Moves on the Board: January 26 - 30, 2026
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♟️CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Parker Administration
The Parker administration spent the week cleaning up the City from last weekend's snowstorm. City crews worked to clear streets and remove piles of accumulated snow across the City, with more than 600 plows and other pieces of snow removal equipment deployed.
Mayor Parker began this week by attending a beam signing ceremony at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), marking a significant construction milestone for the new Roberts Children's Health building. Participants signed the beam to celebrate advancements in pediatric healthcare.
The week's significant legislative development came from City Council, where Councilmembers Landau and Brooks introduced a sweeping “ICE Out” package focused on increasing restrictions on federal immigration enforcement operations in the city. The package represents the progressive bloc asserting its stance amid a national backlash against ICE operations, particularly in cities like Minneapolis.
Last week's H.O.M.E. reapproval was a victory for progressives who successfully amended the bill to prioritize the lowest-income households. The administration has indicated that bond proceeds will be issued in phases, with the first issuance expected in late March or early April 2026.
Mayor Parker attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors, where she moderated a session on how cities can engage with the America250 initiative. The mayor also joined Bret Perkins of Comcast for a fireside chat focused on advancing economic mobility for Philadelphians, highlighting the administration's five pillars: Public Safety, Clean and Green, Economic Opportunity, Housing, and Education.
In response to the removal of slavery panels from the President's House site on Independence Mall, Mayor Parker posted a video stating that the city is seeking an injunction requiring the federal government to restore the exhibit. Governor Josh Shapiro filed an amicus brief in support of the City of Philadelphia's lawsuit against the Trump administration over the removal. The city argues that the federal government unlawfully removed the exhibit by breaking a cooperative agreement governing changes to the historic site. In his brief, Governor Shapiro wrote that the act constitutes whitewashing history and that Pennsylvanians should remember and learn from it rather than erase it.
Philadelphia City Council
All previously scheduled committee hearings were cancelled this week due to weather.
Philadelphia City Council members, led by At-Large Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Rue Landau, introduced the “ICE OUT” legislative package aimed at strengthening protections for immigrant communities. Crafted in partnership with immigrant advocacy groups, the proposals would codify sanctuary city policies into law, restrict collaboration between city agencies and ICE, ban local law enforcement from entering into 287(g) agreements, and bar ICE from using city property for enforcement actions. The bills also seek to prohibit discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status, stop the collection or sharing of immigration data with federal authorities, and require officers to identify themselves during enforcement activities. Supporters say the legislation will safeguard civil rights and privacy for all residents and ensure city resources aren’t used to assist federal immigration enforcement.
Other bills and resolutions introduced today include:
Ordinances
Bill 260058 (Councilmember Landau) Adding protections against discrimination on the basis of citizenship and immigration status.
Bill 260056 (Councilmember Landau) Placing restrictions on the collection and use of information related to citizenship and immigration status.
Resolutions
Resolution 260068 (Councilmember Brooks) Recognizing the lives and legacies of the countless individuals who have been killed, disappeared, or tortured in the past year.
Next Week’s Moves
Next Week’s Moves
Coming Up:
Tuesday, February 3, the Committee on Rules is meeting to discuss a variety of bills regarding business-hour restrictions, building requirements for vacant lots, zoning maps, and imposing a temporary moratorium on the breeding and transfer of puppies. They are also discussing Bill 251101, which would add a new section to the Philadelphia Code establishing the "Vine Street Expressway District."
On Wednesday, February 4, the Committee on Licenses and Inspections will meet to consider two bills. One would require non-resident landlords to provide verifiable contact information and a designated local contact, and the other would amend the code to designate the sale of tobacco products to minors as illegal.
♟️COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Shapiro Administration
Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll spent the week responding to the recent winter storm that hit the state last weekend. The Administration implemented a coordinated response to the storm with 4,700 PennDOT workers operating more than 2,600 snowplows across the state. The two held a press conference in Bucks County on Tuesday, highlighting that previous investments by the Governor to PennDOT made storm recovery swift and successful.
In response to recent nationwide events regarding United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in cities across the country, Shapiro put out public statements saying he is prepared to defend and protect all Pennsylvanians from ICE officials. He appeared this week on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The View to promote his new memoir and emphasize that he plans to do everything in his power to protect Pennsylvania cities such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Lancaster.
Updates from the Governor’s Newsroom
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives was in Harrisburg for a voting session on Wednesday, January 28, after cancelling their previously scheduled sessions on Monday and Tuesday of this week due to the weather. The Pennsylvania Senate had cancelled all three session days this week.
Committee News:
House:
On Wednesday, January 28th, the House Judiciary Committee held a voting hearing. The following bills were voted out of committee on a party-line vote: HB 1671 by Representative Rabb, which provides for restorative justice options within the judicial system; HB 2018 by Representative Liz Hanbidge, which establishes a system that records and compiles information on deaths that occur as a result of domestic violence; HB 2154 by Representative Briggs, which establishes the Prison Industry Enhancement Authority in the Commonwealth; and HR 63 by Representative Khan, which would require the State Government Commission to study and provide recommendations for the improvement of the Commonwealth’s diversion programs in the Commonwealth’s criminal justice system. Both HB 1750 and HR 386 passed out of committee unanimously. HB 1750, by Representative Markosek, establishes standards, disclosure requirements, and penalties related to the cremation of a deceased pet. HR 386 by Representative Young establishes January 2026 as "Human Trafficking Awareness Month" in the Commonwealth.
Next Week’s Moves
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate will convene for a voting session in Harrisburg next week, from Monday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 4.
Governor Shapiro is expected to deliver his budget address for FY 2026-2027 on Tuesday, February 3.
♟️ON THE TRAIL
State Races
Governor of Pennsylvania
President Donald Trump has officially endorsed State Treasurer Stacy Garrity for the Republican nomination of Governor of Pennsylvania. Trump called Garrity an “America First Patriot,” directly tying her to his policy agenda.
Lt Governor of Pennsylvania
Jason Richey, the Allegheny County GOP Chair, has announced his candidacy for Lt Governor of Pennsylvania and has received the endorsement of Stacy Garrity. He previously ran for the Republican nomination for Governor in 2022, but dropped out before the primary. Despite his endorsement by Garrity, other contenders for the Lt Governor position are still running, including state Senator Cris Dush and UPS executive John Ventre.
Pennsylvania House District 193
The Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Party has nominated Todd Crawley as the party’s candidate to fill the vacant seat left by state Representative Torren Ecker. Crawley is the former Director of Public and Environmental Health and Safety at Harrisburg Area Community College, and will face Republican nominee Catherine Wallen, a businesswoman and former military and health care official. The special election for this seat is scheduled for March 17.
Pennsylvania House District 196
State Representative Seth Grove has announced that he will resign from his seat at the end of the month on Saturday, January 31. Representative Grove has served in this seat for 17 years and has previously been Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, State Government Committee, and the Labor & Industry Committee. A special election to fill the seat has not been scheduled at this time.