Legislative Updates: A Weekly Roundup of Federal, State, and Local Actions – October 7

Your Chamber advocacy team is working to share legislative updates and continue to advocate for your business in Washington, D.C., Harrisburg, and Philadelphia. We’ve created a round-up of recent activity including Key Takeaways for Your Business and a Detailed Legislative Update. This represents our best knowledge of the situation as of 9:00 a.m. on Friday, October 7, 2022.

Chamber members are invited to join weekly legislative update calls hosted by our Advocacy team to hear the latest legislative matters concerning our community.

To learn more about how our region is preparing for recovery, visit our Recharge & Recover PHL Information Hub:

Councilmember Curtis Jones, on behalf of Council President Darrell Clarke, introduced a resolution to hold hearings on Brooklyn's Nehemiah Program and its possible implementation in Philadelphia to increase affordable housing in Philadelphia. 

Councilmember Kendra Brooks introduced a bill to make modifications and technical changes to the 2021 Public Health Emergency Leave Act. 

Bill 220634, the North Broad Business Improvement District, was held at the Thursday, October 6, 2022, Council session. By way of background, in a Business Improvement District, or BID, property owners pay a mandatory fee based on the percentage of the District's total value their property represents.  

On Monday, October 3, 2022, the city announced that it would launch the Smart Loading Zones pilot project. The pilot project will apply digital management of commercial loading activity in Philadelphia. 

Join the Chamber on Friday, October 28, 2022, for our in-person 222nd Annual Meeting and on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, for our virtual City Hall Connectors: Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson. 

Corporate Tax Revenue Better than Expected
On Monday, October 3, 2022, Pennsylvania Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell said the Commonwealth collected $4.2 billion in General Fund revenue in September, which was $135.8 million, or 3.3%, more than anticipated. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $9.8 billion, which is $196.2 million, or 2%, above estimate.  

Report Released Outlining Steps to Develop Hydrogen Energy
This week, Team Pennsylvania released a report suggesting steps the Commonwealth should take to develop hydrogen energy and carbon capture technology.  

The state legislature is discussing capturing carbon dioxide air emissions and either reusing them or storing them long-term in geologic formations. Developing hydrogen energy can involve using hydrogen coming from natural gas or using electrolysis to produce hydrogen from water or renewable energy. The report says new laws are needed to attract developers and investors for carbon capture and hydrogen energy projects. 

State Considers Mental Health Funds
On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, the Behavioral Health Commission for Adult Mental Health, which was created under the Fiscal Year 2023 state budget to consider how to spend the $100 million in one-time federal COVID relief funds for adult mental health needs, released a report about how those funds should be distributed.  

Join the Chamber  Tuesday, October 25, 2022, for our virtual State Advocacy Update: Discuss the Pennsylvania Election with Bravo Group and on Monday, November 28, 2022, for our in-person Southeastern Delegation Legislative Reception. 

Congress has adjourned for legislative recess through the November mid-term elections.  

The lame-duck legislative agenda likely includes a Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus appropriations package, a national defense authorization act, an election reform bill, tax extenders, and other issues.  

The race for Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate seat continues to tighten between Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Mehmet Oz.  

City Council Stated Meeting
Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson was absent from the Thursday, October 6, 2022, Council session. Councilmember Johnson's retrial on federal bribery charges started on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. Councilmember Johnson's first trial ended in a mistrial in April 2022. The retrial is expected to last until the end of October. 

Bills and Resolutions Introduced
Councilmember Curtis Jones, on behalf of Council President Darrell Clarke, introduced a resolution to hold hearings on Brooklyn's Nehemiah Program and its possible implementation in Philadelphia to increase affordable housing in Philadelphia. 

Councilmember Kendra Brooks introduced a bill to make modifications and technical changes to the 2021 Public Health Emergency Leave Act. 

Bill 220655 was reported favorably by the City Council Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and The Homeless and had its First Reading at the Thursday, October 6, 2022, Council session. As amended in Committee, this bill would extend the mandatory eviction diversion program until Sunday, June 30, 2024. City Council earmarked $30 million for rental assistance in the FY 2023 budget. This bill will be on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar at the next session of City Council on Thursday, October 13, 2022.  

Bill 220634, the North Broad Business Improvement District, was held at the Thursday, October 6, 2022, Council session. In a Business Improvement District, or BID, property owners pay a mandatory fee based on the percentage of the District's total value their property represents. Those fees are then used to fund services in the District, including street maintenance, greenery planting, security cameras, more cohesive police coverage, and economic development initiatives. When the North Broad BID proposal passed out of City Council's Rules Committee on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, that marked the beginning of a 45-day objection period. If 51% of property owners in the BID express their disapproval by mid-November, the effort is dead, regardless of whether City Council approves the legislation. This bill will be on the Second Reading and Final Passage calendar at the next session of City Council on Thursday, October 13, 2022. 

Upcoming City Council Hearings
On Tuesday, October 11, 2022, the City Council Committee on Public Safety will hold a hearing on a bill to revise evening curfew hours for minors. 

On Monday, October 17, 2022, the City Council Committee on Finance will hold a hearing on bills to authorize bond sales and to correct typographical errors in the wage tax and BIRT bills that City Council approved during the FY 2023 budget process. 

On Friday, October 21, 2022, the City Council Committee on Rules will hold a hearing on zoning bills to create the Nelson Brown People's Village, the Yorktown Neighborhood, and the Nehemiah Homes Overlay Districts. 

