Last Week in the Legislature
Source: PA Chamber of Business & Industry
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives returned to committee session last week, concluding the process of budget hearings on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 spending proposal and advancing legislation that would amend and expand the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
Human Relations Act expansion (H.B. 300; Kenyatta)
The House Judiciary Committee voted 14-12 to advance House Bill 300 last Tuesday.
Public discussion and the bill’s cosponsor memo exclusively focus on amending the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to add sexual orientation, gender identity or expression as protected classes, which the PA Chamber supports.
The actual language of H.B. 300, however, amends the PHRA more broadly, including by expanding protections to include individuals that are “actual or perceived” members of any protected class. “Perceived” is not included in the federal Civil Rights Act and we believe its proposed inclusion in the PHRA should be more carefully considered, as it raises several important questions regarding compliance standards.
We advised lawmakers that committee members, the regulated community, and the general public deserve an opportunity to ask and discuss these questions before the legislation moves forward (CLICK HERE for our memo). The bill now advances to the full House.
Higher ed hearings spotlight affordability, workforce needs, and long-term sustainability
The House Appropriations Committee concluded its annual budget hearings last week, with sessions focused on transportation, public safety, revenue, aging, higher education, the Office of the Budget, and health-related agencies.
Of these, Wednesday’s higher education hearings were of particular relevance to Pennsylvania’s business community, as the state’s many colleges and universities are central to our workforce pipeline and economic future.
During the hearings, leaders from Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), and community colleges argued that the flat funding proposed in the governor’s budget puts added pressure on these institutions.
Several institutions said additional state funding would help them avoid or limit tuition increases, while lawmakers pressed school leaders on enrollment declines, campus closures, consolidation efforts, and whether Pennsylvania’s higher ed landscape is properly aligned with current demographic trends.
The discussion reflected a broader challenge facing the commonwealth: how to maintain strong, accessible postsecondary options while also recognizing the fiscal pressures confronting the state budget. Institutions pointed to rising operating costs, changing student demographics, and growing demand for more flexible and career-focused learning models, including online programs and workforce training.
Community colleges and PASSHE schools highlighted their roles in meeting employer needs, sharing examples of successful workforce partnerships supporting manufacturing, health care, and first-responder training. That connection to workforce development is especially important as Pennsylvania works to strengthen its competitiveness and build a deeper talent pipeline.
One major takeaway from Wednesday’s hearings was that higher education leaders and lawmakers are both grappling with the same key issue: how best to position Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities to serve students, employers, and regional economies in a challenging fiscal environment. As budget negotiations play out over the coming months, this will remain a key issue to watch.