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State Lawmakers Head to Capitol for Swearing-In Day, Start of 2025-26 Legislative Session

Pennsylvania state lawmakers will be sworn in tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 7, marking the beginning of the 2025-26 legislative session. The partisan makeup of the General Assembly will remain unchanged this session, with Republicans controlling the state Senate by a 28-22 margin and Democrats retaining their narrow 102-101 majority in the state House.

With the new session underway, lawmakers are expected to renew their focus on education and transportation funding, while debates over how to manage state finances are likely to take center stage ahead of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address on Feb. 4. The governor’s proposal, and the appropriations hearings that follow, will shape the spending agreement for the fiscal year starting July 1 and help determine Pennsylvania’s economic direction.

As always, the PA Chamber will work with lawmakers on policies that enhance our state’s competitiveness and help create opportunities for employers and employees alike. Our key priorities for this upcoming session include:

  • Tax reform: building on recent wins, like the elimination of the startup tax, to further reduce barriers for businesses and enhance Pennsylvania’s competitiveness.
  • Continued permitting modernization: ensuring successful implementation of new laws and expanding efforts to streamline state regulatory processes to accelerate economic development and infrastructure projects.
  • Workforce development: encouraging employment and removing barriers to ensure all Pennsylvanians have the opportunity to participate in the economy; and supporting effective educational and training programs to build a skilled talent pipeline.
  • Transportation funding: developing a forward-looking, adaptable, and comprehensive funding model that includes all aspects of transportation.
  • Energy: supporting policies to ensure Pennsylvania maintains its status as a global energy leader and can utilize our natural resources to power our economy with affordable energy.

To learn more about our legislative priorities for the 2025-26 session, visit www.pachamber.org/advocacy.

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Founded in 1916, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of BusinessTM.