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, February 27, 2026.

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 City has confirmed it will delay enforcement of the Security Officer Training Ordinance until regulations and administrative structures are in place. The Chamber will continue engaging the Administration and Councilmember Thomas to address remaining concerns on the legal exposure for security employers. 
  • Council held a Committee of the Whole hearing on the School District’s proposed Facilities Master Plan, which would modernize 159 schools and close 20 operating buildings. While there is agreement on the need for modernization, concerns remain around community impact, equity, and geographic concentration of closures. 
  • A newly adopted hearing resolution will examine the Office of Property Assessment’s valuation methods, appeals process, and the broader impact of rising assessments. 
  • On Friday, March 6, 2026, Councilmember O’Rourke is holding a press conference championing the SEPTA Key Advantage and the City’s Zero Fare programs. The Chamber remains committed to encouraging transportation solutions that drive regional competitiveness, connect residents to jobs, and support economic growth across Greater Philadelphia. 

State

  • House and Senate budget hearings to examine the Governor's FY 2026-27 budget proposal were scheduled to run February 23 through March 12, but the opening two days this week were postponed due to inclement weather. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees will spend nearly three weeks reviewing state agencies and programs, examining everything from workforce development and higher education funding to core government operations. 
  • Once hearings are concluded, the Senate is expected to return to session March 16, 17, and 18. The House would return a week later, on March 23, 24, and 25. 
  • House Democrats easily defended vacant seats in two special elections this week, helping them maintain their 102-98 majority in the chamber. Ana Tiburcio won the 22nd District representing Lehigh County, while Jennifer Mazzocco captured the 42nd District representing Pittsburgh suburbs. 

DETAILED LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Local: Updates from Philadelphia’s City Hall

Minimum Training for Security Officers Implementation Update 

The Security Officer Training Ordinance (Bill No. 250646) is scheduled to become effective on March 1, 2026. In advance of that date, employers raised operational and legal concerns regarding the absence of implementing regulations and enforcement clarity, prompting engagement with the Administration on implementation timing. 

The City has issued a formal public statement confirming that enforcement of the law will be postponed until the necessary administrative infrastructure and regulations are developed. 

However, employers raised significant operational and legal concerns in advance of that date, including: 

  • The absence of implementing regulations or published compliance guidance 
  • Uncertainty regarding which City department(s) would have enforcement authority 
  • Lack of clarity around standards, timelines, and oversight mechanisms 
  • Potential legal exposure if the law were technically in effect but administratively unworkable 

Following stakeholder engagement and discussions with the Administration, the City has formally stated it will not move forward with enforcement until the internal structures, regulations, and enforcement mechanisms are fully established. 

Rather than formally amending the statute to establish a new codified effective date, the Administration is taking an administrative approach similar to that used for prior complex legislation (e.g., Fair Workweek and the Plastic Bag Ban). Under this model: 

  • The statutory effective date remains in place. 
  • Enforcement will not commence until regulations are finalized. 
  • The City will provide advance notice prior to initiating enforcement. 

You can view the full City statement here.

While the public statement and non-enforcement commitment are meaningful steps forward, we recognize that these actions do not yet fully resolve the legal protection concerns employers have raised. The Chamber is continuing to work closely with stakeholders, the Administration and Councilmember Thomas on a fair and workable solution that provides appropriate legal clarity while allowing the City sufficient time to build out the necessary infrastructure. 

Responsible Business Operations 

On February 19, Council passed Bill No. 251097 amending Chapter 9-4400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Responsible Business Operations,” to add the illegal sale of tobacco products to minors and unlicensed tobacco retailing as designated nuisance behaviors under the City’s existing enforcement framework. 

The bill would authorize the City to treat repeat violations related to underage tobacco sales and unlicensed tobacco retail operations as actionable nuisance activity. It would also require completion of a Department-approved Tobacco Retailer Education and Compliance Training program as a condition for lifting any Cease Operations Order issued under the ordinance. 

The measure is intended to strengthen enforcement tools against bad actors and enhance compliance education among retailers. 

The Chamber testified in support of the legislation, emphasizing the importance of a fair and balanced approach to enforcement that protects public health objectives without creating undue burden or unpredictable standards for compliant businesses. 

In its remarks, the Chamber underscored several key principles: 

  • Targeted accountability for bad actors that repeatedly or knowingly violate the law 
  • Clear compliance standards and due process protections for responsible operators 
  • Education-based corrective measures that promote long-term compliance rather than solely punitive enforcement 
  • Regulatory consistency to avoid unintentionally penalizing businesses making good-faith efforts to comply 

The Chamber stressed that enforcement mechanisms must be structured in a way that preserves fairness, transparency, and proportionality. By incorporating a training requirement as a corrective step before lifting a Cease Operations Order, the bill provides a pathway toward compliance rather than permanent closure. The Chamber expressed support for this education-based framework and for ensuring that enforcement is focused primarily on intentional or repeat violators rather than technical or first-time infractions. 

