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, April 12, 2024.

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

  • Council President Kenyatta Johnson announced new Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission appointments on Monday, April 8, 2024. Mayor Cherelle Parker and Council President Johnson each appointed four members; City Controller Christy Brady appointed one member, and the remaining members (one each) were selected by various local Chambers of Commerce in Philadelphia.  
  • The Chamber is proud to announce Jennifer Karpchuk, Shareholder, Chamberlain Hrdlicka, a Chamber member company, as our appointee to the Commission. You can learn more about the Commission and its 2003 recommendations here.  
  • On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, Mayor Parker announced programming for the city’s 2024 “It’s A Summer Thing” – a lineup of programs and activities available to keep Philadelphia’s children, youth, teens, and families safe and engaged throughout the summer. 
  • Share your story: The Chamber, in partnership with the Inclusive Growth Coalition (IGC) and our diverse partners, encourages Philadelphia businesses to complete our IGC Stakeholder Feedback Survey to enrich our joint advocacy efforts.

Join the Chamber on Friday, April 26, 2024, for our in-person Advancing Inclusive Strategies for Economic Growth: A Civic Issues Forum and on June 11, 2024, for our virtual City Hall Connectors: Public Safety and Clean & Green Initiatives forum.

One week left to engage: The Civic 50 Greater Philadelphia self-assessment is still open! Measure and share your organization’s social impact for the opportunity to be ranked among the top 50 civic-oriented businesses in the region. Learn more here or contact Civic50@chamberphl.com for additional information. Deadline to participate is next Friday, April 19.

State

  • To counter Governor Josh Shapiro's higher education blueprint, Senate Republicans introduced their "Grow PA" Higher Education Reform Plan that calls for a scholarship grant program in priority fields, talent retention incentives, and a performance-based state funding model for certain universities, among other things.   
  • The House approved a bill that would expand a texting-while-driving ban on hand-held cellphones to cover an expansive set of additional activities performed on a hand-held phone while driving. Senate Bill 37 will return to the Senate for a concurrence vote before it is passed into law.   
  • Senator Christine Tartaglione released a co-sponsorship memo on Monday, April 8, 2024, detailing her intentions to introduce legislation that would raise the statewide minimum wage to $20 per hour with cost of living increases every five years thereafter.  
  • This week, the House voted in favor of House Bill 1598, which would require consumers to be notified when media is generated using "technology or tools that use predictive algorithms to create new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations or videos."  
  • SEPTA faces a $240 million budget shortage that can only be closed with additional state or local funding. Given the importance of SEPTA's activity on our region's inclusivity, growth, and competitiveness, we ask that you utilize and share our one-click campaign to contact legislators and help ensure that SEPTA funding remains a critical point of emphasis in their ongoing budget conversations. 

Join the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, for our in-person A Conversation with the Governor, and in Harrisburg on Monday, May 6, 2024, for our in-person Harrisburg Reception (this event was formerly called the Pennsylvania Legislative Reception).    

Market your business: sponsor one of the Chamber's advocacy events. Gain exposure and build promising relationships with top-level business professionals, civic leaders, and elected officials. Learn more about our upcoming local, state, and federal advocacy sponsorship opportunities here or contact Tara Orio, Senior Vice President, Membership and Member Engagement, at torio@chamberphl.com. 

DETAILED LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Local: Updates from Philadelphia’s City Hall

The next session of City Council will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2024.  

Bills and Resolutions 
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier introduced a resolution authorizing hearings to examine the Philadelphia Land Bank’s 10-year performance and barriers to the effective disposition of public land for the development of affordable housing.  

Councilmember Quetcy Lozada introduced a resolution authorizing the creation of a Special Committee on Kensington to analyze and examine the effectiveness of current policies and identify data-driven solutions to address ongoing issues in the Kensington neighborhood.  

Councilmember Jim Harrity, on behalf of Council President Johnson, introduced a resolution declaring Council’s support for striking Aramark food service workers at the Wells Fargo Center.    

Aramark union members from Unite Here Local 274 voted to hold a one-day strike outside of the Wells Fargo Center during Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 76ers basketball game. In a CBS News report, Aramark stated, “We have had several meetings with the bargaining committee in an effort to reach a new agreement, and we intend to keep working toward a settlement that works for everyone. In the event of a strike, we have contingency plans in place to ensure that services are not interrupted.” Unite Here Local 274 is currently negotiating for a new collective bargaining agreement with Aramark at the Wells Fargo Center, Lincoln Financial Field, and Citizens Bank Park.  

