HARRISBURG, PA − June 24, 2026 − Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucusgathered in the Main Capitol Rotunda today to champion bills, initiatives, and investments that will bring down the cost of housing for Pennsylvanians and empower renters.
“As the cost of housing and utilities continue to climb and burden Pennsylvania’s working families, Senate Democrats are keenly focused on fighting for a safe, affordable place to call home for every Pennsylvanian,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa. “Senate Democrats have been leading the way in the housing space, and we continue to advocate strongly for our colleagues across the aisle to join us in tackling the housing crisis facing our Commonwealth.”
Senators drew attention to the myriad successes the caucus has secured in the housing space over the past few years, including the creation of the Housing Opportunities Program, dramatic increases in funding to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, the creation of the Whole Home Repairs Program, and the passage of a Pittsburgh Longterm Owner Occupant Tax Exemption Program (LOOP).
However, despite these successes, Pennsylvania continues to lack the necessary affordable housing stock to ensure a safe, affordable home for every Pennsylvanian. As a part of the Governor’s Housing Action Plan, the Department of Community and Economic Development estimates that Pennsylvania will need to build 450,000 new housing units by 2035 to meet projected demand, but without a change in the rate of construction, will fall short by nearly 185,000 homes. Additionally, renters and manufactured homeowners continue to face skyrocketing costs and fees with hardly any legal protection from exploitation.
As of this morning, President Trump is withholding his signature from the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Bill, a landmark, bipartisan affordable housing bill in an attempt to disenfranchise millions of voters and rig future elections in his party’s favor.
As such, Senate Democrats highlighted bills at the state level that would remove barriers to homeownership, increase Pennsylvania’s affordable housing stock, and support renters. Some of those bills include:
- SB 549, which would seal or limit access to eviction records for PA tenants
- SB 1203, which would tackle “tangled titles” and remove barriers to homeownership
- SB 294, which would remove the cap on housing projects currently in the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) law, allowing the program to better support the housing needs of the Commonwealth and make significant progress on closing our housing unit gap.
- SB 746, which would protect residents of manufactured home communities from unjustified lot rent and fee increases, especially from private equity companies
“Affordable housing is really at the core of Pennsylvania’s affordability crisis,” said Senator Vincent Hughes. “Senate Democrats understand the need and we have solutions. Now it’s time for Senate Republicans to join us in getting those solutions over the finish line. We have the opportunity to lift up entire communities by securing these affordable housing investments and implementing commonsense policies that protect our homeowners.”
“The need for action is clear and urgent: hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania homes are estimated to need critical repairs, and nearly 17,000 people remain on program waitlists,” said Senator Nikil Saval. “Add on top utility bills and insurance rates, and it’s no wonder so many homeowners are struggling to afford repairs. The Pennsylvania Home Preservation Program is a major step toward disrupting the ongoing cycle of unaffordability and disrepair, speculation, and community displacement. We need to move this bill, pass it, and fund it for years to come.”
“Housing is a cause of angst for everyone from young families to seniors. No sector of our housing market is immune from steep price increases, including manufactured home communities,” said Senator Judy Schwank. “We have commonsense proposals to protect manufactured homeowners, most of whom are seniors, veterans, and folks with disabilities, from price gouging. This budget is a tremendous opportunity to take action and show Pennsylvanians that we are serious about finding solutions to our housing crisis.”
“One of the most important ways we can address the housing crisis is by cutting red tape and removing barriers to home ownership,” said Senator James Malone. “I introduced SB 1203 to help counties streamline small property title changes to help families of modest means more easily establish legal ownership of homes passed down to them. I’m proud to present this alongside Governor Shapiro and my colleagues’ other proposals, which will work on the housing crisis from multiple angles.”
Learn more about how Senate Democrats are fighting for safe, affordable homes for every Pennsylvanian at PASenate.com/Housing.
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HARRISBURG, PA − June 10, 2026 − Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) filed a discharge petition for House Bill 2189, introduced by Representative Dawkins. Passed along bipartisan lines in March, this bill would increase the minimum wage to $15 over the course of three years. The bill has languished in the Pennsylvania Senate for months awaiting action.
In urging Senate Republicans to take action and address the affordability crisis head-on by raising pay for thousands of workers, Senator Costa releases the following statement:
“It’s long past time to raise Pennsylvania’s pitiful minimum wage and deliver a meaningful wage increase for thousands of hard-working Pennsylvanians. We are an island among our neighboring states in our $7.25/hour minimum wage, and it’s a downright disgrace. The time is now to do the right thing, the smart thing, and the popular thing by raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage. By filing today’s discharge petition, Senate Democrats are standing in solidarity with every worker earning less than $15/hour in demanding family-sustaining wages for every Pennsylvanian.”
