Legislative Action

On November 19, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2024-04(opens in a new tab), creating the Pennsylvania (PA) Permit Fast Track Program to streamline the Commonwealth’s permitting process for key economic development and infrastructure projects, increase transparency, and accelerate timelines to ensure state government delivers results quickly and efficiently. PA Permit Fast Track builds on Governor Shapiro’s proven track record of improving the Commonwealth’s permitting processes, reducing wait times for businesses, workers, students, and the general public — making Pennsylvania more competitive by ensuring the Commonwealth is moving at the speed of business.

The Executive Order directs the Office of Transformation & Opportunity (OTO) to lead the PA Permit Fast Track Program (Fast Track). OTO will be responsible for developing, managing, and coordinating permitting for complex and impactful economic development and infrastructure projects across government agencies and private partners in order to get project sponsors answers in a timely manner. The office will also work closely with project sponsors and oversee updates to the Fast Track dashboard, a publicly accessible online tool designed to ensure accountability for both state agencies and project sponsors. You can view the dashboard here(opens in a new tab).

“When I became Governor, I promised to make state government work efficiently and effectively for Pennsylvanians, breaking down barriers and creating real opportunity for the good people of our Commonwealth. By streamlining permitting processes and focusing on results, we’re not just creating jobs and driving economic growth — we’re getting stuff done for the people of Pennsylvania and putting points on the board,” said Governor Shapiro. “The PA Permit Fast Track Program is a game-changer that enhances coordination and communication between the project sponsor and state agencies to cut through red tape, streamline critical projects, and give businesses the confidence to invest and create jobs here in Pennsylvania. We’re proving that government can move at the speed of business and we’re building a stronger, more competitive Commonwealth where folks want to live, work, and build their future.”

“Governor Shapiro knows that to win the competition to attract and retain companies and jobs, we need a government that moves at the speed of business. That’s why he made responsive government a core goal of his economic development strategy,” said OTO’s Chief Transformation Officer Ben Kirshner. “The PA Permit Fast Track program is in line with the Governor’s vision and gives us a new tool to deliver coordination, accountability, and transparency for permitting big, complex projects here in the Commonwealth, increasing Pennsylvania’s competitiveness.”

How Fast Track Works

The Fast Track Program identifies key economic development projects and assists with permitting processes by organizing agency meetings, coordinating key parts of the project, and enhancing transparency and accountability through a public-facing online dashboard. By leveraging interagency collaboration and streamlined processes, the program aims to:

• Enhance Project Coordination: OTO will oversee the program, working closely with project sponsors to manage timelines, milestones, and agency cooperation.

• Support Critical Projects: Eligible projects include key economic development and infrastructure projects aligned with the Governor’s Economic Development Strategy(opens in a new tab).

• Create Transparency: Modeled after the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council’s FAST-41 Program, the dashboard(opens in a new tab) tracks the progress of projects, permitting timelines, feedback from project sponsors, and provides accountability for both state agencies and project sponsors.

The Fast Track Program is designed to help project sponsors better understand and meet permitting requirements, reducing costly delays by coordinating meetings across state agencies and getting sponsors answers to their questions efficiently. Every permit submitted through Fast Track is still subject to the same rigorous review as every other application across the Commonwealth.

This year, OTO piloted Fast Track with three key economic development projects. Governor Shapiro signed the Executive Order while visiting one of those projects – the Bellwether District in Philadelphia, a 1,300-acre logistics and innovation campus on the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery site. This transformative development includes substantial remediation work and is projected to create 19,000 direct permanent jobs.

“Transforming a site of this scale and creating thousands of new jobs requires business, government, labor, and institutions to work together — along with a little imagination and a lot of grit. I firmly believe that together, we will show that in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we can innovate and accomplish big things,” said Roberto Perez, CEO, HRP Group, developer for the Bellwether District.

Two additional projects are underway: Project Hazelnut in Luzerne County — a 1,300-acre transformative technology campus featuring advanced infrastructure with server rooms, power distribution, cooling systems, and network connectivity for maximum redundancy and scalability — and Martinsburg Community Digester in Blair County — located at Metzler Farm, the community-scale anaerobic digester will convert manure from over 10 local dairy farms into biogas for UGI’s pipeline.