Protections for Displaced Contract Workers Update: Bill 240088 (Councilmember Harrity’s Protections for Displaced Contract Workers) was reported from committee with a favorable recommendation and had a First Reading at the Thursday, April 11, 2024, Council session. This bill would provide protections for certain building service workers upon the closure, sale, or conversion of certain buildings. This bill will be considered on the Second Reading and Final Passage at the next session of City Council on Thursday, April 18, 2024.  

The Chamber, in collaboration with key stakeholders, has been actively engaging Councilmember Harrity to discuss this bill and its impact on the business community. Until this bill is amended, which will now have to occur on the floor, we continue to encourage the business community to contact members of City Council to urge your opposition. Please use this link to take action and share it with your professional networks.    

City Council Committee Hearings 
On Thursday, April 18, 2024, the City Council Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs will hold a hearing on a bill to authorize the city to enter into a multi-year agreement for food scrap collection and compost facility management.    

On Friday, April 19, 2024, the City Council Committee of the Whole will hold a hearing to confirm Mayor Cherelle Parker’s appointments and reappointments to the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia. Nominees for reappointment include Sarah-Ashley Andrews, Chau Wing Lam, Reginald Streater, and Joyce Wilkerson. Nominations for new school board members include Crystal Cubbage, Cheryl Harper, Whitney Jones, Wanda Novales, and Joan Stern.    

FY25 Budget Update 
You can view the City Council’s FY25 Budget Hearing Schedule here or visit the FY25 Budget Center website.   

On Monday, April 15, 2024, the City Council Committee of the Whole will hold a hearing on the proposed FY25 budget for the following departments: Public Health, Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Office of Homeless Services, Planning and Development, and Register of Wills.   

On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, the City Council Committee of the Whole will hold a hearing on the proposed FY25 budget for the following departments: Managing Director’s Office (including the Office of Public Safety), Defender’s Association, District Attorney, and Law.  

On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, the City Council Committee of the Whole will hold a hearing on the proposed FY25 budget for the following departments: City Controller, First Judicial District, Sheriff, and the Citizens Police Oversight Commission.  

The Chamber will continue to advocate for increased reductions in the city wage and Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) through our lobbying campaign, led by the Inclusive Growth Coalition (IGC), made up of the city’s diverse chambers in partnership with the Chamber. Sustained investment in good-paying jobs and inclusive business growth are vital to creating a robust economy that leaves no one behind.  

The IGC is a collaborative and united partnership of diverse business leaders and organizations advocating for the interests of Philadelphia’s businesses. It is dedicated to creating a safe, clean, and vibrant business environment, promoting job creation, improving ease of doing business, supporting tax reform to attract and grow businesses, and championing workforce development programs that build solid pathways to success. By advancing these priorities, the IGC aims to alleviate poverty, strengthen community security, enhance civic amenities, and foster a sense of pride in our great city.  

The Chamber and our IGC partners invite you to engage and participate as a stakeholder in this important work. The IGC convenes virtually on the 3rd Wednesday of every month from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. During this time, we discuss current legislative priorities and opportunities to engage in our work and facilitate an open discussion for stakeholders to raise issues or request support needed. The IGC intentionally focuses on telling the story of Philadelphia businesses, which are most impactful in our message to city leadership. We encourage you to complete our IGC Stakeholder Feedback Survey to enrich our joint advocacy efforts. To join the Chamber and the IGC in our work, please contact Ashley Miscevich, Manager, Local Government Advocacy and Engagement, at amiscevich@chamberphl.com. 

Upcoming Local Advocacy Events  

Advancing Inclusive Strategies for Economic Growth: A Civic Issues Forum
Friday, April 26, 2024 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | University City Science Center Quorum 

City Hall Connectors: Public Safety and Clean & Green Initiatives
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Virtual Event

The Civic 50 Greater Philadelphia self-assessment is still open! Measure and share your organization’s social impact for the opportunity to be ranked among the top 50 civic-oriented businesses in the region. Learn more here or contact Civic50@chamberphl.com for additional information. Deadline to participate is next Friday, April 19.

