Moves on the Board: Week of October 27 - 31, 2025
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♟️CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Parker Administration
The biggest news of the week is that Mayor Parker announced that Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) ended with a $1.187 billion fund balance, the largest in the city's history. The Parker administration credits the surplus to tax revenues, unfilled city vacancies, and ARPA funds from the COVID years. Mayor Parker touted the city's fiscal health and emphasized the importance of maintaining the surplus amid ongoing state and federal budget impasses, job-creation needs, and remaining labor arbitration costs, which erode the fund balance.
Ahead of Election Day next Tuesday, November 4, the Parker administration and City Council held a press conference on Monday to raise awareness about the mail-in ballot deadline and the accessibility of Satellite Election Offices. Also on Monday, Mayor Parker attended a town hall meeting with the Asian American Federation of the United States (AAFUS) to discuss issues affecting the Asian community.
On Tuesday, the Parker administration, Councilmembers, and other officials joined the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) to celebrate the completion of the Philly Streetlight Improvement Project (PSIP), which upgraded 130,000 streetlights with more efficient LED lights. A University of Pennsylvania study showed that areas with the new lights saw a 21 percent reduction in outdoor nighttime gun violence.
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel and other senior members of the administration joined Attorney General Dave Sunday to announce the indictment of fentanyl traffickers in Philadelphia. Philadelphia police worked alongside the FBI and other law enforcement officials, leading to the arrests of over 30 people and the seizure of 50 million fentanyl doses.
The City of Philadelphia filed a lawsuit against Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) for their role in sustaining the opioid epidemic through overdistribution and deceptive marketing practices. The lawsuit claims that PBMs continued to market and sell drugs that they acknowledged caused havoc in the city’s communities.
Philadelphia City Council
The Committee on Labor and Civil Service met on Monday to discuss the impact of the sugar-sweetened beverage tax. The hearing was convened by Councilmember Jim Harrity, who advocated for eliminating the soda tax. Several Council colleagues spoke about the positive impact of the soda tax, which funds PHL Pre-K and Rebuild. Given the lack of support from other members of Council, the matter looks to be tabled for the time being.
City Council held several other hearings this week, including a meeting of the Streets & Services Committee, which reported 14 bills legislating parking regulations and sidewalk cafes. The Children & Youth and Technology & Information Services Committees held an informational joint meeting to discuss the electronic monitoring of justice-involved youth and an informational meeting to address water main breaks in the Seventh Councilmanic District.
City Council met on Thursday for a legislative session. Council received communication from Mayor Parker stating that she had signed over 20 pieces of legislation that the chamber had passed in previous session dates. Council actions included passing Councilmember Mark Squilla’s paper bag fee legislation in an unusual 10-5 vote, regulating utility meters and the sale of drug paraphernalia in certain industrial districts, and zoning-related ordinances.
Council introduced the following new pieces of legislation during the session:
Resolutions
Resolution 250955 (Transmitted by the Mayor’s Office) The much-awaited 2025-2026 Approving Housing Opportunities Budget, which addresses expenditures by various agencies in the first year of the H.O.M.E. Program. A tentative hearing date for this legislation is November 12.
Resolution 250965 (Councilmember Young) Congratulating Dr. Alycia Marshall on her appointment as President of the Community College of Philadelphia.
Ordinances
Bill 250948 (Councilmember Lozada) Amending the “Housing Trust Fund” to submit an annual report to Council, which will detail the geography of revenue and the disposition of funds.
Bill 250950 (Council President Kenyatta Johnson) Proposing an amendment to the Home Rule Charter relating to the creation of the Philadelphia Retirement Savings Board; and authorizing and directing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election. This is a significant piece of legislation to watch as it makes its way through the legislative process.
Next Week’s Moves
City Council is not in session next Thursday. They reconvene on Thursday, November 13.
Coming Up:
Wednesday, November 5, at 10 AM: The Committee on Public Health and Human Services will meet to discuss the SNAP crisis and the city’s response to support constituents in need.
Wednesday, November 5, at 2 PM: The Committee on Commerce & Economic Development will meet to authorize the committee to discuss enforcement of unauthorized restaurant reservation services, the Polish American Cultural Center Museum, and encroachments of lighting fixtures along Haverford Avenue.
