pa-legislature
Funding for Pa. state-related universities passes Legislature
The General Assembly on Wednesday sent a bill to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk, after months of wrangling, that will fund state-related colleges and universities. The Senate voted 45-5 to pass legislation to provide level funding for state-related schools Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Temple University, while Lincoln University and Penn College of […]
Legislature sends informed consent bill to Shapiro’s desk
The bill, which passed through the House Health Committee in March, would require medical facilities in Pennsylvania to obtain consent before performing pelvic, prostate or rectal exams on anesthetized patients.
GOP women in Pa. House announce bills to strengthen rules against sexual harassment
The bills would reform rules in the wake of a $295,000 settlement the state paid to a woman who accused a top aide to Gov. Shapiro of sexual harassment.
Advocates push states, including Pa. to take up ‘survivor-centered’ trafficking laws
Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are not currently considering any similarly comprehensive legislation, but there have been attempts to address education and awareness around sex trafficking and exploitation.
Commentary: RGGI is about climate change. It’s also about environmental justice
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) offers a chance to add funding and emphasis to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s stated focus on environmental justice, writes Joseph Otis Minott, president of the Clean Air Action Fund.
Pittsburgh educators share needs of western Pennsylvania schools with state commission
As part of a series of statewide hearings on education funding in Pennsylvania, lawmakers heard from educators in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, who told them of the needs that schools in western Pennsylvania have, including special education funding, pre-kindergarten programs, and a vital need for improvements to career and technical education (CTE) programs. “There are way […]
Pennsylvania House rejects voter ID proposal as early primary bill passes to Senate
Lawmakers in the Pennsylvania House resoundingly rejected a package of election reforms on Thursday, including a voter ID requirement added earlier this week to a bill that would have moved the presidential primary to mid-March. But a clean bill — free of amendments — to move the primary to April 2 passed the House along […]
Lindsay Powell sworn in as District 21 rep, giving Pa. Dems a one-vote House majority
Lindsay Powell took office as state representative of the 21st District on Monday, making official the results of a Sept. 19 special election that tipped the balance of power in the Pennsylvania House back to Democrats. “I’m honored and excited to hit the ground running in my new role as a state representative,” Powell said […]
Democrat Lindsay Powell projected winner of Allegheny County special election
PITTSBURGH – Democrats appear to have regained control of the state House of Representatives, as unofficial results of a special election in Allegheny County show Lindsay Powell defeating Republican Erin Autenreith. The Associated Press called the race for Powell shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. “This is not just about the 21st District, this […]
Pa. Senate to return to session Aug. 30
The Pennsylvania Senate will return for a voting session next week, nearly three weeks ahead of schedule, to work on finalizing the 2023-24 budget. “Our work to complete the necessary budgetary implementation legislation continues at this time and the Senate will reconvene on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. to finalize the 2023-2024 state […]
Ward calls state Senate back into session to ‘finalize’ Pa. budget
Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, said in a statement late Wednesday that she was calling the Senate back into session Thursday at 1 p.m. “to finalize the General Appropriations Budget.” Signing the legislation “will provide the necessary funding to schools, counties, and organizations completing 75% of the budget,” Ward said. She added […]
Allegheny County Dems select Lindsay Powell for House special election
PITTSBURGH – On Saturday, Democrats in Allegheny County selected Pittsburgh-area nonprofit director Lindsay Powell to be their nominee in a special election that will determine the balance of power in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Powell, who is director of workforce strategies at the economic development coalition InnovatePGH, will run for the House District 21 […]