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, September 29, 2023.

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

KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Local

  • On Saturday, September 30, 2023, Councilmember Curtis Jones will host The Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia – Crime Summit. Over 120 stakeholders, including the Chamber, will attend, and we’d like to hear from you. 
  • Assistance is available if you or your business were impacted by the vandalism and theft that took place in Center City, Northeast Philadelphia, and West Philadelphia on Tuesday, September 26, and Wednesday, September 27, 2023. The Chamber’s statement on the recent business vandalism can be found here.
  • SEPTA is now accepting contactless fare by credit card, debit card, and virtual wallets beginning Friday, September 29, 2023. 
  • The Chamber is committed to ensuring our message of citywide business and job growth spreads throughout Philadelphia and the region leading up to the Tuesday, November 7, 2023, General Election. Please visit our 2023 Election Hub to learn more about Philadelphia’s Mayoral and City Council Candidates on the ballot.  
  • Hear from candidates on topics relevant to the regional business community at our virtual City Council At-Large Candidate Forums on Tuesday, October 3, and Thursday, October 5. Each participating candidate will address issues important to the Chamber’s goal of inclusive growth, including job and business growth, workforce development and education, and safety. With only four incumbents on the ballot, the outcome of this particular race is extremely important as it will bring new faces to City Hall, along with new leadership and priorities. 

Join the Chamber on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, for our in-person State of Aviation: Developments & Opportunities.  

State

  • Governor Josh Shapiro announced plans to create a comprehensive economic development strategy for Pennsylvania, the first such plan in nearly two decades. 
  • The Chamber has called for state programs and investments that will harness Pennsylvania’s strengths and begin to align the state with its immense economic potential. 
  • The Chamber recently delivered testimony at a Senate Majority Policy Committee hearing urging bold action to make Pennsylvania more competitive. 
  • Secretary of Legislative Affairs Mike Vereb tendered his resignation this week.
  • October 2023 is officially “Local Chamber of Commerce Month” in Pennsylvania. Governor Shapiro has shared his support with the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.

Join the Chamber on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, for our in-person 223rd Annual Meeting. Tables are available for purchase. For more information, contact Maria Flores, Production Director, at mflores@chamberphl.com. 

DETAILED LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Local: Updates from Philadelphia’s City Hall

City Council Stated Meeting 
There are nine Stated Meetings remaining in this City Council term.  As a reminder, any legislation introduced but not approved by City Council before Thursday, December 14, 2023, will lapse.   

Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson introduced a resolution calling on Governor Josh Shapiro to establish the Office of Gun Violence Prevention for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.   

Councilmember Quetcy Lozada introduced a resolution calling for hearings to examine the response to human trafficking in Philadelphia.  

Councilmember Jim Harrity introduced a bill to prohibit unlawful deportation of undocumented people seeking medical attention in Philadelphia hospitals.  

Mayor Jim Kenney returned as disapproved (vetoed) Bill 230410 (safe injection site overlay). This bill would effectively prevent the opening of safe injection sites in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Councilmanic Districts (only the 3rd District was excluded from the bill). Upon reconsideration, City Council voted 14-1 to override the Mayor’s veto. This legislation will now be effective immediately.  

Upcoming City Council Hearings 
On Friday, September 29, 2023, the City Council Committee on Public Safety will hold a hearing regarding the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, also known as drones, as an additional law enforcement tool that would enhance public safety in the City of Philadelphia.  

Odds and Ends
On Saturday, September 30, 2023, Councilmember Curtis Jones will host The Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia – Crime Summit. The summit brings together over 120 stakeholders, including The Chamber, from both state and local government, non-profits, and the private sector to facilitate a solution-focused discussion on ways to address crime in Philadelphia. If you have any legislative, regulatory, or funding solutions to combat crime, whether violent, property, consensual, or organized, please forward them to Ashley Miscevich, Manager, Local Government Advocacy & Engagement, at amiscevich@chamberphl.com by Friday, October 6, 2023, and we will ensure your recommendations are shared.   