"We proudly stand alongside Governor Shapiro and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in advancing economic growth and opportunity,” said Brian Stahl, Vice President of Development, NorthPoint Development. “Today’s Executive Order strengthens the critical partnership between economic development projects and permitting agencies, fostering a streamlined, transparent, and effective process. This collaboration accelerates investments, creates meaningful jobs, generates vital tax revenue, and further strengthens the economy for all Pennsylvanians."

“The Fast Track Program provides businesses with the certainty and predictability they need to make strategic decisions and minimize potential risks,” said Chellie Cameron, President & CEO, The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. “When business leaders can rely on accurate forecasting, they can confidently pursue opportunities that create jobs and drive greater economic growth for Pennsylvania and the Greater Philadelphia region.”

“Governor Shapiro knows that to create jobs and put the men and women of the Philadelphia building trades to work, we must make Pennsylvania a place where businesses want to invest,” said Ryan Boyer, Business Manager of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council. “Meaningful permitting reform is long overdue, and Governor Shapiro is making it a reality—building on his track record of moving government at the speed of business and supporting an economy that provides good, family-sustaining jobs here in the Philadelphia region and beyond.”

Governor Shapiro’s Work to Improve Commonwealth Permitting

From day one, Governor Shapiro has taken significant steps to improve the delivery of government services, streamline the Commonwealth’s permitting, licensing, and certification processes, and attract businesses to Pennsylvania. The Shapiro Administration has:

• Established OTO(opens in a new tab) within two weeks of Governor Shapiro taking office and charged the office with improving(opens in a new tab) the Commonwealth’s permitting, licensing, and certification (PLC) processes.

• Created first-ever catalogue(opens in a new tab) of more than 2,400 PLCs issued by the state, allowing the Shapiro Administration to identify and resolve bottlenecks in order to give Pennsylvanians more certainty and deliver answers more efficiently.

• Launched PAyback.pa.gov(opens in a new tab), a first-in-the-nation online money-back guarantee system, allowing residents, businesses, charities, and schools to hold state agencies accountable when processing PLCs.

• Reduced processing time(opens in a new tab) for PLCs for teachers, nurses, realtors, barbers, hair stylists, cosmetologists, and more. For example, when Governor Shapiro took office, it took 8 weeks to get a business license. Now, it takes less than 3 days. It used to take nearly a month to get an initial physical therapist license. Now, it takes just 2 days. It took used to take 12 weeks to get an initial teacher certification. Now, it takes less than 2 weeks.

• Boosted Pennsylvania’s competitiveness(opens in a new tab), making it more attractive than ever for businesses and workers. Since Governor Shapiro took office, corporate filing wait times have dropped from 8 weeks to 2 days, small business certification times are down by 33 percent, and cosmetology and barbershop licenses are now processed the same day instead of nearly 2 weeks. Additionally, the Department of Human Services cleared a backlog of 35,000 Medicaid provider enrollment applications, and the Department of Environmental Protection reduced its permit backlog by 67 percent, or nearly 1,300 permits.

With the launch of Fast Track, Governor Shapiro is furthering his commitment to making the Commonwealth a place where government works to create real opportunities — allowing Pennsylvanians the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed.

Read more about Executive Order 2024-04, PA Permit Fast Track Program, here(opens in a new tab).

Former President Trump won Pennsylvania with his results in the Commonwealth leading directly to his return to the White House in 2025. Trump’s win also influenced other campaigns within Pennsylvania.

While not officially declared, it appears that Dave McCormick (R) has defeated longtime incumbent Bob Casey for the US Senate seat. Republican candidates also won all three statewide row offices – Dave Sunday for the open Attorney General position, incumbents Stacy Garrity for Treasurer and Tim DeFoor for Auditor General respectively. Republican challengers also bested two incumbent Democrat US House members in the 7^th (Mackenzie) and 8^th (Bresnahan) Congressional districts. Incumbent Republican Scott Perry also likely prevailed in his re-election.

Despite many close races in the PA General Assembly, Senate Republicans will return next session with the same 6 seat Republican majority in the Pennsylvania Senate (28-22), while the House Democrats managed to stem the “Red Wave”, and maintain their one seat Democrat majority, after neither party was able to flip any state House seats this cycle.

