Pennsylvania Perspective for Thursday, July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

Pennsylvania

Gov. Shapiro Warns About Medicaid Cuts, Rural Hospital Closures

During a press conference in York on Monday, Governor Josh Shapiro (D) sharply criticized Pennsylvania Republicans for supporting a federal reconciliation bill that slashes Medicaid and SNAP funding, warning it could devastate rural hospitals and strip coverage from hundreds of thousands. Pennie, Pennsylvania’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, predicts that 250,000 customers could lose coverage if Congress fails to extend the subsidies that make health insurance affordable, with 150,000 of those individuals potentially losing coverage as soon as next year.

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PA’s Sunday Hunting Ban Lifted

On Wednesday, Gov. Shapiro signed a bill repealing Pennsylvania’s ban on Sunday hunting. The law will also grant the Pennsylvania Game Commission greater power in regulating hunting seasons and place more stringent rules on trespassing. WHYY has more.

Bipartisan Bill to Legalize Adult-Use Marijuana Introduced in State Senate

On Thursday, state Senators Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) and Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) filed their much-anticipated bill to legalize marijuana for adult use in the Commonwealth. According to the press release, the bill would “create a regulated, equitable framework for cannabis use, cultivation and sales, while merging oversight of both medical and adult-use programs under a new independent Pennsylvania Cannabis Control Board.”

Rep. Meuser Declines Gubernatorial Run

U.S. Representative Dan Meuser (R-PA-09) has announced that he will not be running for governor in 2026, despite having expressed interest and President Donald Trump expressing support for Rep. Meuser’s potential candidacy. Meanwhile, state Treasurer Stacey Garrity is expected to announce “very soon” whether she will launch her own gubernatorial campaign.

PA Ranks Among Top 3 States for Government AI Readiness

A new report by Code for America ranks Pennsylvania as one of the top three U.S. states in AI readiness, citing strong leadership, infrastructure, and workforce training. The state’s partnerships with Carnegie Mellon and major investments like Amazon’s $20 billion data center project have positioned it as a national leader in responsible AI adoption. City & State Pennsylvania has more.

Data Center Boom in PA Sparks Fears of Rising Electric Bills

As tech companies continue planning massive data center expansions in Pennsylvania, experts warn the surge in electricity demand could drive up power prices and strain the grid. Advocates are urging state regulators to ensure data centers pay their fair share for infrastructure upgrades and do not shift costs onto everyday consumers. WESA has more.

Philadelphia

Mayor Parker, DC33 Strike Deal

The Parker administration reached a deal with AFSCME District Council 33 early Wednesday morning, ending the first trash strike in nearly 40 years. The three-year contract includes an annual 3% raise for workers and the establishment of a fifth pay threshold in the union pay scale, projected to lift veteran and DC33 salaries by an additional 2%. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

SEPTA Prepares for 20% Service Cut

SEPTA is preparing two fall schedules—one with normal service and another with deep cuts starting August 24—should the General Assembly fail to allocate sufficient funding to public transit in the FY26 state budget. The agency is warning riders, updating systems, and planning widespread changes. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

Waymo to Begin Testing Self-Driving Cars in Philly

Waymo is launching manual test drives of its autonomous vehicles in Philadelphia to familiarize its technology with the city. While public rides are not yet available, the move signals a potential future expansion as the company awaits approval for autonomous testing in Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

City’s Final Phase of Public School Building Overhaul Nears End

The Philadelphia School District is preparing to close, consolidate, or reconfigure schools as part of a sweeping facilities plan aimed at addressing under-enrollment and aging infrastructure, including a four-pronged schematic designed to determine what happens to each location. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Anti-Violence Fund Overhaul Approved

The Pittsburgh City Council unanimously voted to approve a robust restructuring effort of the City’s Stop the Violence Fund. Critics claim that the program lacked supervision, prompting the City Council to greenlight amendments that will formalize oversight and maximize the program’s operational stability. WESA has more.

Pittsburgh City Council Unanimously Approves LGBTQ Protections

The Pittsburgh City Council unanimously passed three bills broadening and enhancing LGBTQ protections. Two of the bills focus on shielding Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ community from foreseeable federal restrictions, while the third bill proactively decriminalizes trans medical care should the federal government prohibit it. WESA has more.

Allegheny County Joins Immigration Lawsuit Against Trump Admin 

Allegheny County has requested to join California and 33 other cities and counties across the nation in a lawsuit against the Trump administration for withholding federal funding due to sanctuary policies. Notably, the move came after the Supreme Court decided to restrict the implementation of nationwide injunctions, requiring cities and states to be part of a joint lawsuit to qualify for injunctive relief in their jurisdictions. Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.

Federal

DOJ Seeking Answers Regarding Voter Rolls in PA

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has requested that Pennsylvania disclose extensive information regarding its voter registration governance. Although the Department justified its information request with the Help America Vote Act, election lawyer David Becker claims that the DOJ does not possess the authority to request such data. Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.

State Rep. Rabb, Philly Doctor Announce Congressional Candidacies for PA-03

State Representative Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) and Philadelphia doctor Dave Oxman each announced campaigns for the 3rd Congressional District this week, both aiming to fill the seat of retiring U.S. Representative Dwight Evans.

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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