Weekly Wrap
The Senate returned to Harrisburg this week for the first session days in nearly a month. Without a budget deal in place, the committee schedule was relatively light.
Monday, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported out SB 581 (Miller, D-Lehigh), which would allow an employer to pay employees exclusively by electronic means through use of direct deposit or a payroll card.
On Wednesday, the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee reported out SB 507 (Brown, R-Lackawanna), which would: (1) provide for licensure of certified midwives; (2) allow midwives to prescribe treatment for opioid use disorder; and (3) modernize the current collaborative agreement structure.
The House Appropriations Committee met briefly to report out SB 160 (Martin, R-Lancaster), which can be used as a budget vehicle once language is agreed to. However, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) stated that “there is no global agreement on a budget deal, as several fiscal and policy issues remain outstanding”.
One of the main issues was resolved this week, as a funding mechanism for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) was announced. Governor Josh Shapiro directed PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll to approve SEPTA’s request to use up to $394 million in capital assistance funds for daily operations. This step would allow SEPTA to preserve existing service and avoid planned service cuts for the next two years.
Additionally, the Senate passed SB 952 (Picozzi, R-Philadelphia), which will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration. The bill would impose certain measures on SEPTA and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), including:
- Requiring PennDOT to establish additional minimum system performance criteria for SEPTA and PRT to reduce fare evasion, explore public-private transportation partnerships, and modernize fixed-route public transportation service;
- Requiring the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to issue an annual report on the procedures, audits, and financial status of SEPTA and PRT; and
- Requiring SEPTA and PRT to submit at least one transportation project to the Public-Private Transportation Partnership Board within 90 days and require SEPTA to submit a project annually beginning in 2027.
Other bills that were sent to the House this week include:
- SB 65 (Baker, R-Luzerne), which would: (1) extend the stopping distance requirement from 10 feet to15 feet before reaching a school bus when the red signal lights are flashing and the side stop arm is activated; (2) implement a tiered penalty system for certain offenses; and (3) provide for driver education;
- SB 114 (Argall, R-Schuylkill), which would increase the availability of long-term care training courses for nurse aides and expand eligibility for individuals to take the nurse aide competency exam;
- SB 381 (Mastriano, R-Adams), which would prohibit certain animal experimentation, sale, and testing; and
- SB 713 (Farry, R-Bucks), which would authorize digital displays on the rear or sides of public transportation vehicles.
The Week Ahead
There is no session next week. The House’s next voting session day is September 29. The Senate, who recessed to the call of the President Pro Tempore, does not have a session day scheduled until October 20.
On Tuesday, the Senate Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing on solutions for addressing housing affordability. The House Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing on psilocybin and treating PTSD.
Thursday, the House Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing on infant mortality.
In Other News
- Governor Shapiro spoke at the second annual AI Horizons Summit in Pittsburgh.
- Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced the launch of OpenBookPA, a new, enhanced version of the Transparency Portal.
- The Public Utility Commission approved a Final Order to accelerate the identification of older, at-risk plastic piping and components in natural gas distribution systems.
- Pennsylvania Democratic Party elected Eugene DePasquale as its next chair.

























