Article Summary –
Democratic lawmakers in Pennsylvania plan to push legislation in 2025 to increase the minimum wage, legalize recreational marijuana, promote gun safety, and protect reproductive rights, despite needing cooperation from the Republican-controlled Senate. After regaining control of the state House in 2023, Democrats had previously passed bills to boost the minimum wage and protect access to contraception, but these were not considered by Senate Republicans. House leaders aim to focus on issues expected to be targeted by the incoming Trump administration, such as healthcare and reproductive rights, while also working to expand tax credits, increase affordable housing, and enhance public transportation funding.
After retaining their one-seat majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Democrats plan to push bills in 2025 for minimum wage hikes, legalizing recreational marijuana, gun safety, and reproductive rights. The Republican-controlled Senate must pass these, backed by the public, to reach Gov. Josh Shapiro.
House leaders aim to counter the incoming Trump administration’s expected attacks on health care and reproductive rights.
After regaining control of the state House in 2023, Democrats passed bills to boost the minimum wage to $15 by 2026, require background checks for military-style weapon purchases, and protect contraception access.
Senate Republicans, in control since 1994, did not vote on the Democratic bills. Gov. Shapiro likely would have signed them if passed.
Democratic leaders plan to reintroduce similar bills next year, hoping for more Senate support, as polls show broad support.
“I’m hoping that now that we’ve got one term in the majority under our belt, we’re going to be able to operate a little bit smoother, pass more of our priorities, and, frankly, ideally, work with our colleagues in the Senate to actually get more things to the governor’s desk,” said Rep. Mike Schlossberg, a Democrat from Lehigh County who will serve as the House’s new whip.
Democratic leaders believe maintaining their House majority despite poor federal results will encourage GOP cooperation. Democrats couldn’t flip enough Senate seats for a tie but held on to seats in red districts, attributing success to popular economic policies.
“We were able to beat back well-funded special interests who were supporting our opponents and repelled a red wave in Pennsylvania’s House,” said House Speaker Joanna McClinton, the first woman to serve as her chamber’s speaker.
McClinton believes voters supported House Democrats for expanding a state program for property tax and rent rebates, boosting child care tax credits, helping seniors afford medication, and increasing education funding by $1.1 billion.
“As we go forward into the next session, 2025-2026, we want to double down on our cost-saving efforts,” said McClinton, whose district includes parts of Philadelphia and Delaware counties. “We want to keep on making sure that we respond to the issues that are the biggest concerns for our constituents, whether they’re like me, living in the big city, or living in rural or suburban communities.”
House leaders aim to expand the earned income tax credit, increase affordable housing access, reduce living costs, and boost funding for behavioral health and public transit.
House Leader Matt Bradford, a Democrat from Montgomery County, believes stalled Senate bills could progress, as Republicans recognize the sustained Democratic House majority.
“For good or for bad, I think most people — both sides, both parties, both chambers — recognize that the House Democratic majority has sustained probably one of the largest Republican waves in recent history, and that we need to get used to divided government, that we have an obligation to the people of the commonwealth to do their business,” Bradford said.
“My hope is, after last year, showing that we could make progress, that we will double down on that progress and take it to the next level,” Bradford continued.
House leaders focus on issues likely targeted by the Trump administration, such as health care and reproductive rights.
“I know under the Trump administration the Affordable Care Act is at risk,” McClinton said. “We’re going to work to codify the basic protections in the state law here in Pennsylvania. We passed a lot of bills in 2024 that we’re going to be reintroducing and passing again in the upcoming session to protect everyone’s access to health care.”
Trump aimed to repeal the ACA during his first presidency. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, promises “massive reform” of the ACA post-Trump inauguration.
Schlossberg said House Democrats will protect and expand reproductive care access. Abortion is legal through the 23rd week in Pennsylvania, but advocates warn this could change if Republicans gain legislative control or a federal ban occurs. Democrats introduced bills to safeguard abortion and reproductive health care, which Senate Republicans didn’t act on.
“We are not blind to what we’re walking into with the second Trump administration,” Schlossberg said. “That means the state legislatures are going to be more important than ever when it comes to protecting voting rights, women’s rights, access to health care, and making sure that we maintain public safety and law and order, something that unquestionably was not always a priority of the Trump administration.”
—
Read More Pennsylvania News