School District Facilities Master Plan 

Authorized by Resolution No. 250895, City Council convened a Committee of the Whole hearing to examine the School District of Philadelphia’s proposed $2.8 billion, 10-year Facilities Master Plan. 

The purpose of the hearing was to review the current condition of school facilities, understand the methodology used to evaluate buildings, assess the educational and neighborhood impacts of proposed closures and consolidations, and ensure transparency before the Board of Education considers final action. Council leadership underscored its role as a check on the School District and made clear that while it does not formally vote on the plan, it intends to provide substantive input prior to any Board approval. 

The District framed the proposal around two central challenges: aging infrastructure and enrollment-driven underutilization. The average school building is more than 73 years old, and 85 schools are currently rated in poor or unsatisfactory condition. At the same time, approximately one-third of school buildings are underutilized due to enrollment declines, creating operational inefficiencies and increased maintenance costs. 

The proposed Facilities Master Plan seeks to address these issues through: 

  • Modernization of 159 school buildings 
  • Reduction of unsatisfactory building ratings from 85 to zero over 10 years 
  • Closure of 20 currently operating schools (12 to be repurposed for District use and 8 potentially conveyed to the City for workforce and affordable housing) 
  • A $2.8 billion capital investment strategy, with $1 billion funded through bond borrowing and $1.8 billion requiring additional state and philanthropic support 

District leadership emphasized that no closures would occur in the 2026–2027 school year, allowing additional planning and transition time. 

A significant portion of the testimony focused on disparities in educational access across neighborhoods. District officials highlighted that: 

  • Only approximately 53% of middle-grade students currently have access to Algebra I 
  • Access to Advanced Placement (AP) courses varies widely among high schools 
  • Arts and music programming is inconsistent 
  • Career & Technical Education (CTE) opportunities are unevenly distributed 

The plan proposes reducing grade bands from 13 to 6 and consolidate resources in order to: 

  • Provide Algebra I to all middle grades 
  • Expand AP and criteria-based high school eligibility 
  • Increase arts, music, and physical education offerings 
  • Expand CTE and skilled trade pathways 

Leadership framed these changes as necessary to ensure equitable access to rigorous academic and extracurricular programming citywide. 

The District repeatedly referenced chronic underfunding as a structural constraint, citing estimates that the School District is funded approximately $1.2–$1.4 billion below adequacy levels. Officials noted the elimination of Pennsylvania’s previous school construction subsidy program (PlanCon) and emphasized that securing long-term capital funding requires a comprehensive and credible plan. 

The Superintendent described the proposal as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to modernize facilities and eliminate unsatisfactory building ratings, emphasizing that failure to act could delay meaningful improvements for another generation. 

Councilmembers acknowledged the need for modernization but raised significant concerns, particularly around community impact and lessons learned from prior closures in 2012. 

Key concerns included: 

  • The geographic concentration of closures in certain council districts 
  • The lasting trauma and academic setbacks experienced during the 2012 closure process 
  • The role of schools as community anchors beyond academic functions 
  • Transparency regarding data methodology and criteria weighting 

Council sought clarification regarding how data informed closure decisions and the role of building condition, utilization, educational programming, and neighborhood vulnerability in the evaluation rubric. District officials stated that academic performance was not used as a closure factor. 

Members also requested clarity regarding property conveyance, specifically how the proposed 20 operating school closures interact with approximately 20 already vacant facilities under prior Board consideration. District leadership confirmed that the 20 draft closures are separate from persistently vacant properties previously identified for possible conveyance. 

In response to concerns about student displacement and academic disruption, the Superintendent committed to establishing a centralized transition office to support affected families. The District indicated it intends to provide: 

  • Academic continuity planning 
  • Social-emotional and mental health supports 
  • Transportation coordination 
  • Direct family outreach and case management 

Leadership emphasized that it aims to avoid the declines in student attendance and academic performance that followed the 2012 closures. 

The hearing revealed broad agreement that facilities modernization is necessary, but significant tension remains regarding the scale, location, and pace of proposed closures. Council characterized the decision as a potential “legacy moment,” with long-term implications for neighborhoods and future generations of students. 

The Facilities Master Plan remains in draft form. The Superintendent will formally present final recommendations to the Board of Education on February 26. Council signaled continued oversight and indicated it intends to remain actively engaged in evaluating both the equity objectives and community impacts of the proposal before final action is taken. 

Property Assessments and Property Taxes 

Resolution No. 260101, introduced by Councilmember Lozada, then adopted by Council on February 12, authorizes the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless to hold hearings examining the Office of Property Assessment (OPA). The hearings will focus on OPA’s assessment methodology, appeals process, and the impact of rising property assessments and property taxes on Philadelphia residents. 

The resolution references the 2018 independent audit of OPA, which identified concerns related to valuation methodology, uniformity, transparency, and the overassessment of lower-value properties. It also highlights data suggesting that rising assessments and appeals activity are concentrated in neighborhoods experiencing redevelopment and gentrification, particularly in parts of South Philadelphia and the Northeast. 

The measure emphasizes equity considerations, including the disproportionate impact of assessments on lower-income homeowners and communities of color, barriers to accessing relief programs such as the Homestead Exemption, and inconsistencies between first-level reviews and Board of Revision of Taxes appeal outcomes. 

