WASHINGTON, September 28, 2026 — Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Alex Calabro as principal in its Washington, D.C., office.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly reconvenes on September 28 following a 10-week recess to address several unresolved legislative priorities, led by a fast-approaching October deadline to regulate skill games following a recent state Supreme Court ruling. Lawmakers are currently considering bipartisan bills to formally regulate the gaming terminals, as well as a new proposal to extend the legislative deadline by six months. The fall agenda also includes proposed guardrails for the artificial intelligence data center industry, featuring measures that would require developers to secure electricity agreements prior to zoning approval and prevent them from utilizing eminent domain. To address the resulting strain on the regional power grid, legislators will also debate pending bills aimed at capping utility profit margins and lowering consumer electricity rates. Both chambers are expected to consider existing legislation that would enact a statewide ban on student cell phone use in public schools.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) will withdraw its 502-page proposed disease-tracking and vaccination regulations after receiving more than 10,000 public comments opposing the policies. The proposed rules, which aimed to update communicable disease protocols, faced intense backlash from residents and Republican lawmakers who argued the provisions mirrored restrictive pandemic-era mandates by granting health officials the authority to enter private properties and schools to investigate outbreaks or review vaccination records. The Shapiro administration plans to revise and resubmit the public health rules once the stakeholder feedback is incorporated, a move praised by Republicans as a victory against executive overreach and by Democrats as an example of responsive governance.
The Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed a resolution urging state lawmakers to ban or establish strict regulations for automatic license plate reader technology, citing widespread civil liberties, equity, and privacy concerns. The local resolution aligns with several pending proposals in the state legislature aimed at creating oversight or enacting moratoriums on the cameras. While a separate debate over municipal waste disposal policies was also featured at the session, Councilmember Rue Landau underscored the necessity of state intervention to control the emerging license-plate reading technology that currently remains widely unregulated across the commonwealth.
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) stood as the sole Democrat to join Republicans in a 49-50 vote defeating a war powers resolution that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. military forces from hostilities with Iran without explicit congressional authorization. The vote marked the fourteenth time the Senate has considered a measure to curtail the conflict, which Senator Fetterman firmly supports as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, despite mounting Democratic criticism, rising fuel prices, and a decline in his approval ratings among party voters. Days later during an appearance at the Texas Tribune Festival, Fetterman defended his status as a committed Democrat, dismissed speculation that he intends to switch parties or register as an independent, and declined to speculate on how he might vote if Democrats secure a 51-seat majority following the midterm elections.
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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.
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.
September 29, 2026
September 28, 2026
September 28, 2026
