Several key legislative issues could see policy take shape in Pennsylvania’s State Capitol in 2025.
Pennsylvania is facing what could become a pivotal year in Harrisburg in 2025.
On the budgetary side, the Governor’s budget address will take place in early February. Governor Shapiro is looking to legalize cannabis for adult recreational use and eliminating medical debt for low-income Pennsylvanians. These initiatives could present themselves in his budget proposal for 2025.
On the legislative side, lawmakers are beginning to introduce various bills and proposals. Many of these new proposals are related to regulating technology across the Commonwealth. Democratic state Representative Ed Neilson and Republican state Representative Stephanie Scialabba have partnered again on legislation that would establish a set of rights for consumers and their digital data.
Republican state Representative Robert Leadbeter plans to introduce another personal data privacy bill that would limit the collection and storage of personal data by state and local governments, while also requiring transparency from businesses concerning their collection and sharing of data.
In the state Senate, Democratic state Representatives Maria Collett and Lisa Boscola have introduced a bill that would allow consumers to know what personal information is being collected. The bill would also prevent the sale of their data and information.
Besides digital privacy, artificial intelligence regulation could make its way into the State Capitol this year. Democratic state Representative Chris Pielli plans to reintroduce two bills focused on artificial intelligence. One bill would create a first-degree misdemeanor penalty for sharing AI-generated content of another person without their consent. The other bill would require disclosure on all AI-generated content that is used to sell consumer goods.
State Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman said that he wants to see the legislature address roadway infrastructure and mass transit as a package.
A set of bills that would have codified patient protections from the Affordable Care Act into state law failed to reach the Senate floor in 2024. These bills will need to be moved through committee before another floor vote can be held.
State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa plans to reintroduce a campaign finance reform proposal that would set campaign contribution limits in Pennsylvania and seek to curb foreign influence in Pennsylvania elections. The bill would also require campaigns to attach campaign credit card statements to campaign finance reports.
Republican State Senator Lisa Baker has also introduced a similar proposal that would require people and organizations that make independent expenditures to disclose their top five contributors.
State Representative Russ Diamond plans to introduce a constitutional amendment to repeal mail-in voting. House State Government Committee Republican Chair Brad Roae suggested the state suspend mail-in voting for the next three years.
Lawmakers are heading into the 2025-2026 state congressional term with bold plans for legislative reform and a packed agenda. Votes in Harrisburg could bring significant change in the coming months.
