Pennsylvania legislature on track to pass fewest bills since 1973

A Spotlight PA analysis indicates the Pennsylvania General Assembly is on track to pass fewer individual pieces of legislation than in any two-year session since 1973-74. As lawmakers conclude their final week of voting, a substantial list of bipartisan proposals remains unresolved, forcing those issues back to the starting line for the next legislative cycle. The low productivity stems from sustained tension between the Republican-led state Senate and the Democratic-controlled state House.

One major casualty of the gridlock is the regulation of skill games. Following a June state Supreme Court ruling that declared the machines illegal, lawmakers had until last week to establish a regulatory framework before the machines disappeared from bars, restaurants, and convenience stores. House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, a Democrat from Montgomery County, stated that leaders from both chambers reached a deal during closed-door talks. However, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, a Republican from Indiana County, noted that the Senate could not secure the necessary votes to advance the legislation. No bills to regulate and tax the industry received a floor vote this session, despite broad support for legalization.

Another stalled measure concerns the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse survivors. Both chambers have repeatedly passed amendments to create a two-year window for survivors to file lawsuits. The state House passed its latest proposal in June, but the Senate has not acted this session. Former House Speaker Mark Rozzi, a Democrat from Berks County and survivor of abuse by a Catholic priest, attributed the inaction to Senate Republican leadership. He stated that victims who have waited for this law deserve their day in court. The issue previously failed to reach a ballot referendum in 2021 due to a clerical error by the Wolf administration.

Context for the legislative standoff includes the upcoming November election, where Democrats hope to flip the state Senate. State Sen. Marty Flynn, a Democrat from Lackawanna County, described the current state of affairs as stupid, accusing Senate Republicans of only running bills when an underlying trade exists with House Democrats. A spokesperson for state Senate Republicans, Kate Flessner, countered that the caucus has protected taxpayers and defended constitutional freedoms. Governor Josh Shapiro, an expected 2028 presidential candidate, has blamed the Senate Republican majority for intransigence. He plans to sign a bill banning K-12 cellphones during the school day at a public event next week. Lawmakers have only a handful of voting days remaining before the next session begins in January.

The legislative impasse has left several other issues unresolved. Republicans sought to enact stricter voter identification requirements, but the House has not sent a proposal to the Senate. On data centers, only one measure reached the governor's desk, mandating disclosure of energy and water usage for facilities using more than 10 megawatts annually. The House passed additional bills aimed at limiting tax breaks and preventing data centers from obtaining public utility status. These measures remain incomplete as the session draws to a close.