Two seats did flip in the Senate. In the 5^th Senate District, incumbent Democrat and freshman James Dillon (Philadelphia) was defeated by Republican Joe Picozzi. This was countered by Democrat Patty Kim winning in the 15^th SD replacing Republican John DiSanto in Dauphin County.

The PA General Assembly returned to session briefly after the November 5 elections, to wind up its legislative business, and set up the respective caucus leadership teams for the new session, which begins on January 5. As has become customary in recent sessions, only a small handful of bills were voted on after the election break, none of interest to PSPE.

With the results of the elections returning the House and Senate to the same split majorities as the current one, there were some shakeups in the leadership rosters, particularly in the House Republican caucus, as Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) announced he would not run for another term in leadership, and was replaced by Jesse Topper. Topper is considered a conservative who is known for “reaching across the aisle” to work with his colleagues on important issues. House Republicans also replaced their Appropriations Chairman, Seth Grove, with Indiana Rep. Jim Struzzi, while David Rowe of Union County unseated Policy Chair Josh Kail, while Whip Tim O’Neal of Washington County held on to his position. Tioga County Rep. Clint Owlett rounded out the new team, succeeding the retiring Donna Oberlander.

Meanwhile, the House Democrats, who defied the national “red wave” trend to maintain their one seat majority, reinstalled most of their existing team, with the exception of the Whip position, formerly held by Dan Miller, who did not seek a re-appointment.

In the Senate, the Republican leadership team remained intact, while Senate D’s elected a new Caucus Chair and Policy Committee Chair.

The House and Senate Committee chairs will be appointed in December, and announced probably in January, along with the committee rosters.

2025 House Leadership

Speaker: Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia)

Democratic Leadership:

Leader: Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery)

Whip: Mike Schlossberg (D-Lehigh)

Appropriations Chairman: Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia)

Caucus Chair: Rob Matzie (D-Beaver) – Mike Schlossberg

Caucus Secretary: Tina Davis (D-Bucks)

Caucus Administrator: Leanne Krueger (D-Delaware)

Policy Chair: Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie)

2025 Republican Leadership:

Leader: Jesse Topper (R-Bedford)

Whip: Tim O’Neal (R-Washington)

Appropriations Chairman: Jim Struzzi (R-Indianna)

Caucus Chair: Martina White (R-Philadelphia)

Caucus Secretary: Clint Owlett (R-Tioga)

Caucus Administrator: Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland)

Policy Chair: David Rowe (R-Union)

2025 Senate Leadership

President Pro Tempore: Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland)

Senate Republican Leadership:

Leader: Joe Pittman (R-Indiana)

Whip: Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster)

Appropriations Chair: Scott Martin (R-Lancaster)

Caucus Chair: Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York)

Caucus Secretary: Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington)

Caucus Administrator: Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne)

Policy Committee Chair: Dan Laughlin (R-Erie)

Senate Democratic Leadership:

Leader: Jay Costa (D-Allegheny)

Whip: Tina Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia)

Appropriations Chair: Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia)

Caucus Chair: Maria Collett (D-Montgomery)

Caucus Secretary: Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks)

Caucus Administrator: Judy Schwank (D-Berks)

Policy Chair: Nick Miller (D-Lehigh)

The State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists met on November 13, via hybrid meeting format. Following are the highlights.

∙ Board President Joe McNally, PG, presided, and welcomed the members. He had no further report.  

∙ Board member reports: Lisa Peterson, PE, reported that the NCEES Committee, on licensing will meeting in December. Martin Helmke reported that he and Joe McNally attended the ASBOG meeting, which was very interesting.

∙ Board Prosecution Liaison Ray Michalowski, Esq. reported that there were no cases to be voted this meeting. He suggested that someone from the Prosecutions Division should attend the offsite Board meeting next September, to discuss the new Citations system for handling CE cases and minor infractions, to alleviate Board member time.

∙ Board Counsel Ashley Goshert, Esq., presented one case for the board to consider, and another which was tabled from the September meeting. She deferred to Marc Farrell for the regulatory report who reported that there were no open regulations currently, but he would start to look at new reg packages to address Ethics, and Act 32. He said the new regs won’t be ready until sometime in 2025.

