Moves on the Board: May 4 - 8, 2026
Denotes a Bellevue Strategies client.
♟️CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Parker Administration
Mayor Parker closed out the week with a packed schedule — launching new initiatives, honoring city workers, and representing Philadelphia on the national stage ahead of the country's 250th birthday.
Monday opened at the Dell Music Center, where Parker joined Parks & Recreation officials to kick off the summer season. The event highlighted a proposed $1 million in capital investment and $500,000 in annual operating support for the venue, which has served the city for 96 years. Organizers also emphasized the importance of preserving the landmark.
Later that morning, the mayor attended the Philadelphia Department of Prisons' Correctional Employees Week opening ceremony, where she presented a proclamation honoring the service and sacrifices of correctional officers across the city.
Parker then unveiled the Youth Work Permit Initiative, a new program connecting Philadelphia teenagers with work permits to expand access to job opportunities, workforce training, and economic mobility.
She closed Monday evening at a One Philly, One Future Budget Town Hall in the Seventh Councilmanic District — the latest stop in a citywide series. Click here for the full schedule of upcoming event dates.
On Tuesday, Parker joined members of the Pennsylvania Senate to launch America 250 celebrations in Philadelphia, part of a statewide initiative marking the country's upcoming 250th anniversary across all 67 counties.
Wednesday proved the busiest day of the week. Parker began the morning by recognizing students and educators from across the city at the Green Schools Program awards, which honor contributions to sustainability and healthier school environments. She then joined city leaders, first responders, and families at a memorial ceremony honoring police officers, firefighters, and emergency personnel who died in the line of duty.
The mayor then attended the groundbreaking for a new TerraPower Isotopes facility in the Bellwether District. The company is investing $450 million to construct a 250,000-square-foot production facility to manufacture materials used in advanced cancer treatments.
Parker delivered the keynote address at Temple University's College of Education and Human Development commencement, where she spoke to students earning postgraduate degrees, then capped the night at the Philadelphia Zoo's “Unlock the Secrets of the Zoo” event.
Thursday brought the mayor to 30th Street Station to welcome U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy, who arrived aboard Amtrak's Freedom 250 Acela. The two traveled together to Carpenters' Hall for a signing ceremony, joined by students from Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
Parker then delivered a keynote at an American Jewish Committee event at Congregation Mikveh Israel, celebrating Jewish heritage and culture — timed to both Jewish American Heritage Month and the America 250 commemorations.
She ended the week alongside Comcast Spectacor Chairman and CEO Dan Hilferty, Center City District President and CEO Prema Katari Gupta, and other city officials to support the revival of the Market East corridor. The event launched "Meantime on Market," a new initiative to activate the corridor and support local businesses while longer-term development moves forward.
Philadelphia City Council
This week marked the final round of the Philadelphia City Council’s FY27 budget hearings. On Monday, May 4, Council held hearings on Health & Behavioral Health, featuring testimony from the Department of Public Health and the Department of Behavioral Health & Intellectual disAbility Services, followed by an afternoon hearing with the District Attorney’s Office focused on public safety priorities and funding needs.
On Tuesday, May 5, the Committee on Appropriations held a full-day callback session to address outstanding questions and requests for additional information from prior hearings. The budget hearing process concluded on Wednesday, May 6, with a full-day public testimony session, during which residents and stakeholders shared feedback on the proposed FY27 budget and city priorities.
Philadelphia City Council also convened for its regular stated meeting this week, advancing a series of bills and resolutions related to city operations, funding, and local policy priorities. Bills and resolutions of note from the session are available below.
Ordinances
Bill 260457 (Councilmember Gilmore Richardson) Authorizing changes to the home rule charter regarding special elections and procurement.
Resolutions
Resolution 260473 (Councilmember Thomas) Authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings relating to the governance of the School Board for the School District of Philadelphia.
Resolution 260480 (Councilmember Young) Supporting the Elderly Tax Relief Act.
