AGP Executive Report

Elections & Courts: A federal judge in Boston halted President Trump’s executive order aimed at creating a federal voter list and tightening mail-ballot rules, citing separation-of-powers problems—another setback for the administration’s election agenda. Public Safety & Justice: Pennsylvania senators advanced legislation to set a 35-year minimum sentence for second-degree murder after the state Supreme Court struck down a prior mandatory life requirement. Statehouse & Policy: The Pa. House passed a data-center “pause” and GRID-related measures, while another bill moved to repeal sales tax incentives for data center equipment—showing a sharp split over how aggressively Pennsylvania should court hyperscale projects. Environment: A Pennsylvania River-focused nonprofit sued a mineral facility over alleged stormwater pollution flowing toward the Delaware River. Health & Education: A judge blocked a new federal “professional degree” definition that would have cut graduate nursing borrowing limits, granting a temporary reprieve for affected programs. Campaign Trail: Gov. Josh Shapiro and GOP challenger Stacy Garrity both signaled willingness to debate, setting up a rare face-to-face moment in the 2026 governor’s race. Federal Watch: A DHS inspector general report says Secret Service phone practices left senior officials exposed to hacking risks.

Budget Crunch: Pennsylvania lawmakers are weighing a June 30 budget deadline and may have to tap the state’s rainy day fund as costs rise and the gap between spending and revenue grows. Housing & Elections: A bipartisan Whole-Home Repairs housing push was derailed when Trump canceled a bill-signing ceremony, while his insistence on voter-ID changes keeps Congress in gridlock. Iran War Powers: Trump faced sharp GOP blowback over Iran strategy, as the Senate moved to block his war powers and Republicans debated whether the administration’s framework deal is on track. Paid Leave Push: Pennsylvania mothers are urging passage of the Family Care Act to create statewide paid family and medical leave. ICE Detention Backpedal: After backlash and lawsuits, DHS appears to be abandoning plans to expand detention via purchased warehouses, saying it will rely on existing space. Pennsylvania Courts: The PA attorney general is seeking to intervene in a Philadelphia murder case after the state Supreme Court tightened oversight of appellate relief. Public Records Fight: Pennsylvania coroners’ refusal to release autopsy reports is hampering research into deaths in custody. Defense Summit: Sen. Dave McCormick says Trump will headline a Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit in Carlisle in July. Local Governance: Centre County’s tourism bureau announced 2026-27 grant recipients totaling $1.15M. Criminal Justice: A Bedford man already jailed faces added charges after an alleged assault on another inmate.

War Powers & Iran: President Trump’s Capitol visit turned into a public GOP fight after Senate Republicans backed a war-powers rebuke over Iran, with Sen. Bill Cassidy describing a heated shouting match. Housing Policy: Trump abruptly canceled a signing ceremony for the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act, tying it to passage of the SAVE America Act—putting Pennsylvania’s Whole-Home Repairs expansion in limbo. Immigration Enforcement in PA: Sen. John Fetterman confirmed DHS/ICE won’t move forward with two Pennsylvania warehouse detention plans, after local opposition. Elections & Voting Rules: A federal court victory blocks Michigan from turning over unredacted voter rolls to DOJ, while Democrats and senators push back on a proposed USPS rule that would create a federal registry of approved mail voters. State Government & Courts: Pennsylvania House advanced a “round up, round down” cash-payments bill; separately, the state Supreme Court’s skill-games ruling is driving new calls for regulation. Public Safety & Courts: A Lancaster County man was sentenced for a deadly DUI crash; four were charged after an incident at a Rutter’s in Lebanon County. Local Crime: A cult-like Zizians member was charged in the killings of her parents in Chester Heights. Sports/Business Legal: The “Terrible Towel” trademark owner sued a seller in federal court.