∙ Acting Commissioner Arion Claggett reported that Systems Automations is the new vendor to replace PALS, which should be in place in late 2025.

∙ Board Administrator Kristel Hennessey Hemler noted that the Board needed to approve Board member attendance at the April NCEES meeting in Cambridge, MA. Peterson, Reeser and Kudlawiec were approved.

∙ President McNally noted his USQ would be ending in December, so new officers needed to be elected. Robert Kudlawiec, PE, was nominated and unanimously elected President. G. Windsor Tracey, PLS, was elected Vice President.

∙ Hemler presented Jim Szalankiewicz, PE/PLS, a plaque recognizing him on the conclusion of 12 years of service on the Registration Board. The Board gave a well-deserved round of applause for his tenure. 

∙ The Board heard a presentation from Amanda Richards, Fiscal Management Supervisor, Bureau of Finance and Procurement. 32,193 licensees overall, 28, 230 PEs. She did NOT recommend a fee increase. The last fee increase was in 2017.

The next meeting is January 30, 2025, with both in-person and virtual options for attendees, at the new location, 2525 N. 7^th Street, Harrisburg. Public Session begins at 11 AM

2025 dates: January 30, March 27, May 15, July 24, September 18 (York College), November 13

2026 dates: January 14, March 18, May 20, July 22, September 23, December 2

2027 dates: January 13, March 10, May 12, July 14, September 15, November 17

HB2661 RE: Comprehensive, Permanent Permit Reform (by Rep. Jill N. Cooper, et al)

Amends the Administrative Code, adding an article to provide for permit approval. Provides definitions. Outlines the process for filing an application and establishes a timeframe of 30 days for the permitting process. Asserts that an application is administratively complete if the application contains the necessary information or other information requested in the application, notwithstanding whether the necessary information or other information supplied in the application is sufficient to approve the application. Provides for disagreements between the agency and the applicant and for presumption. Provides for an application determined by the agency to be administratively incomplete, stating it shall be returned to the applicant within 10 days. Outlines identification and tolling. Directs the agency to approve the application if the laws governing the applicable permit are satisfied. Establishes how an administratively complete application shall be deemed approved. Gives the Commonwealth Court original jurisdiction of all civil actions or proceedings brought under this article. Provides for if there is a conflict between this article and another statute.

Introduced, 11/8/2024

Referred to House State Government Committee, 11/12/2024

SB1319 RE: Continuing Education for Architects and Certified Interior Designers (by Sen. Frank A. Farry, et al)

Amends the Architects Licensure Law, further providing for title of act, for short title, adding the provision of interior design services as a certified interior designer and providing for the certification of interior designers, for declaration of purpose, provides for definitions, for creation of board and appointment and term of members and officers, for organization of board, adding a director’s designee and two members who shall represent the public at large and one member who shall be a certified interior designer, for powers of board, for duties of board, for examination and qualification of applicants, for reciprocal licensing, prohibits an individual from the practice of architecture or use of the title of architect without being issued a license by the board, provides for a biennial renewal of architects and requires a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education in the subject areas of health, safety and welfare and verification of jurisdiction, documentation of successful completion of the continuing education requirement and allows for an individual who is applying for initial licensure to be exempt from continuing education requirements, allows the board to waive all or part of the continuing education requirements issuance and renewal of certificates, for payment and disposition of fees and for seal of architect; providing for architectural firm registration and for architectural firm names; further providing for permitted practices, for existing licenses, for existing rules and regulations and for unauthorized practice prohibited; providing for certification of interior designers, requires an applicant for certification submit evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant has met the eligibility requirements to take a national certification exam, allows the board to establish a grading procedure, interview an applicant and issue a certificate to an individual who is certified in another state or country where the qualifications are equivalent; further providing for disciplinary proceedings, for penalties and for complaint procedure and hearings; providing for the board to establish expiration on certificates and renewal fees; further providing for the board to promulgate any regulations necessary to implement this act, provides for severability, for repeals and for effective date; and making editorial changes. Changes the section number for the section that asserts this act shall take effect immediately. Effective in 60 days.

Approved by the Governor, 10/31/2024 Act No. 144 of 2024