Next Week’s Moves
Coming Up:
On Monday, May 11, the Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs will meet to discuss applicants seeking nomination to serve on the Commission on Parks and Recreation.
On Tuesday, May 12, the Joint Committees on Labor and Civil Service & Transportation and Public Utilities will meet to discuss driverless rideshare vehicles in the City of Philadelphia.
On Tuesday, May 12, the Joint Committees on Legislative Oversight and Transportation & Public Utilities will investigate the rising costs of energy bills, what is driving those increases, and what the City can and can’t do to address why energy bills are so high.
On Wednesday, May 13, the Committee on Finance will meet to discuss the state of the economy for black women in Philadelphia.
On Wednesday, May 13, the Committee on Rules will discuss a variety of bills relating to zoning maps.
♟️ COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Shapiro Administration
Governor Josh Shapiro filed a lawsuit this week against Character.AI, an online artificial intelligence chatbot. Shapiro stated that Character.AI falsely claimed to be licensed in Pennsylvania and gave a fake Pennsylvania license number while holding itself out as a licensed psychiatrist. The site has over 20 million monthly users, and the Shapiro Administration is seeking a court order to stop chatbots from posing as licensed professionals. This is the first lawsuit filed by a Governor against AI chatbots.
Governor Shapiro also joined a multistate amicus brief aimed to push back on a ruling that blocks the mailing of Mifepristone, which is one of the most common forms of abortion care medication in the country. While abortion remains legal in Pennsylvania, this ruling can have drastic effects on accessing critical medication care.
The Shapiro Administration announced a $10 million investment to build affordable housing through a new Mixed-Use Housing Development Pilot Program. This funding will be used to invest in seven projects that will create over 1,400 homes and apartments. The program received 104 applications totaling over $469 million in monetary requests. Frankford Community Development Corporation in Philadelphia received over $1 million to create a new building with 132 rental units, a supermarket, and a health center near the Frankford Transportation Center.
Updates from the Governor’s Newsroom
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Senate were in a joint voting session in Harrisburg this week, from Monday, May 4 to Wednesday, May 6. The Senate traveled to Philadelphia on Tuesday to hold a ceremonial meeting at the National Constitution Center honoring America 250. Mayor Cherelle Parker and Council President Kenyatta Johnson joined the Senate during the session to recognize Senate resolutions that celebrate Philadelphia for the United States Semiquincentennial.
Legislative Movement
Signed By Governor
:HB797 (Closing the Firefighter Pension Loophole)
HB1251 (Expanding Midwifery Access)
HB2163 (Easing Restrictions on Dental School Faculty)
SB507 (Midwifery Modernization)
SB848 (Adding PEMA and PHMC to the State Planning Board)
SB867 (Resolving Pennsylvania’s Accessibility Code Dilemma)
Presented to Governor:
HB375 (Signage Requirements for Subdivision and Land Development)
Passed House Chamber:
HB558 (Capping Rental Application Fees)
HB1077 (Providing Glasses to Students)
HB1098 (Providing Funding for Prosecution of Internet Crimes Against Children)
HB1485 (State Death Benefits for Public Works)
HB1752 (Keystone Exam Alternative Feasibility Study)
HB1830 (Flashing Blue Lights for Roadside Assistance Vehicles)
HB1877 (Enhancing Workforce by Recognizing Skill of Biliteracy)
HB2076 (Advancing Geothermal Energy Development)
HB2106 (Broadening Guardianship Proceeding Notification Requirements)
HB2223 (Adopting Advanced Transmission Technologies)
HB2237 (Elimination of Outdated NETS Reporting Requirements)
HB2269 (Repeal of Medical Loan Assistance Program Provisions)
HB2302 (State Licensing for Water Well Drillers)
HB2340 (Upgrading the Malt Beverage Tax Credit Program)
HB2347 (Accelerating Pennsylvania’s Energy Production)
HB2426 (Changing the Maximum Draft Size for River Pilots)
HB2474 (Closing Reporting Gaps in Title 23)
HR66 (Study on Wild Native Terrestrial Invertebrate Management)
HR152 (Lineworker’s Appreciation Day)