State: Updates from Harrisburg

Both the House and Senate were in session this week, with the House set to return to Harrisburg next week and the Senate set to return on Monday, April 29, 2024.   

Senate Republicans Introduce Higher Education Reform Plan  
This week, Senate Republicans introduced their “Grow PA” Higher Education Reform Plan. The plan calls for a scholarship grant program that would provide $5,000 for students in priority fields of study, including agriculture, energy, health care, teaching, and law enforcement. Students would be required to work in Pennsylvania for five years or otherwise convert the grants or scholarships to loans. The plan creates a merit scholarship program that extends in-state tuition rates to PASSHE schools to out-of-state students who maintain a minimum grade point average. The plan also creates a performance-based funding model for state-related universities.     

The Republican plan seeks to counter Governor Josh Shapiro’s higher education blueprint, released in January, which aims to increase higher education performance, access, and affordability in Pennsylvania. The Governor has called for combining the PASSHE system or state-owned universities with the state’s community colleges as equal partners under one governance. It also establishes a performance-based funding formula and extends a $1,000 tuition per semester to Pennsylvanians making up to the median income at state-owned universities and community colleges.  

Ban on Handheld Cell Phone Use while Driving 
This week, the House approved a bill that would ban hand-held cellphone use while driving with a bipartisan vote of 124-77. The Enhanced Driver Responsibility bill, Senate Bill 37, would broaden the current ban on texting while driving to cover an expansive set of additional activities performed on a hand-held phone while driving. SB 37 was approved in the Senate in June 2023 and was then amended by the House Transportation Committee before it passed out of the chamber this week. The bill will now be returned to the Senate for a concurrence vote before it is passed into law.     

Minimum Wage Rally in Harrisburg 
Pennsylvania workers, union members, and a set of Democratic elected officials held a rally in the Capitol rotunda on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, to voice their support for a “living wage” instead of a “minimum wage.” Senator Christine Tartaglione released a co-sponsorship memo on Monday, April 8, 2024, detailing her intentions to introduce legislation that would raise the statewide minimum wage to $20 per hour with cost of living increases every five years thereafter. Partially inspired by a 2024 Minimum Wage Report out of the Department of Labor & Industry that shows nearly 68,000 Pennsylvanians earn the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, the bill would also allow municipalities to impose a local minimum wage that exceeds that of the statewide minimum wage.   

Senator Tartaglione has not clarified precisely when her bill will be introduced, though in the co-sponsorship memo, she identifies the timeframe as “in the near future.” The legislation would also have an effective date of July 1, 2024.   

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Bill  
The House voted in favor of House Bill 1598 this week that would require consumers to be notified when media is generated using “technology or tools that use predictive algorithms to create new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations or videos.” In the 146-54 vote, all Democrats were recorded as favoring the bill, while Republican legislators were “roughly split.” Those in favor of the legislation say that it is designed to protect consumers, while opponents of the bill argue that it is too vague or nonspecific or otherwise claim that it could expose businesses to civil litigation.  

SEPTA Continues to Face Funding Shortfall  
The Chamber continues to encourage our regional business community to contact their elected representatives and urge their support for increased funding for SEPTA throughout state-level budget negotiations. Currently, SEPTA faces a $240 million budget shortage; this gap can only be closed with additional state or local funding and would require service reductions, fare increases, and potential collapses in still-lagging ridership numbers. Given the importance of SEPTA’s activity on our region’s inclusivity, growth, and competitiveness, we ask that you utilize and share our one-click campaign to contact legislators and help ensure that SEPTA funding remains a critical point of emphasis in their ongoing budget conversations. 

Upcoming State Advocacy Events  

A Conversation with the Governor 
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 | 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM | Drexel University – Mandell Theatre    

Harrisburg Reception 
Monday, May 6, 2024 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Keystone Building – Harrisburg
This event was formerly called the Pennsylvania Legislative Reception.  

Market your business: sponsor one of the Chamber’s advocacy events. Gain exposure and build promising relationships with top-level business professionals, civic leaders, and elected officials. Learn more about our upcoming local, state, and federal advocacy sponsorship opportunities here or contact Tara Orio, Senior Vice President, Membership and Member Engagement, at torio@chamberphl.com.  

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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.