Moves on the Board: February 2 - 6, 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. On Monday, Mayor Parker’s administration announced that the city was awarded the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification for its effective use of data. The award recognized the city’s work in policy discussions, improving services, and engaging with residents. The city achieved a Gold Certification status, joining more than 100 other cities internationally. This certification highlights the practices the city has put in place that incorporate data and effective decision-making. For example, the administration highlighted the H.O.M.E. program, which used data analysis to reduce the Zoning Board of Adjustment’s appeal process by several days over a seven-month period. 

On Tuesday, Mayor Parker attended Governor Shapiro’s budget address, where the Governor outlined his administration’s priorities for the Commonwealth. The proposal includes increased funding for housing, infrastructure, and education, which will impact the city’s financial health. For a more detailed breakdown of Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal, read Bellevue Strategies’ recap here. 

The city turned to the “Same Day Work and Pay Program” to address snow removal efforts. As the city faces challenges with the large piles of snow, this initiative provides same-day pay to people who clear all ADA curb ramps along sidewalks, making them safer for individuals with disabilities. Carlton Williams, the city's director of clean and green initiatives, mentioned that approximately 200 members cleared over 500 ADA ramps in the program’s first day. 

Philadelphia City Council

The Committee on Rules discussed five bills related to business-hour restrictions, building requirements for vacant lots, zoning maps, and imposing a temporary moratorium on the breeding and transfer of puppies. The first few bills were amended and reported favorably, while Bill 251101, which would add a new section to the Philadelphia Code establishing the "Vine Street Expressway District," was held in committee.

The Committee on Licenses and Inspections met on Wednesday and reported two bills, requiring 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, out of committee with a favorable recommendation. 

City Council met this week for a lively session. The council chambers were filled to the brim with students from a variety of Philadelphia Schools. Council introduced a variety of ceremonial resolutions this week in celebration of Black History Month. 

Other bills and resolutions introduced today include:

Ordinances 

• Bill 260076 (Councilmember Ahmad) Amending the Home Rule Charter to allow for the creation of a Philadelphia Child Welfare Commission

Resolutions

• Resolution 260091 (Councilmember Harrity) Authorizes the Committee on Labor and Civil Service and the Committee on Transportation to hold hearings regarding the arrival of driverless rideshare vehicles in the City of Philadelphia and its overall impact.

• Resolution 260089 (Councilmember Harrity) Calls on the General Assembly of Pennsylvania to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework and conduct a formal safety and labor impact review of driverless rideshare vehicles operating in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania.

Next Week’s Moves

Coming Up: 

• Monday, February 9, the Committee on Law and Government will meet to discuss amendments to the Home Rule Charter relating to the creation of the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson as well as a resolution to discuss the process of resolving tangled titles in Philadelphia.

♟️COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Shapiro Administration

Governor Josh Shapiro gave his fourth budget proposal to the General Assembly, outlining his priorities for FY2026-2027. The $53.26 billion budget, which is a $2.7 billion increase from his proposal last year, focuses on funding key sectors such as housing and energy infrastructure, public safety, artificial intelligence, and economic and workforce development. To learn more about the details in his budget proposal and the reactions from both parties, read the Bellevue Strategies’ recap here. 

Updates from the Governor’s Newsroom

• Governor Shapiro Invites Law Enforcement, First Responders, Educators, Economic Development Leaders, and Older Adults to His 2026-27 Budget Address

• Governor Shapiro Unveils 2026–27 Budget Proposal to Keep Doing What’s Working in Pennsylvania: Cutting Costs, Growing the Economy, Strengthening Public Safety, Funding Education, and Getting Stuff Done for Pennsylvanians

• What Pennsylvania Leaders Are Saying About Governor Shapiro’s 2026-27 Proposed Budget that Builds on Three Years of Progress, Cuts Costs, Creates Opportunity, Strengthens Public Safety, and Funds Education

• Governor Shapiro Signs Bill into Law

Pennsylvania General Assembly

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate were in Harrisburg for a voting session from February 2 to 4. Both chambers held various committee meetings and passed legislation that was sent to the Governor. 

Legislative Movement:

• Signed By Governor:

• The House and Senate both passed House Bill 331, which was then sent to the Governor and signed into law. This law expands qualifications for the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, allowing more nonprofit legal assistance organizations to assist Pennsylvanians in poverty.  

• Presented to the Governor: 

• The House and Senate passed the following bills, which were presented to the Governor this week and are awaiting his approval: 

• SB327 (Fort Indiantown Gap Police Act 120 Certification)

• SB467 (Authorizes Release of Project 70 Restrictions)

• HB710 (Vehicle Insurance Verification)

• SB1036 (Amendment to First Class Township Code)

• Passed House Chamber:

• The House adopted the following resolutions this week, which are now recognized: 

• HR387 (Dominican Republic Independence Day)

• HR389 (Senior Independence Month)

• HR392 (Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week)

• HR398 (Sunshine Week)

• HR399 (Wear Purple Day)

• HR401 (Black History Month)

• The following bills were passed in the House and  sent to the Senate for their consideration: 

• HB144 (Expanding Diversion in Juvenile Justice)

• HB460 (Age-Appropriate Curriculums on Child Abuse)

• HB469 (Protection of Military Families through Concurrent Jurisdiction)

• HB490 (Protections for Journalists)

• HB660 (Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards)

• HB886 (Grant Opportunities for Veteran Services)

• HB1556 (Advanced Clean Manufacturing Tax Credit)

• HB1738 (Changes to Borough Code, Third Class City Code, & County Code)

