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 20, 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

  • The Center City District released a report showing a lag in Philadelphia’s private-sector job growth.
  • The General Election is less than three weeks away on Tuesday, November 7, 2023! Get to know the candidates by visiting the Chamber’s 2023 Election Hub. This comprehensive voter resource features dedicated profiles, relevant legislative history, notable press mentions, a Candidate Engagement Guide, and other valuable resources related to the City of Philadelphia’s 2023 Mayoral and City Council candidates. You can also access complete recordings of the Chamber’s recent At-Large City Council Candidate Forums, which are now live!

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, mflores@chamberphl.com. Registration will close on Tuesday, October 24, 2023.

State

  • Governor Josh Shapiro is expected to sign legislation to reauthorize assessments on hospitals and set reimbursement rates for emergency medical services and nursing homes.
  • The General Assembly still has several unresolved budget items that require budget implementation language.
  • Previous partisan attempts to unlock the budget dollars have gone nowhere, leading Senate Republicans to suggest continuing a piecemeal approach to advance elements of the remaining pieces of the budget.
  • The House advanced legislation to move Pennsylvania’s primary election to Tuesday, April 16, 2024, and legislation allowing independent and unaffiliated registered voters to vote in party primaries.

Join the Chamber on Monday, November 20, 2023 for our in-person Southeastern Delegation Legislative Reception.

DETAILED LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Local: Updates from Philadelphia’s City Hall

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

Bills and Resolutions Introduced
Councilmember Mark Squilla, on behalf of Council President Darrell Clarke, introduced an ordinance to extend the term of the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

Councilmember Cindy Bass introduced a resolution recognizing Governor Josh Shapiro’s Executive Order to establish the Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Council to address quality mental health and addiction care services.

Emotions ran high at the Thursday, October 19, 2023, Council session over Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson and Councilmember Michael Driscoll’s resolution condemning the Hamas attack on Israel. After more than an hour of conflict from supporters and opponents of the resolution, Council President Darrell Clarke, in an unusual move, suspended public comment.

Update on Bills and Resolutions in Committee
Councilmember Anthony Phillips introduced Bill #230568, requiring certain businesses to implement shopping cart containment systems. The Chamber and the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) met with Councilmember Phillips on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, to present concerns and impact to our members and shared supporting data collected on current cart management systems, rate of loss/theft, and cost to replace, acquire, or retrofit carts. The law department is currently drafting amendments to the bill; Councilmember Phillips is willing to work collaboratively to ensure the final version of this bill addresses the key issue of cart theft with minimal cost and impact on retailers.  

Council President Darrell Clarke introduced Bill #230570, an ordinance that adds new provisions to Philadelphia Code requiring any person or city agency constructing, installing, operating, maintaining, relocating, removing, repairing, or replacing facilities to give notice of the street opening or closing, by first class mail, to all property owners and all tenants affected. No Street Closure or Street Opening Permits shall be granted without issuing notice first. The Chamber met with key stakeholders and the Council President’s Office on Friday, October 13, 2023, to discuss the impact of this ordinance. This bill was voted out of the City Council Committee on Streets and Services at the Tuesday, October 17, 2023, with amendments that address concerns raised by key stakeholders.

Upcoming City Council Hearings
On Monday, October 23, 2023, the City Council Committee on Rules will hold a hearing on various zoning bills, including bills to continue the Aramingo Avenue Shopping District and the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District and a bill to establish a temporary demolition moratorium for properties along Ridge Avenue in the 4th Councilmanic District.

On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, the City Council Committee on Public Safety will hold a hearing to explore solutions to ongoing challenges facing the 911 Unified Call Center and on a bill to prohibit certain facial coverings from being worn in certain spaces.

On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, the City Council Committee on the Environment will hold a hearing to evaluate the environmental justice impacts of the city’s waste management practices.

On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, the City Council Committee on Finance will hold a hearing regarding an amendment to the Consolidated Plan 2022-2026 and Annual Action Plan 2022-2023 to add funding to the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Fund.

Odds and Ends
On Thursday, October 5, 2023, the Center City District (CCD) showing a lag in Philadelphia’s private-sector job growth. The report states the city Wage Tax as a major reason for the city’s slow growth to pre-pandemic numbers.

Negotiators for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and its union, Transport Workers Local 234, continue bargaining for a new contract for operators, mechanics, cashiers, and maintenance employees.

Make an informed vote on Tuesday, November 7, 2023! The General Election is a month away – please visit the Chamber’s Election Hub at electionhub.chamberphl.com to learn more about Philadelphia’s Mayoral and City Council Candidates on the ballot in November. 

Upcoming Chamber Event

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

State: Updates from Harrisburg

General Assembly Addresses One Piece of Unresolved Budget Issues
The Senate unanimously passed HB 1351, legislation providing code amendments to address public health needs for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Hospital Assessments, and Nursing Homes. The bill reauthorizes assessments on hospitals and sets reimbursement rates for EMS and nursing homes. The House overwhelmingly voted to concur with the bill, sending the bill to the Governor’s desk. Governor Josh Shapiro is expected to sign the legislation.

The bill’s passage unlocks at least a fraction of unresolved budget items that amount to approximately $1.1 billion in appropriations spending. Although the appropriations allocations were previously signed into law over the summer, lawmakers still need to pass budget implementation language before funding can be released for certain remaining programs, including Mental Health Grants, Criminal Indigent Defense, Level Up Supplement, Teacher Stipends, and the Whole Home Repair.

The House Democrats had forgone consideration of previous Senate-passed budget implementation language, opting instead to pass several large omnibus bills amending the state’s fiscal, school, and tax codes. Those code bills so far have not received significant consideration in the Senate this week. Instead, Senate Republicans are now suggesting a piecemeal approach to advance elements of the remaining pieces of the budget where Republicans and Democrats can agree.

House Committee Advances Election-Related Bills
The House State Government Committee advanced legislation this week that would create open primaries in Pennsylvania, allowing independent and unaffiliated registered voters to vote in party primaries. The bills await consideration on the House floor.

The House also amended legislation moving Pennsylvania’s presidential primary from Tuesday, April 23, 2024, to Tuesday, April 16, 2024, to avoid conflicting with the Jewish holiday. Previously, the House and Senate had passed legislation to move the 2024 presidential primary to Tuesday, April 2, 2024, and Tuesday, March 19, 2024, respectively. Senate Republicans have warned that the window to move the primary date is rapidly closing.

Upcoming State Advocacy Event 

Southeastern Delegation Legislative Reception 
Monday, November 20, 2023 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Springfield Country Club 

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

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