Compare+Contrast: Pennsylvania House Democratic Vs. Republican Priorities For 2025-2026 Leg. Session
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives began the 2025 legislative session on Tuesday, January 7th. Democrats managed to exit the 2024 election with a one-seat majority, so bipartisan collaboration will still be critical to accomplish either party’s priorities. Here’s what each party has publicly stated about their priorities for this legislative session:
Pa. House Democratic Policy Priorities
In a press release, Rep. Emily Kinkead, incoming chair of the Subcommittee on Labor, Energy and Development, said Democrats will push policies to “address the financial challenges facing working families.” Rep. Kinkead listed two specific Democratic priorities of bringing “down the cost of energy bills” and ensuring workers are paid a “living wage.” Pennsylvania’s minimum wage currently matches the federal minimum at $7.25 per hour, which is even lower than West Virginia’s minimum wage of $8.75 per hour.
Rep. Tarik Khan committed to “improving access to health care, clean energy production, criminal justice reform, housing affordability, and building an economy that uplifts working Pennsylvanians” as the chair of the Subcommittee on Emerging Policies for Working People. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, minimum-wage workers in Pennsylvania would have to work “119 hours To afford a modest 1 bedroom rental home at Fair Market Rent.”
Pa. House Republican Policy Priorities
Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford), recently elected PA House Republican leader, said last month the caucus was committed to “strong conservative principles” and “limited government.” The Center Square reported that Rep. Topper spoke positively of school choice because in his view, legislators need “to ensure that each and every child has access to a high quality education, even if public school is not the right option for them.”
Rep. Topper also mentioned Pennsylvania’s “abundant natural resources” as a reason why the Commonwealth should be “second to none when it comes to economic development.” The leaders of both Republican caucuses promoted the idea of increasing energy production as a way to attract companies to build data centers in Pennsylvania because according to Leader Topper, “the data centers won’t have the power if we don’t get it up.” In response to Gov. Shapiro’s proposed budget, House Republican Appropriations Chairman Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana) raised concerns about the governor’s “failure” to propose policies to “unleash Pennsylvania’s energy industry,” mirroring the title of one of President Trump’s January executive orders: “Unleashing American Energy.”
The Policy Information Center will continue to monitor the Pennsylvania House for further updates as legislation is introduced.