Autonomous Vehicles 

Resolution No. 260091, introduced by Councilmember Harrity on February 5, authorizes the Committees on Labor and Civil Service and Transportation to hold joint hearings on the arrival and expansion of driverless rideshare vehicles in Philadelphia. 

The resolution frames the issue around three primary areas: labor impacts, economic implications, and public safety concerns. It notes that more than 60,000 Philadelphians rely on rideshare income, including many immigrant and newly arrived workers, and raises concerns that the expansion of autonomous vehicles could displace drivers, reduce local earnings, and impact City tax revenues, including Wage Tax and Business Income & Receipts Tax collections, given that autonomous vehicle operators may have limited local payroll presence. 

The resolution also references national crash and recall data involving autonomous vehicles, including incidents under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, particularly those occurring in school zones or involving stopped school buses. 

Transit Access Press Conference 

Transit Forward Philadelphia, in partnership with Councilmember O’Rourke, will host a press conference on March 6 at 10 a.m. at City Hall to promote two transit initiatives: SEPTA Key Advantage for municipal employees and the Zero Fare Transit Program, which provides free SEPTA access to approximately 60,000 low-income Philadelphians. 

In parallel, the Chamber continues engagement with Councilmember O’Rourke regarding his proposed Transit Access Fund (Bill No. 250376), introduced in April 2025. The legislation would create a dedicated fund to support transit access programs for households earning at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level, including free or reduced-cost SEPTA passes. The bill also establishes annual reporting requirements and requires development of a five-year Transit Access Plan. 

The Chamber remains committed to advancing comprehensive transportation solutions recognizing that a stable, long-term funding framework is essential to expanding access to opportunity, strengthening workforce mobility, and enhancing Greater Philadelphia’s economic competitiveness. 

City Council Stated Meeting 

There were many bills and resolutions introduced and passed during City Council Stated Meetings on February 19 and 26. You can watch Philadelphia City Council public hearings and Stated Meetings here or access City Council’s Legislative Information Center here. The next Stated Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 5. 

Bill No. 241056 (Thomas): Ordinance provides for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council, proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to eliminate the requirement that City officers and employees resign from their City office or employment before becoming candidates for public office; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election. (STATUS: PASSED 2/26) 

Bill No. 250768 (Gauthier): Amends Title 17 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Contracts and Procurement,” to prohibit contractors providing solid waste, recycling, or composting services to the City from incinerating discarded matter, under certain terms and conditions. (STATUS: HELD 2/26 – ON SECOND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE) 

Bill No. 250843 (Johnson): Amends Chapter 10-700 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled “Refuse and Littering,” to require locking dumpsters; all under certain terms and conditions. (STATUS: HELD 2/26 – ON SECOND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE) 

Bill No. 260134 (Johnson): Amends Chapter 12-923 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled “Smart Loading Zones,” authorizing the Philadelphia Parking Authority to install smart loading zones in the area of Center City bounded by Spring Garden Street, Bainbridge Street, the Schuylkill River, and the Delaware River, for the purpose of improving the appropriate use of loading zones and reducing traffic congestion. (STATUS: INTRODUCED 2/26) 

State: Updates from Harrisburg

Budget Hearings 

House and Senate budget hearings to examine the Governor's FY 2026-27 budget proposal were scheduled to run February 23 through March 12, but the opening two days this week were postponed due to inclement weather. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees will spend nearly three weeks reviewing state agencies and programs, examining everything from workforce development and higher education funding to core government operations. An updated schedule list is linked below: 

The House Appropriations Committee held hearings this week on the Department of Community & Economic Development, Department of Agriculture, Department of Insurance, and Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange Authority. The Senate Appropriations Committee held hearings on the Department of Human Services, Pennsylvania State Police, Department of General Services, Department of Corrections/Pennsylvania Parole Board, and Department of Environmental Protection. 

Once hearings are concluded, the Senate is expected to return to session March 16, 17, and 18. The House would return a week later, on March 23, 24, and 25. 

Special Elections Cement Democrats Control of House Majority 

House Democrats easily defended vacant seats in two special elections this week, helping them maintain their 102-98 majority in the chamber. Ana Tiburcio won the 22nd District representing Lehigh County, while Jennifer Mazzocco captured the 42nd District representing Pittsburgh suburbs. Both seats had been vacated by Democrats elected to county judgeships. The wins guarantee Democrats retain their majority regardless of outcomes in three upcoming special elections, where Republicans are heavy favorites. 

Events

Build and strengthen relationships at our Congressional Staff Reception on Friday, March 13, 2026. As legislators prepare to make impactful decisions on transportation, research funding, and other key issues, this is a unique and timely opportunity to inform offices about the priorities shaping the Greater Philadelphia business community. Among the many guests invited are chiefs of staff, state and district directors, and legislative directors serving southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and northern Delaware. Register here. 

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 Laura Williams, Manager, Member and Investor Relations, at lwilliams@chamberphl.com for more details.

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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.