General Assembly
Policy
PA House passes minimum wage, paid family leave bills
House lawmakers voted on several high-profile bills to close out March.
Capitol Beat
Policy
House GOP lawmakers introduce ‘tax holiday’ bills to address affordability concerns
Lawmakers are proposing temporary “holidays” from several state taxes.
Technology
Policy
PA lawmakers advance SAFECHAT Act to protect children from AI chatbot interactions
The bill would require AI companion operators to take steps to prevent harmful interactions with chatbots.
News & Politics
Updated
Politics
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.
Capitol Beat
Policy
PA House committee advances data center bills
Two data center bills were reported out of the House Energy Committee along party lines.
Capitol Beat
Policy
‘Crisis mode’: Gov. Josh Shapiro outlines severity of PA bird flu surge
More than 7.6 million birds in Pennsylvania have been affected so far.
Budget
Policy
9 things to know about Josh Shapiro’s $53.3B budget proposal
Shapiro revisited past priorities and eyed new goals in an hour-long budget address.
Capitol Beat
Policy
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
Policy
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
Politics
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
Policy
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
Politics
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
Policy
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
Politics
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
Policy
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
Policy
State Senate studies ‘bell-to-bell’ cell phone ban in schools
Cell phone usage in schools is a hot-button issue in Harrisburg
Analysis
Politics
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
Politics
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.
Capitol Beat
Policy
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
Policy