War Powers Showdown: The U.S. Senate voted 50-48 to direct President Donald Trump to end the Iran war or seek congressional approval, a rare bipartisan rebuke that four GOP senators joined—while Trump blasted the move as “meaningless” and “poorly timed.” Iran Deal Fallout: Trump and Iran are trading conflicting claims over nuclear inspections and frozen assets, with Tehran denying key concessions even as the administration says inspectors will go “at the appropriate time.” Pennsylvania Spotlight—Shapiro Popularity: A Suffolk/Philadelphia Inquirer poll finds Gov. Josh Shapiro is the most popular political figure in Philadelphia by a wide margin, while a separate poll shows residents feel safer and see a cleaner city under Mayor Cherelle Parker, but schools remain a major worry. 2A and Elections: Sen. Dave McCormick weighed the SAVE America Act and filibuster questions, as GOP leaders push voter ID and Trump continues to court “national right to carry” support. State Policy Watch: Pennsylvania’s cell-phone ban in schools is getting attention in Ridgway, where St. Leo already runs a no-phone classroom policy. Local Politics: Stacy Garrity is calling for seven debates with Shapiro ahead of the governor’s race. PA on the Campaign Trail: Trump visited Mack Trucks in battleground Pennsylvania amid protests and renewed focus on jobs and the Iran ceasefire.

War Powers Showdown: The U.S. Senate voted 50-48 to end unauthorized U.S. hostilities against Iran, a rare bipartisan rebuke of President Trump; four GOP senators backed it (Collins, Murkowski, Cassidy, Paul) while Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman voted no. Trump in Pennsylvania: Trump returned to the campaign trail in a Mack Trucks stop in Lehigh Valley, pitching jobs and blaming inflation on the Iran conflict’s price shock while boosting GOP Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in a toss-up 7th District race. Harrisburg Criminal Justice: Senate Judiciary advanced a bill to fix Pennsylvania’s second-degree murder sentencing after the state Supreme Court struck mandatory life-without-parole as unconstitutional. Gun Policy at Work: A proposed Pennsylvania law would bar employers from penalizing workers for legally storing firearms in vehicles on-site, with carveouts for places where guns are already prohibited. Election Integrity Case: A Philadelphia woman pleaded guilty to voting twice in the 2024 presidential election, facing up to five years. Housing Supply Push: Pennsylvania lawmakers are moving an ADU bill to let homeowners build accessory dwelling units in single-family zones with fewer hurdles. State Government Finance: PSERS voted to outsource $20 billion in investments to BNY Mellon. Public Safety: York City police allege a social media dispute between rival gangs sparked a fatal May shooting at Penn Park.

Election Integrity & Civil Liberties: The ACLU is rolling out a $50 million midterm push, including paid staff and volunteers to monitor canvass and certification in battleground states like Pennsylvania. Immigration Enforcement: Pennsylvania officials are responding to reports that DHS/ICE may offload Berks and Schuylkill warehouse sites meant for detention centers, with lawmakers saying the plan could be reversed. Courts & Public Safety: The Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld dismissal of a Blair County inmate’s petition tied to Operation Our Town drug-investigation funding. School Choice Oversight: The state House advanced a bill to increase transparency and oversight of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit program, setting up a shift toward a new “Education Options” structure. Local Government Watch: Titusville council nixed a paid parking plan for now and approved beer garden events tied to Oil Fest. Community & Housing: Northern Schuylkill is getting $150,000 in PHARE funding for roof and safety repairs through the “Raise the Roof” initiative. Civil Rights Access: Montgomery County launched an online portal for discrimination complaints, aiming to streamline housing, employment, and public accommodation cases.

Regulatory Pressure on Energy Projects: Public Citizen urged FERC to pause its review of the proposed “Constitution” natural gas pipeline after President Trump threatened to block offshore wind in New York in retaliation, escalating the fight over Pennsylvania-to-New York energy infrastructure. Elder Abuse Secrecy Fight: Spotlight PA reports records show Pennsylvania’s Office of State Inspector General produced an elder-abuse probe report for Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office in early 2024, but the administration has refused to release findings, citing confidentiality. Immigration Detention Expansion Slows: The New York Times reports ICE is considering selling or transferring seven warehouse sites bought for detention, a reversal tied to lawsuits, local opposition, and shifting DHS leadership. Statehouse: EV Direct Sales Push: A Pennsylvania House bill advanced from committee to let more automakers sell EVs directly to consumers, challenging a narrow 2014 law that effectively allowed only Tesla. Campaign Money in Lancaster: Lancaster County Democrats are drawing national donors as they target competitive Pa. House and Senate races, with fundraising momentum in the 36th Senate and 41st House districts. Local Governance & Public Safety: Tree-care warnings are circulating ahead of storm season in Delaware and the Philly region, urging homeowners to assess hidden damage before the next wind event.

