Shapiro’s plan to update property tax relief program
By: Peter Hall - May 23, 2023
Pennsylvania’s Property Tax and Rent Rebate program provides financial breathing room for hundreds of thousands of older and disabled residents to pay their bills and stay in their homes, lawmakers and advocates told the House Finance Committee on Monday. But in the 16 years since the program’s enabling legislation, the Taxpayer Relief act, was last […]
Pa. House votes on gun safety bills highlight Democrats’ ‘humble majority’
By: Peter Hall and DaniRae Renno - May 22, 2023
In a voting session that highlighted the precarious nature of Pennsylvania House Democrats’ narrow majority, a lone Democratic lawmaker’s break from his caucus defeated legislation to require gun owners to report lost and stolen guns to police. Democratic leaders nonetheless counted the session on Monday as a win for gun safety. Two bills aimed at […]
Pa. House approves relief for childhood sexual abuse victims as standalone amendment
By: Marley Parish and Peter Hall - May 22, 2023
A standalone constitutional amendment offering a two-year window for survivors to file claims of childhood sexual abuse in civil court saw approval from the Pennsylvania House on Monday.
Pa. House bill would give commercial drivers with disqualifying convictions a second chance
By: Peter Hall - May 22, 2023
The bill will now go to the House floor for a vote. If it passes in both chambers of the General Assembly and is signed into law, the legislation would take effect in 18 months, which Hill-Evans said is the time necessary for PennDOT to review and prepare records of disqualified drivers.
Abortion rights were the key issue in Democrat Heather Boyd’s 163rd House District victory
By: Peter Hall - May 17, 2023
‘This is not the time for candidates or elected officials to be lukewarm. That’s where Heather stood out as a candidate,’ Planned Parenthood Pa. Advocates Executive Director Signe Espinoza said.
Democrat Heather Boyd wins special election, securing Democratic Pa. House majority
By: Peter Hall - May 16, 2023
[*This story was updated at 12:26 a.m., May 16, 2023, to reflect updated unofficial vote tallies] Democrat Heather Boyd won the special election to replace former state Rep. Mike Zabel, D-Delaware, preserving the Democratic one-vote majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Boyd, a former congressional staffer from Upper Darby Township, received about 60% of […]
Biden endorses Democratic nominee in DelCo special election for control of the Pa. House
By: Peter Hall - May 15, 2023
President Joe Biden has endorsed Heather Boyd, the Democratic nominee in a consequential special election for a suburban Philadelphia seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The race between Democrat Heather Boyd and Republican Katie Ford in the 163rd Legislative District in Delaware County will determine which party controls the General Assembly and holds the […]
Pa. House Republican budget maven calls for reforms in 2023-24 budget process
By: Peter Hall - May 12, 2023
Rep. Seth Grove, R-York, highlighted "bipartisan common sense reforms" to fix the state's budget process.
Democratic spending approaches $1M in special election to decide control of the Pa. House
By: Peter Hall - May 10, 2023
Pa. Democrats have spent nearly $1 million to defend their House majority in the special election to replace disgraced state Rep. Mike Zabel