Moves on the Board: March 30 - April 3, 2026
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♟️CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Parker Administration
Mayor Parker opened the week on Saturday at the Conference on the Black Church and Religious Freedom, joining faith leaders from across the country to examine the Black Church's role in Philadelphia and in the nation's broader history of religious liberty. Discussions centered on efforts to serve the city's most vulnerable residents and to mark the nation's 250th anniversary. The conference also honored Bishop J. Louis Felton for his leadership and longstanding contributions to the Black Clergy of Philadelphia.
Later that day, the mayor traveled to Temple University, where University President John Fry joined her to distribute more than 1,600 laptops at the Power Up Philly Digital Equity Event. The initiative aims to close the digital divide, with the administration emphasizing that reliable access to technology is foundational to workforce development and long-term economic growth across the region.
Tuesday brought the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO's 47th Annual State Convention, where labor leaders from across the commonwealth gathered to hear from the mayor on the administration's priorities for workers and economic opportunity.
Later that afternoon, Mayor Parker — joined by city officials and the Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs — commemorated Transgender Day of Visibility. The event honored the contributions of transgender residents in Philadelphia and across the country, featured a reading of a formal proclamation recognizing the day, and concluded with the raising of the transgender flag in front of City Hall.
On Wednesday, the mayor welcomed fifteen Police Athletic League youth participants for the City Hall Leadership Takeover, where each shadowed a city leadership role to gain firsthand experience in local government operations.
The week closed with a ribbon-cutting marking the completion of a $10 million renovation and expansion of a drug recovery facility in Northeast Philadelphia. This project broadens the scope of care and services available to residents in treatment.
Philadelphia City Council
City Council continued its FY27 budget hearings this week, focusing on administrative functions, human services, and quality-of-life departments across two full days of testimony.
On Tuesday, March 31, the Committee on Administrative & Government Operations convened for two hearings. The morning session featured testimony from the Chief Administrative Office, Office of Human Resources, and Office of Innovation & Technology, with discussions centered on workforce management, hiring challenges, and ongoing efforts to modernize city systems and digital infrastructure. In the afternoon, the committee heard from Public Property and Fleet, where members raised questions about facility maintenance, capital needs, and the management and electrification of the City’s vehicle fleet.
Hearings continued on Wednesday, April 1, beginning with the Children, Families & Human Services Committee. Testimony from the Department of Human Services and the Mayor’s Office of Education focused on service delivery, youth programming, and coordination between agencies to support vulnerable populations and improve educational outcomes. Councilmembers also explored funding needs and program effectiveness. Councilmembers focused on questions for the Department of Education regarding the School Facilities Master Plan, which has been heavily debated.
The day concluded with the Parks & Libraries Committee, which heard from Parks and Recreation and the Free Library of Philadelphia. Discussions highlighted investments in public spaces, programming, and library services, as well as ongoing challenges related to staffing, facility upkeep, and equitable access across neighborhoods.
City Council did not hold a session this week due to the holiday weekend. They will resume regular sessions next week.
Next Week’s Moves
Coming Up:
On Monday, April 6, the Committee on Law and Government will meet to consider legislation to repeal in its entirety Bill No. 241056, which was approved on March 10, 2026. The original ordinance provided for the submission to Philadelphia voters of a proposed amendment to the Home Rule Charter that would eliminate the requirement that City officers and employees resign from their positions before running for public office.
On Tuesday, April 7, the Committee of the Whole will hold two budget hearings. In the morning, Sanitation and the Office of Clean and Green will testify. In the afternoon, the Streets Department will present its testimony.
On Wednesday, April 8, the Committee of the Whole will hold two budget hearings. In the morning, the Water Department and Aviation will testify. In the afternoon, Licenses & Inspections will present testimony on quality of life, inspections, safety, and compliance.
♟️ COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Shapiro Administration
Governor Shapiro held an official statewide pep rally at Cherry Street Pier in Philadelphia to build excitement for the upcoming events in 2026. In partnership with Visit PA and America250, the rally highlighted the NFL Draft, PGA Championship, FIFA World Cup, MLB All-Star Week, and the celebration of America’s 250th year of Independence, all happening in Pennsylvania this year. These events are expected to bring millions of tourists to the Commonwealth, strengthening the state’s economy.
Governor Josh Shapiro and Lt. Governor Austin Davis held a press conference in Allegheny County promoting the new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit. This new program will aid 840,000 residents by offering a refundable tax credit of up to 10% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, which is more than $800 in benefits. This program was signed into law at the end of last year as part of the Governor’s FY2025-2026 state budget.
Updates from the Governor’s Newsroom
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Senate were not in session this week.
Committee News:
House:
The House Republican Policy Committee held a public hearing this week on making child care more affordable. Lawmakers and industry professionals highlighted challenges to the issue, including rising costs, staff shortages, and stringent regulations. Due to these barriers, Pennsylvania has seen a trend of centers shutting down and waitlists increasing, causing a significant impact on working families and the local economy. Several legislative solutions were discussed in the hearing, including easing regulations through the Department of Human Services, increasing funding allocations to support wages, and lowering the age requirement to work in child care.
On Monday, March 30th, the House Democratic Policy Committee hosted a hearing at Widener University to discuss the housing crisis and economic development in the Commonwealth. DCED, the Chester Economic Development Authority, the City of Chester, the Borough of Trainer, the Chester Community Improvement Project, and the Philadelphia Building Trades Council provided testimony. Members of the Committee discussed several policy measures that could reduce housing costs and improve economic development throughout the Commonwealth. The Whole Home Repair program was discussed, with members inquiring about how best to improve its implementation. Tangled titled issues and streamlined zoning to encourage development were also discussed. The governor’s housing action plan was highlighted as an effort to improve the housing stock. Furthermore, efforts to encourage more individuals into the skilled trades were discussed.
Next Week’s Moves
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives will return to Harrisburg for a voting session on Monday, April 13. The Senate is scheduled to return for a voting session on Monday, April 20.
♟️ ON THE TRAIL
Federal Races
Pennsylvania Congressional District 3
State Representative Morgan Cephas has ended her campaign to succeed Congressman Dwight Evans for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District. Cephas has not made any formal endorsements for a candidate and will continue to run for her Pennsylvania House seat in the 192nd District. Three candidates remain frontrunners in the race for this congressional seat: State Senator Sharif Street, State Representative Chris Rabb, and Dr. Ala Stanford.