The City’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is gathering information about businesses impacted by the vandalism and theft that took place in Center City, Northeast Philadelphia, and West Philadelphia on Tuesday, September 26, and Wednesday, September 27, 2023. OEM will use this information to determine how widespread the impact was. If your business was impacted, please complete this short questionnaire. Retail theft is an issue that continues to plague our city. The impact is not just on the retailers but the community at large. The Chamber will continue working with our members, City Council, and the District Attorney’s Office on solutions to combat retail theft. Please contact Ashley Miscevich, Manager, Local Government Advocacy & Engagement, at amiscevich@chamberphl.com to learn more about our efforts. The Chamber’s statement on the recent business vandalism can be found here.

Reminder: 39th Annual Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week will take place October 2 – 6, 2023, and Hispanic Heritage Month runs through Sunday, October 15, 2023.  

The Chamber is committed to ensuring our message of citywide business and job growth spreads throughout Philadelphia and the region leading up to the Tuesday, November 7, 2023, General Election. Please visit our 2023 Election Hub to learn more about Philadelphia’s Mayoral and City Council Candidates on the ballot.  

Upcoming Local Advocacy Events
City Council At-Large Candidates Forum: Session One
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Virtual 

City Council At-Large Candidates Forum: Session Two
Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Virtual 

State of Aviation: Developments & Opportunities
Tuesday, October 10, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | CYTO|PHL 

State: Updates from Harrisburg

Governor Shapiro Announces Plans for Statewide Economic Development Strategy
This week, Governor Josh Shapiro announced plans to create a comprehensive economic development strategy for Pennsylvania, the first such plan in nearly two decades. The plan will articulate action items for the state to address some of the following key elements: 

  • Simplifying programs and incentives available through the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED); 
  • Streamlining the process for businesses relocating or expanding in Pennsylvania; 
  • Addressing the lack of "shovel ready" sites to attract and retain expanding businesses; 
  • Doubling down on our areas of strength in high-growth sectors and providing targeted and focused support to these vital industries; 
  • Encouraging the creation, growth, and sustainability of small businesses in Pennsylvania; and 
  • Revitalizing and addressing the challenges facing Pennsylvania's downtowns, Main Streets, and Elm Streets. 

The Chamber has called for state programs and investments that will harness Pennsylvania's strengths and begin to align the state with its immense economic potential. In a joint statement, the Chamber and Allegheny Conference on Community Development commended the Governor's actions and renewed our commitment to work together with the Administration, DCED, and the General Assembly to achieve a more competitive business environment. 

Meanwhile, the state Senate Majority Policy Committee recently held a hearing in Pittsburgh to examine the current state of Pennsylvania's innovation economy and consider policies to accelerate growth in key sectors. The Chamber delivered testimony at the hearing urging swift and bold action to maximize our world-class anchor institutions, strong research and development inputs, and a diverse pool of top-tier talent.  

Starting next week, the Shapiro Administration will begin holding listening sessions with business and economic development leaders in every region of Pennsylvania to consider input during the strategy creation. To support the Governor's efforts, the Chamber is conducting stakeholder engagement gatherings over the coming weeks with participation from members of the Governor's Office and DCED. If you would like to participate and provide feedback, please contact Bryan Tsao at btsao@chamberphl.com. 

Secretary of Legislative Affairs Mike Vereb Resigns
Secretary of Legislative Affairs Mike Vereb has tendered his resignation this week, effective immediately. The reason for his resignation was not given in a statement from the Governor's office, although reports alleging sexual misconduct have since surfaced. Vereb's resignation marks the first resignation of the Shapiro Administration. Thomas (TJ) Yablonski, Jr., a Senior Advisor in the Governor's Office, has been appointed to fill the role beginning on Monday, October 2, 2023. 

Upcoming Chamber Event 

223rd Annual Meeting
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 | 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM | Pennsylvania Convention Center 

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