Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (CPS), the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Donovan W. Pepper as principal and director of national strategic partnerships.
State Treasurer Stacy Garrity (R) announced that interest will be forgiven on $42.2 million in loans provided to counties and human service organizations during the months-long budget impasse, following a new provision in the recently passed state budget. The move aims to ease financial strain on 62 recipient organizations, including Pre-K programs and crisis centers, while clarifying that future treasurers cannot issue similar loans without legislative approval. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.
Pennsylvania’s new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit will provide low- and moderate-income workers a refundable credit equal to 10% of their federal Earned Income Tax Credit, benefiting nearly 1 million residents starting in the 2025 tax year. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
The state legislature passed a $647 million appropriation for Pennsylvania’s state-subsidized universities, keeping general funding flat for Penn State, Pitt, and Temple while providing small increases for Lincoln University and select programs. PennLive has more.
Pennsylvania’s new state budget provides an $11 million annual increase for food assistance programs, including direct funding for food banks, to address rising demand and recent disruptions caused by federal benefit delays and a prolonged budget impasse. WESA has more.
Pennsylvania lawmakers passed the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act, amending the state Human Relations Act to ban discrimination based on hair texture or style and clarify protections for religious head coverings, with Governor Josh Shapiro (D) expected to sign it. PennLive has more.
Pennsylvania and its local governments have obligated almost all federal ARPA funds, with 92% of the state’s allocation already spent and the remainder expected to be used by the end of 2026. Spotlight PA has more.
S&P Global Ratings affirmed Pennsylvania’s A+ rating on general obligation bonds (GO) and revised the outlook to stable from positive, citing governance risks and slowing credit momentum following a months-long budget impasse. S&P Global has more.
Pennsylvania’s iGaming market hit an all-time U.S. record in October with $312.5 million in revenue, surpassing $300 million for the first time and widening its lead over New Jersey and Michigan. Play Pennsylvania has more.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker (D) signed an executive order replacing race- and gender-based contracting goals with a system that gives preference to businesses classified as “small and local,” while setting benchmarks and providing support to help these firms compete for city contracts. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
The Philadelphia City Council postponed approval of the first-year budget for the $800 million Housing Opportunities Made Easy (HOME) Initiative, delaying bond sales and program rollout as members seek changes to spending priorities and income eligibility. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
Three Philadelphia restaurants received Michelin stars and 31 others were honored, marking the first appearance of the city and state in the prestigious guide and boosting its profile as a major dining destination. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
The Pittsburgh City Council will debate legislation to halt consultant contracts and reassess whether remaining work on the citywide plan can be completed in-house, citing financial concerns and potential savings. WESA has more.
The City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and school district approved an agreement giving the Land Bank first bid at sheriff’s sales and reducing title clearance time from two years to nine months, aiming to speed redevelopment of blighted properties and support affordable housing projects. WESA has more.
The Allegheny County Council unanimously approved steep increases to air quality permit fees for major polluters, raising annual maintenance fees for facilities like U.S. Steel’s plants from $8,000 to $55,000 and boosting renewal costs to $20,000 to help fund the county’s under-resourced Air Quality Program. Pittsburgh’s Public Source has more.
All 17 Pennsylvania U.S. House members voted for the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which passed Congress overwhelmingly and directs the Justice Department to release unclassified records on Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days of President Trump’s signature. PoliticsPA has more.
The U.S. Department of Energy approved a $1 billion loan to help Constellation Energy restart Unit 1 at the former Three Mile Island plan, renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center, to supply clean power for Microsoft data centers, with operations expected to begin in 2027. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.
Managing Director
Senior Principal
Executive Vice President
Senior Principal
Principal
Principal
Legislative Analyst
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.
November 20, 2025
November 20, 2025
November 19, 2025