HR169 (Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Month)
HR195 (Child Abuse Prevention Month)
HR203 (Reducing Medication Errors)
HR228 (Intern Day)
HR259 (Ukrainian Independence Day)
HR350 (Urging Congress to fund LIHEAP)
HR407 (Week of the Young Child)
HR410 (National Train Day)
HR417 (Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Anniversary)
HR420 (Jimmy Stewart Day)
HR430 (Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week)
HR437 (National Poetry Month)
HR439 (Distracted Driving Awareness Month)
HR458 (National Osteopathic Medicine Week)
HR470 (Prader Willi Syndrome Awareness Day)
HR472 (National Hospital Week)
HR473 (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month)
HR474 (Go Public Gardens Days)
HR476 (Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month)
HR493 (World Hunger Day)
HR495 (Annual Blessing of the Balers)
HR501 (National Travel and Tourism Week)
HR503 (Public Works Week)
HR505 (Go Shield Family Day)
Passed Senate Chamber:
SB250 (Displaying the Preamble of the Constitution in Schools)
SB598 (Displaying the Preamble of the Constitution in Schools)
SB822 (Preemption Statue Regarding Firearms and Ammunition)
SB1091 (Corporal Robert Lee Clampffer Memorial Bridge)
SB1284 (Sentencing for Attempted Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer)
SB1286 (Increasing Penalties for Causing Unintentional Death)
SB1294 (Reinforcing Commercial Vehicle Safety)
SB1295 (Reinforcing Commercial Vehicle Safety)
SB1298 (Vehicle Emission Inspection Program)
SR304 (United States Semiquincentennial)
SR305 (Honoring William Penn - U.S. Semiquincentennial)
SR306 (Honoring Benjamin Franklin - U.S. Semiquincentennial)
SR307 (Recognizing the Army Field Band - U.S. Semiquincentennial)
SR308 (Honoring the City of Philadelphia - U.S. Semiquincentennial)
SR309 (Honoring the National Constitution Center - U.S. Semiquincentennial)
SR310 (Honoring Independence National Park - U.S. Semiquincentennial)
Committee News:
House:
The House Tourism, Recreation, and Economic Development Committee held an informational meeting on the economic, environmental, and tourism impact of public gardens across the state. Testifiers included PA Gardens, the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, Longwood Gardens, and Penn State. Nancy Goldenberg, Executive Director of Laurel Hill Cemetery and co-chair of PA Gardens, who is also a client of Bellevue Strategies, provided testimony on the historical significance of horticulture in Pennsylvania, and the economic footprint these organizations collectively bring to the Commonwealth.
The House Education Committee held an informational meeting on the educational workforce retention. The meeting focused on teacher shortages, school safety, burnout, and leadership instability. Testifiers noted the impact of rising violence against education, inadequate special education staffing, growing mental health challenges, and financial pressures. Additionally, they called on lawmakers to enact legislative solutions that would strengthen protections for injured school employees, increase funding, expand teacher career pathways, and maintain certification flexibility.
The House Democratic Policy Committee held a public hearing on wealth disparities and sustainable housing, with a particular focus on Black and Brown communities. Testifiers said that equity will come from sustained investments, inclusive policymaking, and access to capital, housing, education, and emerging industries. They additionally called for stronger investments from the state to black-led nonprofits and entrepreneurs.
Senate:
The Senate Institutional Sustainability and Innovation Committee held two public hearings this week on SB792. SB792 would increase the Research and Development Tax Credit to $120 million annually, with $24 million reserved for small businesses. Testifiers supported the legislation and called for additional reforms, including simplifying the application process, improving credit calculations, and creating additional state innovation funding programs.
Next Week’s Moves
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate will be on recess until June 1, when they will reconvene for budget negotiations. General Assembly members are heading back to their districts as they campaign ahead of the May 19 primary elections.