Weekly Wrap
It was another week of budget hearings, as the House and Senate Appropriations Committees met in Harrisburg to examine the Governor’s FY 2026-2027 budget proposal.
On Monday, the House Energy Committee reported out two bills:
- HB 2150 (Mullins, D-Lackawanna), which would require data center developers and end users to disclose the nature of their operations and report energy and water usage to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; and
- HB 2151 (Donahue, D-Lackawanna), which would direct municipalities to regulate data centers and adopt local ordinances to limit harmful impacts on nearby communities.
After the voting meeting, the Committee then held an informational meeting on Pennsylvania’s net metering policies. Testifiers included the Public Utility Commission (PUC), Office of Consumer Advocate, and the Energy Association of Pennsylvania.
The Senate spent its morning and afternoon budget hearing sessions with the Department of Transportation. The House held their hearings with the Office of the Attorney General, Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Judiciary.
On Tuesday, the Senate budget hearings were with Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) schools followed by the PUC. The House budget hearings were with the Department of Labor and Industry and then the Department of Education.
The House Democratic Policy Committee held a public hearing on universal pre-k. On Wednesday, the Committee held another public hearing, this time to discuss dynamic pricing.
Furthermore, the House Commerce Committee held a public hearing on HB 2120 (Venkat, D-Allegheny), which would ensure Shared Appreciation Agreements are included under Pennsylvania’s residential mortgage protections.
The Senate held budget hearings focused on workforce development and job training programs as well as hearing from the Secretary of the Budget and the Department of Revenue. The House spent the full day hearing from the Department of Human Services.
On Thursday, the Senate held their final budget hearing of the year with the Department of Education. The House budget hearings were with the Department of State and the PUC.
The Week Ahead
House Budget hearings continue next week, with the schedule as follows:
- Monday
- 10 a.m. Department of Transportation
- 1 p.m. Pennsylvania State Police
- Tuesday
- 10 a.m. Department of Revenue
- 1 p.m. Department of Aging
- Wednesday
- 10 a.m. State Related Universities
- 1 p.m. Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
- Thursday
- 10 a.m. Office of the Budget
- 1 p.m. Department of Health/Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
There are other committee meetings on the calendar as well.
On Monday, the House Liquor Control Committee will consider HB 2147 (Hohenstein, D-Philadelphia), which would create a Distillery of Historical Significance License for distilleries over 100 years old. The House Housing and Community Development Committee will hold an informational meeting with the Community Associations Institute Keystone Chapter.
Tuesday, the House Transportation Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 297 (Stambaugh, R-Perry) and HB 2233 (Brennan, D-Bucks), both of which would expand the milage emergency ATVs may travel on public highways.


