Earlier today, Senator Costa offered remarks at a Raise the Wage press conference, forcefully calling upon the Senate Republicans to move HB 2189.
Read more about the Senate Democrats’ Affordability Action Plan here.
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HARRISBURG, PA − June 10, 2026 − Today, members of the Senate Democratic Caucus rallied in support of a bill to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage from $7.25/hour, where it has stayed since 2009.
“Senate Republicans have no excuse for continuing to deny hardworking people the pay and dignity they deserve,” said Senator Art Haywood. “It is time for them to stand with working families and cast a vote for a fair, livable wage. Small businesses can even get a tax credit to help cover the cost if leadership will stop blocking the bill. We have the votes. We demand a vote.”
In a bipartisan vote in March 2026, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill 2189 which would increase the minimum wage to $15 over the course of three years. The bill currently awaits action in the Pennsylvania Senate.
Senate Democrats have also introduced numerous bills that would raise the wage for Pennsylvania’s workers, including the following:
- SB 19, introduced by Senator Tina Tartaglione
- SB 852, introduced by Senators Art Haywood and Patty Kim
- SB 889, introduced by Senators Steve Santarsiero and Maria Collett
Raising the minimum wage is a key pillar of the Senate Democrats’ Affordability Action Plan, a series of bills and legislative initiatives to improve wages and reduce costs as Pennsylvanians face an unprecedented affordability crisis. Governor Josh Shapiro has also repeatedly called for a raise in the minimum wage and has included a minimum wage increase in his budget proposal for 2026-2027.
Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa:
“Raising the minimum wage is the popular thing to do, the smart thing to do, and the right thing to do. As Pennsylvania’s families face an enormous affordability crisis, it’s up to the legislature to make sure that those who work for a living can earn a living. I urge Senate Republicans to join us as we fight to raise the wage.”
Statement from Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes:
“It has been 17 years since Pennsylvania raised the minimum wage,” said Senator Hughes. “To put this issue into perspective, every surrounding state has a higher minimum wage, with many already at $15 an hour. Don’t Pennsylvania workers deserve the same respect and value for their work?”
Statement from Senator Tina Tartaglione
“For nearly 20 years, Pennsylvania workers have watched the cost of everything go up while the minimum wage has stayed stuck at $7.25 an hour. The House has acted, Senate Democrats are ready to act, and working families cannot afford any more delays. As the budget deadline approaches, it’s time to stop talking about helping workers and finally raise the wage.”
Statement from Senator Patty Kim:
“The legislature has dragged its feet for far too long while the cost of living has skyrocketed far past what the federal minimum wage supports, wreaking havoc on hardworking families across the Commonwealth who are struggling to make ends meet. It is way past time for Pennsylvania to join the 34 other U.S. states, territories, and districts that have raised their minimum wage and given their workers the boost they so desperately need.”
Statement from Representative Matt Bradford:
“It’s disgraceful and immoral that we are stuck at $7.25 an hour, especially as the cost of groceries, gas, utilities and other necessities keep going up. House Democrats are proud that we have passed multiple bills to raise the minimum wage and that Governor Shapiro has prioritized this issue. I’m grateful Senate Democrats share our commitment to give our workers a much-needed raise, and I call on the Senate Republicans to pass this legislation now.”
Statement from Adam Goldman, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Unemployment Project:
“With the cost of living continuing to increase, workers should have a job market that provides wages you can actually get by on. It’s way past time to raise the minimum wage.”
Still photography and downloadable footage of today’s press conference are available upon request.
Learn more about the Senate Democrats’ Affordability Action Plan here.
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HARRISBURG, PA – June 10, 2026 − Today, Senate Democrats provided critical and necessary support for the successful passage of Senate Bill 908, which ensures that work done on public projects is included in the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act.
This bill, long championed by Senator Tina Tartaglione, ensures that off-site fabrication, including HVAC, sheet metal, and plumbing, among other work, must still meet Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage standards, ending a practice that allowed workers to be paid less for projects that would pay more if they were done onsite.
Senate Democrats united to defeat three amendments on the floor that would have rendered the bill unpassable. These amendments would have prevented workers from receiving proper and lawful wages.