School Choice Fight in Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Democrats are advancing bills that would cut Education Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit funding, with critics warning up to 30,000 students could lose scholarships and private-school oversight could expand. Special Education Oversight Shift: Federal officials are moving special education oversight from the U.S. Department of Education to HHS, raising alarms that Pennsylvania’s large population of students with disabilities could face fragmented support. Health Care Costs for Rural Pennsylvanians: A new “Primary Care Medic” concept would borrow from military corpsmen/medics to help close rural primary-care gaps under physician supervision. Pharmacy Benefit Reform Debate: Lawmakers are weighing a single Pharmacy Benefit Administrator model, but small-pharmacy advocates say it won’t deliver promised savings and could worsen payment-rate problems. Public Safety and Benefits for Fallen Officers: A bill to ensure health coverage for families of municipal police officers killed or disabled on duty cleared a House committee unanimously, though municipalities would bear the cost. Energy and Data Centers: Pennsylvania’s data-center debate continues as lawmakers consider new rules, while a separate panel argues energy law won’t fix soaring electric bills alone. Federal Court Clash in Philly: DOJ litigation seeks to block Philadelphia from enforcing mask and identity rules for federal agents. Medicaid Pressure Points: Reporting highlights how Medicaid cuts could drive more uninsured kids in Pennsylvania and points to rising Medicaid dental and ambulance spending in multiple localities.

School Funding Fight: Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker heads to Harrisburg to press for new money for the financially strapped School District, after a city budget deal left a $300M structural deficit and staff cuts on the table. State Budget Pressure: Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal Office is projecting a $5.7B deficit for the 2026-27 budget, with June 30 looming and little sign of a breakthrough from Shapiro and lawmakers. Pennsylvania Supreme Court & Skill Games: The court’s skill-games ruling is drawing immediate reaction from local prosecutors and the mayor, as the state grapples with how to regulate “skill machines” under gaming and criminal law. Election Law Watch: The Trump administration is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to revive blocked voter-purge rules, a fight that could reshape how states verify eligibility and maintain rolls ahead of midterms. Public Safety & Courts: A former Pennsylvania cop is headed to trial on more than 20 felony stalking charges tied to use of a secure law-enforcement database. Military Modernization: The Pennsylvania National Guard is expanding drone warfare training at Fort Indiantown Gap to prepare for drone-centric battlefields. Data Center Politics: A Pennsylvania family is challenging a proposed large data center, arguing health impacts and pushing back on local approvals.

Immigration Enforcement Shift: ICE plans to offload Pennsylvania and New Jersey warehouse properties meant for mass detention, signaling a change in DHS priorities while critics warn communities will still feel the fallout. State Courts & Elections: The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether to take election-rule fights that could affect voting access, including a Pennsylvania mailed-ballot dispute that Republicans are appealing. Pennsylvania Gambling Law: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s “skill games” ruling is still reverberating, with lawmakers and businesses pressing for what comes next after the court said the machines must follow gambling rules. Data Centers & GRID: A House committee advanced legislation to codify Gov. Shapiro’s GRID standards, tying data-center tax benefits to energy affordability, local engagement, jobs, and environmental requirements. Public Safety & Health: Dauphin County restaurant inspections flagged rodent “harborage” and sanitation gaps, while a measles case tied to a traveler passing through LAX raises concerns for summer crowds. Criminal Justice Oversight: Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court ordered outside scrutiny of Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner’s post-conviction concessions, a major check on how his office handles serious cases. Business & Economy: The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland will host a State of Small Business Symposium, with Pennsylvania in its regional district. Community & Civic Life: Thousands turned out for America250PA events, including a Wilkes-Barre concert headlined by Lady A and En Vogue.

