Pennsylvania Perspective for Monday, July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

Pennsylvania

PA Outlaws Creation of Deepfakes with Malicious Intent

Governor Josh Shapiro (D) signed a bill that will code deepfakes as forgeries, making misleading or malicious digital impersonations illegal. The first offense will be classified as a first-degree misdemeanor, while repeated offenses will constitute a third-degree felony. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.

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New Marijuana Legalization Effort Put Forth

Senators Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) and Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) proposed a bill that could legalize marijuana. Despite its bipartisan support, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) expressed pessimism that the measure will not make it into this year’s state budget.

Senate Bill Proposes Requiring Front-Facing License Plates

State Senator Katie Muth (D-Berks/Chester/Montgomery) proposed a bill that, if passed, will require Pennsylvania drivers to display a second license plate on the front of their vehicle. Pennsylvania is one of twenty-one states that does not require a front plate. However, to improve road safety and traffic enforcement, Sen. Muth believes a front plate is now necessary in the Commonwealth. WHTM has more.

911 Calling Restored in the Commonwealth

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) is investigating a slew of intermittent 911 outages that blanketed the state for ten hours on Friday. With calls restored, PEMA will continue to search for the outages’ cause. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more. 

Environmentalists File Suit Against EPA Over Oil Refinery’s Use of Toxic Chemical

Monroe Energy in Delaware County still uses hydrofluoric acid, a dangerous chemical often employed to create high-octane gasoline. Hydrofluoric acid can cause serious burns and sometimes death. Environmental groups are urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reassess its rules around using the chemical. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.

18% of PA’s Private Wells Compromised with Toxic PFAS, Study Finds

A Penn State study found that 18% of private wells in Pennsylvania have high concentrations of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.” Although federal and state laws limit their presence in drinking water, private wells are not subject to state or federal regulation. With the highest concentrations reported in more densely populated areas, such as Montgomery County and other Southeastern Pennsylvania municipalities, too many Commonwealth residents could be at risk of exposure. WHYY has more.

Nearly Half of Rural Hospitals in PA Have Lost Access to Obstetrics Services

Approximately 46% of hospitals located in rural Pennsylvania and South Carolina lost their obstetrics services between 2010 and 2022 according to data from the American Hospital Association. With the recently signed federal cuts to Medicaid, experts fear that far more hospitals in the Commonwealth could lose their obstetrics care. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.

Philadelphia

DC33 Members Begin Voting on Tentative Agreement with City

Members of AFSCME District Council 33 will be able to vote on the tentative agreement that the union struck with the Parker administration last week. Voting will take place until July 20. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

Weekend Barnes Celebration Energized the Ben Franklin Parkway

The Barnes Foundation celebrated its eighth annual Barnes on the Block festival on Sunday, where PNC Arts Live and Mural Art Philadelphia invited a wide range of performers and artists to their family-friendly celebration on the Ben Franklin Parkway. Aimed at attracting a more diverse audience, the festivities focused on culture and creativity. WHYY has more.

Pittsburgh

Budget Cut Fears Prompt PHA to Pare Voucher Programs

The Pittsburgh Housing Authority (PHA) is prepared to downsize some of its programs aimed at assisting low-income residents as the federal government plans to slash the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s budget by $27 million. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has more.

New Beechview Community Center in the Works

Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority voted to move forward with its plan to sell a 6,000 square-foot Beechview lot on Broadway Avenue to Casa San José’. The organization, which assists Pittsburgh’s Latino and immigrant communities, plans to develop a brand new community center if the sale closes. WESA has more.

Federal

President Trump, Sen. McCormick to Announce $70M AI Plan at PA Innovation Summit

President Donald Trump and U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (R) will attend the inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University, where they plan to announce a $70 million AI and energy investment plan. Axios has more.

VP Vance Plans to Defend “Big Beautiful Bill” in Upcoming PA Visit

Vice President JD Vance will visit Luzerne County this week to tout the benefits of President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” despite growing concerns over its projected Medicaid cuts that could affect over 300,000 Pennsylvanians. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

Former Broadcast Journalist Announces Bid for PA-10

Former broadcast journalist Janelle Stelson has announced her candidacy for Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. She ran for the same office in 2024 but lost to current U.S. Representative Scott Perry by a little more than a percentage point. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

PA Democratic Leaders Devising Plan for National Party

A group of younger Democratic leaders—including Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, U.S. Representative Brendan Boyle (PA-02), and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti—have formed a new national initiative to reshape the party’s message, support diverse candidates, and move beyond traditional orthodoxy after recent electoral setbacks. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

Deportations Forecasted to Hurt PA’s Economy 

A new Economic Policy Institute analysis finds that President Trump’s proposed mass deportations could eliminate nearly 6 million jobs nationwide—including 115,000 in Pennsylvania—by disrupting industries reliant on both immigrants and U.S.-born workers. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.

Beltway Briefing: The Trump Agenda Six Months In

With the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” now behind us, domestic legislating has slowed. Is foreign policy now the dominant element of Trump 2.0? Meanwhile, Democrats remain fractured, struggling to find a unified narrative. How will these dynamics shape the road to the midterms? Listen to the latest episode featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Patrick Martin, and Kyle Anderson here.

Authors

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.

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