In response to the passage of SB 908, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa offers the following statement:
“As steadfast supporters of Pennsylvania’s workers, Senate Democrats were pleased to get Senator Tartaglione’s legislation out of the Senate and to the House for consideration. This bill reflects our longstanding commitment to ensure that the hard-working men and women who contribute their labor to public projects are appropriately compensated for their skills and time. Our caucus is proud to stand with skilled Pennsylvania craftspeople, and we look forward to continuing to fight alongside our unions for prevailing wages.”
Further on the passage of SB 908, Senator Tina Targalione added the following:
“For too long, skilled Pennsylvania workers have been denied prevailing wage protections simply because critical parts of a public construction project were completed off-site. Senate Bill 908 modernizes our prevailing wage law to reflect the realities of today’s construction industry and ensures that workers performing custom fabrication work receive the fair wages they have earned. I am grateful to Leader Costa and my Senate Democratic colleagues for standing with Pennsylvania’s tradesmen and tradeswomen and helping move this important legislation one step closer to becoming law.”
Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats’ commitment to affordability for every Pennsylvanian here.
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HARRISBURG, PA — June 9, 2026 — Pennsylvania lawmakers joined advocates and manufactured home residents today to voice support for legislation that would protect homeowners from steep land-lot rent increases.
Across the country, manufactured home communities are increasingly being purchased by private equity firms, hedge funds and multi-state corporations that then dramatically raise rates. Manufactured homeowners own their homes, but not the land beneath them, and relocating a manufactured home is often costly and difficult.
As a result, homeowners living in communities purchased by private equity firms have little recourse when rates sharply increase. Many manufactured homeowners are seniors, veterans and people with disabilities who live on fixed incomes and are increasingly at risk of being priced out of their homes.
Legislation has been introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly to significantly strengthen protections for residents of manufactured home communities. Proposed provisions include requiring 180 days’ notice of all rent and fee increases, capping annual increases based on the Consumer Price Index (with justified exceptions and temporary capital improvement surcharges), and granting residents and resident associations a 90-day right of first refusal when parks are put up for sale.
HB 1250, introduced by Rep. Liz Hanbidge (D-Montgomery), passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on June 10, 2025, by a vote of 144-59. Senate Urban Affairs & Housing Committee passed SB 746, introduced by Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), which gives manufactured home residents the right of first refusal, on June 8, 2026 unanimously.
Gov. Josh Shapiro called on the Legislature earlier this year to pass bills to protect manufactured homeowners and included the reforms in his 2026-27 budget proposal. Participants at Tuesday’s press conference expressed urgency to get the legislation enacted before the end of the current session.
“The clock is ticking, and further delay isn’t an option,” said Schwank. “These are commonsense reforms that will protect hardworking Pennsylvanians and help keep them in their homes. It’s critical that we stand with these homeowners and enact this legislation before the session ends, so we don’t have to start this entire process over again in 2027.”
“It was an honor today to support the residents of manufactured home communities as they fight to protect themselves from out of state bad actors,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa. “I look forward to championing the legislation put forward by Senator Schwank to empower Pennsylvanians who call these communities home. Let’s get this done.”
“Manufactured housing is one of the last pathways to affordable homeownership in Pennsylvania,” said Hanbidge. “HB 1250 provides reasonable protections against excessive and unjustified rent hikes. It creates fairness, predictability, and stability while still allowing community owners to operate successfully. That’s why Democrats and Republicans in the House came together to pass it. Because housing affordability should never be a partisan issue.”
Video of today’s press conference can be found here.
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Harrisburg, PA − May 13, 2026 − The following statement was issued by House Speaker Joanna McClinton, Majority Leader Matt Bradford, Republican Leader Jesse Topper and Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa regarding the recent threats of violence targeted at members of the General Assembly.
A central Pennsylvania man was arrested last week for allegedly singling out several members of the General Assembly as targets on a Memorial Day hitlist. These threats are extremely disturbing, not just to the members identified, but to all public figures who are contending with an increasingly hostile environment.
As leaders of the General Assembly, we know that disagreement and debate are features of a healthy democracy. Threats of violence and harm are not. We condemn any threat against any of our colleagues who are faithfully serving their communities and pledge to support mental health care, intervention, and law enforcement funding that make our state safer.
The threats are a symptom of a greater sickness in our democracy. The escalation of political violence has reached an astounding level, impacting elected officials from school boards to the president of the United States. Pennsylvania has not been immune to that violence.
As Pennsylvanians we can’t and won’t allow political violence to become commonplace in our commonwealth. We won’t allow it to discourage good people from becoming involved in their communities and seeking public office. We won’t accept it as the consequence of public service.
