General Assembly
News & Politics
What to know about Pennsylvania’s upcoming special elections
Four seats in the state House of Representatives will be up for grabs in February and March.
Capitol Beat
PA Senate lawmakers reelect Kim Ward as president pro tempore
Ward was praised by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as she was reelected to lead the upper chamber.
General Assembly
A Q&A with PA House Republican Leader Jesse Topper
Topper talks state budget victories, navigating a divided General Assembly, and his top goals for 2026.
Analysis
City & State's 5 for 2025: Report names PA’s most and least effective lawmakers – and how partisan divide impacts Harrisburg
As the year comes to an end, we look back at some staff and reader favorites from our reporting over the past 12 months.
Interviews & Profiles
A Q&A with PA House Speaker Joanna McClinton
McClinton discusses the 2025-26 state budget, the CROWN Act and the need to address transit funding.
Capitol Beat
Lawmakers subpoena information about security improvements at Shapiro’s home
Democrats claimed the GOP-led subpoenas are part of a fishing expedition against the governor.
Capitol Beat
5 things to know about Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 state budget
Big changes are coming for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, public education funding, tax credits and more.
Policy
City & State’s 2025-26 Pennsylvania state budget tracker
After a budget impasse that stretched more than 130 days, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a $50B budget into law on Nov. 12, 2025.
Capitol Beat
PA Senate passes permitting transparency bill
The bill, which would require state agencies to create public permit tracking systems, received bipartisan support in the state Senate.
Education
State Senate studies ‘bell-to-bell’ cell phone ban in schools
Cell phone usage in schools is a hot-button issue in Harrisburg
Analysis
Report names PA’s most and least effective lawmakers – and how partisan divide impacts Harrisburg
The Center for Effective Lawmaking found that Pennsylvania’s partisan divide is narrowing after years of gridlock
Capitol Beat
Quinnipiac Poll shows Shapiro with early lead over Garrity – and looks ahead to 2028
A plurality of voters believe both parties in the state Capitol share blame for the state’s budget impasse.
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Capitol Beat
Gun control bills receive mixed response in tight PA House votes
Lawmakers passed a bill to expand background checks, but two other gun-related bills failed to advance.
Policy
PA lawmakers advance gun control bills following York police shooting
House Democrats advanced four gun control bills out of the state House Judiciary Committee on Monday despite opposition from Republicans.
News & Politics
For more PA cities, hard fiscal choices are leading to home rule
The need for revenue is driving more Pennsylvania local governments to consider home rule charters.
Policy
PA Senate advances $47.7B budget, transit spending plan
Amid an ongoing state budget impasse, state Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward called the proposal ‘the answer for the moment.’
Capitol Beat
Kim Ward suggests ‘six-month budget’ amid ongoing PA budget impasse
The Pennsylvania Senate president said school choice policies and mass transit funding remain sticking points.
Josh Shapiro
A recent history of efforts to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage
Lawmakers have attempted to raise the minimum wage in the commonwealth, with little success over the last 20 years.
Policy
A Q&A with state Rep. Lindsay Powell
Powell talked with City & State about several bills she has sponsored to increase access to housing and improve quality of life in Pennsylvania communities.
News & Politics
What we now know – and don’t know – about the Pennsylvania budget
Pennsylvania’s fiscal year started on July 1 – and the state still lacks a completed state budget.