♟️COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Shapiro Administration
This week, Governor Josh Shapiro, First Lady Lori Shapiro, Lt Governor Austin Davis, and Second Lady Blayre Holmes David hosted their second State Dinner to honor ten recipients of the Governor’s Keystone Awards. This recognition is given to individuals and groups who have demonstrated significant impacts in their communities and on the lives of their neighbors. Among the honorees was Jane Golden, Executive Director of Mural Arts Philadelphia. Under her leadership, the organization has created over 4,000 public works, making Philadelphia the Mural Arts capital of the World, and developed social justice programs rooted in art in Philadelphia and around the world.
The Governor signed three bills into law this week. These bills include improving the efficiency of guardianship proceedings, updating laws regarding the custody and visitation rights of deployed military parents, and allowing veterans with at least 8,000 hours of work to satisfy requirements for the career and technical education teaching certification.
Governor Shapiro took legal action against the United States Department of Agriculture, demanding that the Trump administration use congressionally-appropriated contingency funds to pay Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through November due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Shapiro joined a coalition of 25 other states and the District of Columbia in this effort to hold the administration accountable. Republican gubernatorial candidate, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, proposed giving the Shapiro administration a loan from the state’s Short-Term Investment Pool (STIP) to cover the SNAP benefits. Garrity stated that there is currently $21.3 billion in STIP, and the loan will only average to $368 million per month. However, Governor Shapiro stated that this plan is unlawful, as USDA guidelines stipulate that states only have administrative power over SNAP and cannot appropriate funds without a guarantee of repayment by the federal government.
📰 Updates from the Governor’s Newsroom
♟️PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
On Monday, October 27th, the Share Food Program brought over 50 individuals from 25 food pantries to Harrisburg to advocate for a budget that prioritizes measures to address food insecurity. In particular, the group called for an $8 million increase in funding split between the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) and the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS).
On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week, House and Senate leadership from both caucuses met in person with the Governor to discuss the budget stalemate. This is notable, as it was the first time all key negotiators were in the same room together to deliberate the budget. A final budget deal has not yet been reached.
Committee News:
House: Appropriations Chairman Jordan Harris introduced HB 2004, which would create the Emergency SNAP Benefits Restricted Account. The account would be allocated funding to ensure that recipients of SNAP benefits do not lose their benefits during a prolonged federal government shutdown. Chairman Harris also introduced several pieces of legislation to appropriate targeted emergency funding for rape crisis centers, school districts, and other entities that have been impacted by the budget impasse.
Senate: On Wednesday, October 29th, the Senate Local Government Committee held an informational hearing on SB 822, which would strengthen firearm preemption and provide legal remedies for individuals who wish to challenge local firearm legislation. The bill’s prime sponsor, Senator Wayne Langerholc, argued for the administration of the Commonwealth’s firearm policies in a uniform manner throughout Pennsylvania. Similarly, other testifiers argued against the patchwork of prohibitions and regulations if Pennsylvania’s firearm preemption was not enforced.
Next Week’s Moves
The House and the Senate are in recess for the Election and Veterans’ Days and will reconvene on Monday, November 17th, for legislative session.
Of Additional Note
The Alliance of Community Service Providers and other health advocates rallied at Philadelphia’s City Hall on Tuesday to urge state lawmakers to pass a balanced budget, highlighting the pitfalls in care coverage—and more—for many Pennsylvanians as the Commonwealth continues to operate without a budget.
♟️On The Trail: Pennsylvania’s 2026 Elections
State Races
Pennsylvania House District 45
State Representative Anita Astorino Kulik has announced that she will not run for reelection in 2026. Kulik is a Democrat and represents parts of Allegheny County. She has held the seat since 2016 and is currently the Chair of the House Game and Fisheries Committee. There has been no announcement of new candidates entering the race to fill the seat.
Federal Races
Pennsylvania Congressional District 3
Pablo McConnie-Saad has announced that he is entering the Democratic primary to fill the seat of Congressman Dwight Evans, who announced his retirement earlier this year. McConnie-Saad formerly worked as a policy advisor for the U.S. Treasury Department under the Biden Administration. He grew up in South Philadelphia and aims to bring new ideas to better the city, as he enters a crowded primary.