Capitol Beat

General Assembly

‘Put it up for a vote’: As enforcement looms, supporters urge lawmakers to save skill games

A state court ruling will soon subject operators of unregulated skill machines to criminal prosecution unless lawmakers step in to regulate them.

Capitol Beat

A guide to Pennsylvania’s 2026 race for governor

Josh Shapiro and Stacy Garrity have very different approaches to the challenges Pennsylvania voters will be most likely to focus on in the voting booth.

Capitol Beat

State health officials pause disease-control strategy proposal

The move, allowing consideration of some 10,000 public comments, comes as the commonwealth battles a historic measles outbreak that now surpasses 900 cases.

Capitol Beat

Mind the gap: Shapiro raises $13.3M in latest fundraising period, Garrity brings in $1.8M

City & State looks at the donors supporting Gov. Josh Shapiro and Treasurer Stacy Garrity in this year’s gubernatorial election.

Josh Shapiro

‘We cannot ignore the warning signs’: Shapiro pushes federal government to act on AI

The governor criticized President Donald Trump and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson for failing to prioritize AI regulations in Washington, D.C.

Technology

Pennsylvania politicians react to calls for an AI development slowdown

Gov. Josh Shapiro, Attorney General Dave Sunday and members of Congress have weighed in on calls to slow AI development.

Education

Report: Teacher shortages hitting both rural and urban school districts

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania released a report showing a 67% decrease in individuals receiving teacher certifications

Technology

Flock blockers: 5 proposals seeking to regulate Flock cameras and ALPRs in Pennsylvania

Lawmakers in the General Assembly plan to introduce a number of bills looking to regulate automated license plate reader technology in Pennsylvania.

Dave Sunday

‘These are changes that matter’: Pennsylvania will receive over $500 million from Meta settlement

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said the settlement agreement marks a new beginning for the social media industry.

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News & Politics

Updated

What to know about Pennsylvania’s 2026 special elections

Several seats in the state House of Representatives have been decided through special elections in 2026.

Criminal Justice

A matter of life and death: Understanding the debate over second-degree murder sentencing in PA

City & State examines the ongoing debate over second-degree murder sentencing and what comes next as lawmakers struggle to reach a consensus on how to reform the state’s felony sentencing statute.

Budget

‘A moral imperative’: Shapiro touts $12M increase for rape crisis centers

The governor also renewed his call for giving child sexual abuse survivors a two-year window to sue their abusers.

Capitol Beat

3 financial facts about Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 budget

The budget includes $2.64 billion in temporary savings due to delayed monthly payments.

Capitol Beat

10 things to know about Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 state budget

Pennsylvania’s latest budget includes more money for public schools, road repairs and a cost-of-living adjustment for pension beneficiaries.

Policy

Updated

City & State’s 2026-27 Pennsylvania state budget tracker

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a $50.8 billion budget into law on July 12.

Politics

Behind closed doors: The fight to open up the PA Senate ‘Rules Room’

In a time of increasing transparency efforts at all levels of government, one of the most consequential spaces in the state Capitol remains opaque despite efforts to show what happens inside.

Capitol Beat

In bipartisan fashion, PA lawmakers vote to repeal tax incentives for data centers

House lawmakers voted 197-5 on Thursday to pass a bill that would repeal sales tax incentives for data center owners and operators.