6 bills passed by PA lawmakers this week

Lawmakers in both chambers of the General Assembly returned to Harrisburg this week for a busy and productive week of session. No topic was off-limits, as lawmakers voted on bills addressing AI-generated content, marijuana regulations, campaign finance requirements – and even the Golden Girls. Below, City & State takes a look at six bills approved by state lawmakers this week in the lead-up to the commonwealth’s June 30 budget deadline.

Senate Bill 806: Disclosures on AI-generated advertising

Senate lawmakers set their sights on AI-generated content this week, passing legislation to require “clear and conspicuous” disclosures on AI-generated content used in sales and advertising. Senate Bill 806, which was approved by the Senate with a 48-2 vote, prohibits advertisers from using synthetic content in a way that creates a “false consumer perception” about goods or services without adequate disclosures. The disclosures required under the proposal must state that the ad's content was created or modified using AI. The bill’s prime sponsor, Democratic state Sen. Nick Pisciottano, said the state’s laws must keep pace with rapid technological advancements. “This legislation provides a safeguard that promotes honesty and protects people from scams and false advertising,” he said in a statement.

Senate Bill 908: Expanding Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Act

In a 37-13 vote, Senate lawmakers passed legislation that would expand the state’s Prevailing Wage Act to cover off-site custom fabrication work for public construction projects. The state’s Prevailing Wage Act requires construction workers to be paid a base wage – plus benefits – for construction projects funded by taxpayer dollars. The bill, Senate Bill 908, was sponsored by Republican state Sen. Frank Farry and Democratic state Sen. Christine Tartaglione. Tartaglione said in a statement that the legislation would close a loophole in state law. “This bill restores the spirit of the law by recognizing that custom fabrication is essential to modern construction and deserves the same prevailing wage standards as on-site work,” she said.

Senate Bill 1150: Strengthening the Sunshine Act 

In response to a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling from last November, Senate lawmakers this week approved legislation to clarify when local government entities can add items to their meeting agendas under the Sunshine Act. “Last November, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that agencies can add agenda items and take up business with a simple majority vote, even when those items are not included on the publicly posted agenda,” state Sen. Pat Stefano, the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 1150, said on the Senate floor this week. “That means decisions involving significant topics, from taxes to budgets to contracts, could move forward without any advanced public notice.” Stefano said his bill would clarify exceptions for the 24-hour notice requirement outlined in the Sunshine Act, noting that the exceptions should “remain narrow and should not become a loophole that undermines public notice altogether.” The bill passed the Senate with a unanimous vote.

House Bill 497 & House Bill 1262: Updating Pennsylvania’s campaign finance laws

Lawmakers in the state House approved two campaign finance-related bills this week, including House Bill 1262, which would require all campaign finance reports and statements to be filed electronically through the Pennsylvania Department of State. However, the bill does include a “technological hardship” exemption for filers who are unable to file electronically due to a disability or lack of internet access. The House also approved House Bill 497, legislation from Democratic state Rep. Joe Webster that would bar foreign corporations from spending money to influence Pennsylvania elections. The legislation prohibits “foreign-influenced corporations” from making expenditures in support or in opposition to political candidates and ballot measures. 

House Bill 2109: The Golden Girls Law

In what has officially been dubbed the “Golden Girls Law,” the House voted this week to approve House Bill 2109, which seeks to prevent local governments from placing limits on the number of unrelated roommates who can live together. Under the bill, local governments could still limit occupancy based on health and safety standards. In a memo to colleagues, the bill’s prime sponsor, Democratic state Rep. Tarik Khan, said the bill will “expand housing options, help people afford to stay in their communities and modernize housing policies.”