• HB1909 (Violations of Protection From Abuse Orders & Agreements)

• HB1923 (Meat Packaging & Food Processing Protection Act)

• HB1935 (Swatting Against School Entity)

• HB1936 (Juvenile Justice Reform: Total Secure Detention Time)

• HB1963 (Drivers with Disabilities)

• HB1972 (Public Adjuster Licenses Law)

• HB2017 (Nuclear Development)

• Passed Senate Chamber: 

• The Senate passed the following bills which were sent to the House for their consideration: 

• SB116 (Long-Term Care Workforce Crisis)

• SB1014 (Phone-Free Schools)

Committee News:

• House: 

• House Education Committee:

• On February 2nd, the Committee held an informational hearing on the Future Ready PA Index and Student Outcomes, a dashboard which looks beyond test scores and tracks attendance, graduation rates, math performance, career readiness, and English language arts (ELA).  While ELA remains an area of concern, progress was realized in the other indicators.. The hearing featured testimony from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, the Public Interest Law Center, the University of Pennsylvania Center for Benefit-Cost Studies in Education, and the PA Chamber of Business and Industry. Members also examined how the index can track long-term goals through 2033, breaking down results by student subgroups and school type, and targets funding and support to the lowest-performing schools. Testifiers emphasized that adequate funding and new programs will take several years to show full results, though early data suggest investments in staffing, literacy, and curriculum are underway and economically beneficial over time. The hearing also highlighted ongoing debate over funding levels, accountability, workforce readiness, and the need to align assessments, standards, and investments with modern learning and long-term student success.

• On February 4th, the House Education Committee held a voting hearing on a number of bills, including:

• HB 2084, by Rep. Harris, which would establish the Pennsylvania Promise Program, a higher education scholarship program. The bill was amended to include the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania Schools, and passed out of committee on a party-line vote. 

• HR 396, by Rep. Ciresi, which would designate January 2026 as School Director Recognition Month, was passed out of committee unanimously. 

• SB 375, by Sen. Brown, which would require that schools provide AED and CPR training, as well as the establishment of a cardiac emergency response plan, was passed out of committee on a 23-3 vote. 

• HB 1648, by Rep. N. Nelson, which was amended to require a PDE workgroup study on the use of mental health days as an excused absence in school, was passed out of committee on a party-line vote. 

• HB 1706, by Rep. Daley, which requires athletic staff, other extracurricular advisors, and students to be informed of the mental health services provided at the school and provides for notification requirements should these activities be interrupted, was amended to remove requirements placed on the State Board of Education’s review of standards and then passed out of committee on a party-line vote. 

• A bill package by Rep. N. Nelson, consisting of HB 2167, HB 2168, and HB 2169, which provides for changes to refer to “approved private schools” as “approved special education schools,” was passed out of committee unanimously. 

• HB 2152, by Rep. Cooper, which, as amended, would permit schools to start the school day later to better accommodate students’ needs and sleep patterns, was passed out of committee unanimously.

• HB 2176, by Rep. Prokopiak, which would amend the Public School Code to add a section to provide for social media literacy education, was passed out of committee on a party-line vote.

• The House Energy Committee held a public hearing on HB 2151 and HB 2150. HB 2151, sponsored by Representative Kyle Donahue, would direct the Center for Local Government Services within DCED to develop a voluntary model zoning ordinance and provide technical assistance to municipalities considering data center development. Testimony reflected general agreement on the need for guidance for local governments, with supporters emphasizing transparency and local control and opponents raising concerns about state involvement in land use decisions and the need for broader stakeholder input. HB 2150, sponsored by Representative Kyle Mullins, would require data centers to annually report energy and water consumption to DEP, with DEP and PUC publishing aggregated trend reports. Supporters argued the bill would improve transparency and inform grid and water planning, while opponents cautioned that the reporting requirements could single out one industry, duplicate existing disclosures, and discourage investment. 

Events & Press Conferences:

• On February 2, House Democrats and House Republicans held a bipartisan press conference in the East Wing Rotunda to announce an “all-in approach” legislative package to address housing affordability and Pennsylvania’s housing crisis. Lawmakers highlighted factors contributing to the shortage, including regulatory barriers, rising construction costs, inflation, and demographic shifts, and emphasized the link between housing supply and economic competitiveness. The package includes proposals to reduce red tape and modernize zoning, such as allowing accessory dwelling units, enabling duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes, eliminating mandatory parking requirements, legalizing shared housing arrangements, and creating a statewide Housing Council and housing assessment. Members from both parties stressed maintaining local control while incentivizing pro-housing policies, preserving farmland through higher-density development, and expanding housing options to support workforce growth. 

• On February 2, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) presented its State of Fair Housing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania report in the Main Capitol Rotunda, highlighting progress made under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act while underscoring persistent inequities in housing access, quality, and affordability. PHRC leadership, legislators, and housing advocates emphasized the role of fair housing in economic stability, public health, and civil rights, and called for legislative action on issues including source-of-income discrimination, eviction record sealing, property maintenance standards, and expanded tenant protections. Speakers highlighted data on unsafe housing conditions, rising housing costs, and discriminatory practices, and pointed to pending legislation such as HB1095 and SB1152 as key policy responses. 

Next Week’s Moves

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate will be on recess until the end of March, while the Appropriations Committees in both chambers hold hearings with select  Departments to review the Governor’s proposed FY2026-2027 budget. To see the House Appropriations schedule, click here. To see the Senate Appropriations schedule, click here.