Odds and Ends
On Monday, October 3, 2022, the city announced that it would launch the Smart Loading Zones pilot project. The pilot project will apply digital management of commercial loading activity in Philadelphia. The city will designate 21 loading zones in Center City as "Smart Loading Zones" or "Smart Zones.". The SmartCityPHL team, the Department of Streets, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the Philadelphia Parking Authority have worked closely to launch this pilot. The pilot project examines how loading zones are currently used, how many people use them, and how they can be better utilized to improve traffic safety and reduce congestion. The Smart Loading Zone pilot will launch on Monday, October 17, 2022. 

Upcoming Local Advocacy Programs 

222nd Annual Meeting 
Friday, October 28, 2022 | 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM 

City Hall Connectors: Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson
Tuesday, November 15, 2022 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

Questions? Contact William Carter (wcarter@chamberphl.com) for more information about local legislative affairs.

Corporate Tax Revenue Better than Expected
On Monday, October 3, 2022, Pennsylvania Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell said the Commonwealth collected $4.2 billion in General Fund revenue in September, which was $135.8 million, or 3.3%, more than anticipated. The amount was twice as much in September as in August. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $9.8 billion, which is $196.2 million, or 2%, above estimate.  

Sales tax receipts totaled $1.1 billion for September, $2.3 million below estimate. Year-to-date sales tax collections total $3.6 billion, which is still $43.1 million,or 1.2%, more than anticipated. Personal income tax revenue was also below estimate – totaling $1.6 billion, but $61.8 million less than projected. For the year, personal income tax revenue is lagging state projections by 1.8%  

Report Released Outlining Steps to Develop Hydrogen Energy
This week, Team Pennsylvania released a report suggesting steps the Commonwealth should take to develop hydrogen energy and carbon capture technology. 

The state legislature is discussing capturing carbon dioxide air emissions and either reusing them or storing them long-term in geologic formations. Developing hydrogen energy can involve using hydrogen coming from natural gas or using electrolysis to produce hydrogen from water or renewable energy. The report says new laws are needed to attract developers and investors for carbon capture and hydrogen energy projects. 

The current state budget provides $100,000 to help create a state plan for developing clean hydrogen energy and carbon capture technology. 

The report's other suggested proposals include the following: 

• Joining interstate partnerships on such efforts as the regional hydrogen hub. Pennsylvania is competing for part of the $8 billion available under the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to locate one of the four planned regional hydrogen hubs for the nation in Pennsylvania. 
• Pursuing available funding in this area under the federal infrastructure act. 
• Digitizing the information on Pennsylvania's subsurface assets to aid developers with projects. 

State Considers Mental Health Funds
On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, the Behavioral Health Commission for Adult Mental Health, which was created under the Fiscal Year 2023 state budget to consider how to spend the $100 million in one-time federal COVID relief funds for adult mental health needs, released a report about how those funds should be distributed. 

The commission's recommendations include splitting the money among three major areas affecting mental health: $37 million to address challenges in recruiting and retaining workers, $39 million to expand the scope and capacity of mental health services and supports, especially in underserved areas, and $23.5 million to help criminal justice and public safety systems better serve adults with behavioral health needs.  

Upcoming State Advocacy Programs 

State Advocacy Update: Discuss the Pennsylvania Election with Bravo Group 
Tuesday, October 25, 2022 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 

Southeast Delegation Legislative Reception 
Monday, November 28, 2022 | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM 

Questions? Contact Liz Ferry (lferry@chamberphl.com) for more information about state legislative affairs.

Congress Stand in Recess 
Congress has adjourned for legislative recess through the November mid-term elections following last week's successful passage of a continuing resolution that keeps the federal government operating through Friday, December 16, 2022. The continuing resolution included several legislative attachments, including a five-year FDA user fee reauthorization, military and economic assistance to Ukraine, and domestic disaster aid and relief funding.   

The outcomes of the midterm election will certainly affect how Republicans and Democrats work together to address several unresolved issues.  Republicans will be incentivized to delay legislative issues if they can win majorities in next year's House or Senate. Democrats will seek to strike a compromise in a lame-duck session in the same scenario.  

The lame-duck legislative agenda includes a Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus appropriations package and that national defense authorization act, two "must-pass" vehicles.  Democratic leaders also may consider an election reform bill that would safeguard against attempts to challenge elections, a bipartisan marriage equality bill that was left out of September's continuing resolution, and an extension to a bundle of tax provisions due to expire at the end of the year.    

 Pennsylvania U.S. Senate Seat Tightening 
Democrat John Fetterman leads over Republican Mehmet Oz 48% to 43%, according to a Monmouth University poll released this week on Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate race. Meanwhile, the Cook Political Report, a leading non-partisan analyst of various elections, changed its race rating to "toss-up" from "leans Democrat." Fetterman and Oz will participate in a debate on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, in Harrisburg, PA.    

Questions? Contact Anselm Sauter (asauter@chamberphl.com) for more information about federal legislative affairs.

We invite you to reach out to our advocacy team directly with your questions: 

• Anselm Sauter, Federal Affairs – asauter@chamberphl.com 
• Liz Ferry, State Affairs – lferry@chamberphl.com 
• William Carter, Local Affairs – wcarter@chamberphl.com 

Chamber members are invited to join weekly legislative update calls hosted by our Advocacy team to hear the latest on COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts at the federal, state, and local level as well as other legislative matters concerning our community.

To learn more about how our region is preparing for recovery, visit our Recharge & Recover PHL Information Hub: