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

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 Thursday, September 10, 2020.

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.

We also have a COVID-19 Information Hub with up-to-date resources to support your business.

• The U.S. Senate returned to session this week to release a new $500 billion relief package that will serve primarily as a messaging bill for Republicans in their attempt to advance a stimulus measure weeks before the November election.
• The proposal was brought to a vote today, but was blocked by Senate Democrats who argue the proposal falls well short of their legislative goals.
• Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi informally agreed to support a stopgap spending bill to extend government funding into FY2021 and avoid a government shutdown.
• The White House has signaled support for higher emergency spending levels while still falling short of the $2.2 trillion demanded by Democrats.
• The Chamber continues to urge congressional members to pass an additional relief package that includes supplemental funding for testing and contact tracing, small and mid-sized business relief, direct aid to state and local government, and reskilling and rehiring disadvantaged populations.
• Chamber members should contact their elected representatives in Washington, D.C. to urge these leaders to advance a bipartisan relief and assistance package.

• Governor Wolf announced that starting September 21, PA restaurants may increase indoor occupancy to 50%, up from the current 25% cap,
• The Senate Local Government Committee passed a bill to allow localities and school districts to borrow money through emergency tax anticipation notes (TANs) until the end of the year.
• The PA Senate unanimously approved legislation to establish a grant program to extend deployment of broadband services in underserved areas of the state.
• The PA Senate Appropriations Committee passed a number of COVID-19 funding-related bills including $130 million for institutions of  higher education, $150 million for residential and small business utility payments, and $200 million for community-based nonprofits.
• Earlier this week the Chamber hosted PA Budget Secretary Jen Swails to discuss CARES Act dollars and negotiations around the 7-month budget.
• The Chamber will host a virtual event with the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Chair Stan Saylor on October 1. Read the full weekly update to learn more and register.

• Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Philadelphia have exceeded 34,800 with over 1,750 deaths.
• Indoor dining resumed in the city of Philadelphia this week under specific restrictions that are largely consistent with statewide restrictions.
• The Emergency Paid Sick Leave bill that was up for final passage today in City Council passed with a vote of 16-1. The Chamber continues to highlight member concerns about this measure to members of Council.
• City Council returned to session today with the introduction of several bills and resolutions including several measures around landlord-tenant issues,  hearings to examine a recent spike in violent crimes, a call for a review of the role of Black- and minority-owned businesses and COVID-19’s impact on these businesses, among others.
• The Chamber will host a virtual event with the Deputy Mayor of the Department of Planning & Development Anne Fadullon on September 14. Read the full weekly update to learn more and register.

Senate Republicans Release New Relief Package

The United States Senate returned to session this week to release a new and targeted relief package that serves primarily as a messaging bill for Republicans in their attempt to advance a stimulus measure weeks before the November election. The $500 billion proposal would provide additional funding to the Paycheck Protection Program, enact business liability protections, provide enhanced unemployment benefits, and provide additional funding for education, testing and tracing, and vaccine development. The proposal was brought to a vote today, but was blocked by Senate Democrats who argue the proposal falls well short of their legislative goals.

Stopgap Measure Pending to Avoid Shutdown

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently informally agreed to support a stopgap spending bill to extend government funding into FY2021 before the current fiscal year ends on September 30. This removes the concern of a government shutdown but also eliminates the prospect that an economic relief package could be attached to a stopgap spending bill. In the interim, the Senate will work to address FY2021 appropriations. The House has already passed 10 of the 12 required spending bills.

Negotiations Continue for Bipartisan Relief Package

Meanwhile, bipartisan negotiations on a broader relief package remain stalled. However, the White House is signaling support for higher emergency spending levels than the $1.3 trillion offered in recent rounds of unsuccessful negotiations with Democratic leadership. The proposed increase in spending falls well short of the $2.2 trillion that Democrats are demanding, but it is nonetheless notable as it illustrates a willingness by the White House to move closer to a deal with Democrats. The Chamber continues to urge congressional members to pass an additional bipartisan COVID-19 economic relief and assistance package that includes supplemental funding for testing and contact tracing, small and mid-sized business relief, direct aid to state and local government, and reskilling and rehiring disadvantaged populations.

All Chamber members should contact their elected representatives in Washington, D.C. urging them to push congressional leaders to advance a relief and assistance package that will accelerate the recovery of our regional economy and promote equity among disadvantaged businesses and workers.

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

Restaurants Allowed to Increase Indoor Occupancy

This week, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced that starting September 21, restaurants may increase indoor occupancy to 50 percent, up from the current 25 percent cap imposed on July 15.

The restriction that alcohol can only be served for on-premises consumption when in the same transaction as a meal continues and customers must be seated at a table to be served, among other requirements. In addition, restaurants that have alcohol sales will be required to stop those sales at 10 p.m.

Senate Committee Passes Borrowing Bill for Local Governments

The Senate Local Government Committee passed House Bill 2536 to allow counties, cities, boroughs, townships, and school districts to borrow money through emergency tax anticipation notes (TANs) until the end of the year.

The measure is an effort to help local governments manage their finances during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PA Senate Approves Broadband Measure

The State Senate unanimously approved legislation that would establish a grant program to extend deployment of broadband services in underserved areas of the state, according to Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34).

Senate Bill 835 would provide funding to improve access to high-speed broadband internet in rural areas of PA, which currently do not have access to reliable networks. It would limit funding to entities that have demonstrated the ability to construct and administer internet services and require that they provide 20 percent of the funding for the project.

PA Senate Appropriations Committee Pass COVID-19 Funding

Late yesterday, the PA Senate Appropriations Committee passed a number of COVID-19 funding-related bills, including the potential to spend a portion of Pennsylvania’s $1 billion of federal CARES Act funds that have been held in reserve. The Committee advanced bills that would appropriate $130 million to support the expenses of public institutions of higher education incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year related to the COVID-19 disaster emergency; $150 million to assist residential and small business customers with utility payments; and $200 million to create the Nonprofit Economic Emergency Delivery Systems Grants Programs in an effort to provide assistance to community-based non-profits.

Chamber Hosted PA Budget Secretary Jen Swails

On Wednesday, the Chamber hosted Pennsylvania Budget Secretary Jen Swails. Swails discussed what will be done with the remaining CARES Act dollars and the ongoing negotiations with the General Assembly to complete a 7-month budget.

Swails said the state faces a $5 billion funding shortfall and is counting on the federal government to provide additional assistance to states to fill the state’s budget hole. She said that beyond borrowing and passage of recreational marijuana legislation, the state has no plans to raise taxes. According to Swails, if the legislature does not pass a budget by November 30, the state will have to lay off many employees and cut services. Legislators would still get paid if no budget is passed by the deadline.

Swails noted that there are a number of priorities for the remaining $1 billion in CARES Act dollars including aid to hospitals, the hospitality industry, utilities, housing, child care, and support for CDFI’s among other items.

Upcoming State Advocacy Virtual Program

• October 1 – State Advocacy Update with Pennsylvania House Appropriations Chair Stan Saylor

Rep Saylor will discuss the upcoming budget negotiations for the remaining 7 months as well as what Pennsylvania’s revenue outlook is for FY22.

COVID-19 Case Data

On Wednesday, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health reported the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Philadelphia has reached 34,809. The number of residents who have succumbed to the virus in Philadelphia has reached 1,764. Of the total deaths, 877 (50%) were long-term care facility residents.

Indoor Dining Resumes

Earlier this week, indoor dining was able to resume in the city of Philadelphia under specific restrictions that are largely consistent with indoor dining restrictions statewide. The City’s new indoor dining restrictions include, but are not limited to:

• Restaurants cannot be filled to more than 25 percent capacity.
• No more than four diners per table.
• Tables must be arranged so that diners at separate tables are at least six feet apart or have an impermeable barrier between them.
• Servers must wear both masks and face shields for additional protection.
• No bar service. Alcohol can be served only for on-premises consumption when in the same transaction as a meal.
• Last call for all indoor dining orders will be at 11 p.m. and establishments will be required to be closed for service by midnight.
• Restaurants must install physical barriers such as sneeze guards or partitions in restaurant kitchens and at cash registers, host stands, and food pick up areas where maintaining physical distance of at least six feet is difficult.
• Restaurants must screen every employee for symptoms before every shift and prevent them from remaining on-site if they have cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, muscle pain, or new loss of taste or smell.

Outdoor dining also continues under current restrictions. View the full list of restrictions for restaurants and food trucks »

Philadelphia to Forego Property Reassessments for Tax Year 2022 Due to Pandemic

The City of Philadelphia announced today that due to operational concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it will forgo a citywide reassessment of all property values for Tax Year 2022. The decision means that assessments for most properties will remain unchanged from current levels set for Tax Year 2021. Only properties that had new construction, expiring abatements, renovations, subdivisions, consolidations, or errors in prior year assessments will be reassessed.

Emergency Paid Sick Leave Bill Up for Final Passage in City Council

Bill No. 200303, sponsored by Councilwoman Kendra Brooks, mandating companies to provide 14 days of emergency paid sick leave was up for final passage in City Council and was passed with a vote of 16-1. Prior to the vote, there was a spirited debate within Council regarding language in the bill that would mandate that businesses would have to offer additional sick time, on top of what is already required in the bill. Many Councilmembers that voted in favor of the bill did so with the commitment that they would work with the bill’s sponsor and the Office of Labor to clear up language in the bill during the regulatory process. Last week, the Chamber sent a letter to all Council Members highlighting our members’ continuing concerns.

Introduction of Bills and Resolutions

The following bills and resolutions were introduced during today’s Council session:

• Councilwoman Cherelle Parker introduced a bill to amend penalties for the misuse of the 911 system, especially if it is used as a way to be considered a hate crime. Councilwoman Parker also introduced a bill calling for standards as it relates to credit screening in the process of employment.
• Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson introduced a resolution authorizing City Council to hold hearings regarding the increase of street litter, the state of the City’s waste disposal system, and the role of COVID-19.
• Councilwoman Helen Gym introduced a bill to extend the deadline of the City’s eviction moratorium. Councilwoman Helen Gym also has a resolution for Council to hold hearings regarding the role of the City’s landlord tenant officer in eviction proceedings.
• Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. introduced a resolution for Council to hold hearings about the recent spike in violent crimes particularly examining the role of illegal guns.
• Councilwoman Kendra Brooks introduced a bill extending the agreement to waive late fees associated with late payment of rent as a result of COVID-19 emergency.
• Councilman Allan Domb has a resolution calling for hearings to examine research by PEW and The Center City District on the state of the local economy, the role Black-owned and minority-owned businesses play in the City’s economy, and the impact of COVID-19 on these businesses.
• Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier introduced a bill to extend an agreement authorizing the use of payment plans for rental agreements due to the COVID-19 emergency.

City Council Stated Meetings

City Council’s latest Stated Meeting took place today, Thursday, September 10, 2020. View confirmed meeting dates and agendas »

Earlier this week, The Inquirer published an article highlighting initiatives Council is set to pursue upon return to session.

Upcoming City Hall Connectors Virtual Programs

• September 14 – Anne Fadullon of the Dept. of Planning & Development »

Anne Fadullon, Deputy Mayor of the Department of Planning & Development, will discuss the City’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to development in Philadelphia. Learn how Philadelphia’s business community, including developers, can help restore consumer confidence and continue to move towards meaningful recovery.

The constantly changing nature of this public health crisis requires continued engagement with public policy developments. 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.

We also have a COVID-19 Information Hub with up-to-date resources to support your business.