Statehouse/Policy: The House Finance Committee advanced HB 2650 to codify Gov. Josh Shapiro’s GRID data-center standards into law, tying state tax benefits to energy affordability, local community engagement, workforce goals, transparency, and environmental requirements. Courts/Gambling: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled “skill games” are slot machines under state law, triggering Gaming Act oversight and a 120-day grace period for businesses while lawmakers decide how to tax and regulate them. Local Government: Luzerne County’s new anti-discrimination ordinance is drawing confusion over how it applies beyond county government, with a repeal effort seeking enough signatures for a ballot question. Federal/Legal: A federal judge kept in place an order allowing the Heritage Foundation to receive redacted Biden ghostwriter transcripts and recordings, citing strong public interest in law enforcement materials. Civil Rights/Religion: The DOJ is probing MLB’s warnings to Giants players over Bible verses on Pride Night hats, with the case referred to the EEOC. Health Care Spending (Pennsylvania): Medicaid dental and transport spending surged in multiple areas, including Philadelphia dental claims hitting $12.08M in 2024 and sharp local jumps in ambulance/transport and vision services across the state.

School Policy: Lancaster’s school board informally agreed to halt mandatory drug testing for most job candidates, with officials calling it outdated and unfairly targeting marijuana users, while considering a more targeted approach for safety-sensitive roles. Courts & Democracy: A Lancaster County editorial spotlights how jury duty can matter in real cases, using a decades-old rape prosecution to show why citizens’ service can’t be treated as optional. Immigration Enforcement: DHS is reportedly backing away from converting seven ICE warehouse sites bought for a $700M-plus detention expansion, with plans to transfer or sell properties after legal and local pushback. State Government: The PA Senate approved a measure clarifying the state’s Sunshine Act. Housing & Local Government: Centre County is reopening its CASH affordable housing grant program for nonprofit and developer projects, while Lock Haven begins interviews for a new city manager. Economy & Cost of Living: Lancaster County’s first countywide property reassessment in nine years is set to take effect, with residents bracing for big tax bill changes. Tech & Law: Google filed an antitrust appeal over default-search rules in the DC Circuit.

ICE Detention Pivot in PA: DHS is backing away from converting warehouses in Schuylkill and Berks into immigrant detention centers, with reports saying ICE plans to sell or transfer seven of the 11 sites it bought—an abrupt shift toward using existing state and county space. Immigration Enforcement Politics: The broader ICE push also includes renewed focus on arresting people tied to serious crimes, while denaturalization efforts and court fights over federal immigration operations keep heating up. Skill Games Legal Fallout: Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court ruling that skill game devices are “slot machines” is driving new compliance pressure and debate over what changes next. Housing & Zoning: Harrisburg lawmakers are moving on ADU and data-center rules, while local fights continue—like State College’s planning panel recommending denial of a zoning height increase tied to Addison Court. Education Choice Bills: Two fast-moving House bills would reshape Pennsylvania’s education tax-credit scholarships, with supporters citing accountability and opponents warning of reduced funding and added bureaucracy. Road Safety: PennDOT and State Police are enforcing Paul Miller’s Law with a $50 fine for handheld phone use while driving. Local Government Watch: Northampton County approved new “continuum of care” leadership roles at Gracedale Nursing Home.

Rural Healthcare & Pharmacy Choice Town Hall (Boswell, June 23): Pharmacists United for Truth & Transparency is hosting a free community forum on rural health pressures and patients’ “my pharmacy, my choice” rights, with residents invited to share how pharmacy benefit manager rules affect access. Data Center Backlash Turns Risky: A White House UFC attack plot tied to online grievances included “data centers taking up all the water,” underscoring how zoning anger is escalating into threats. Lycoming County Hits Pause on Data Center Zoning: Commissioners declared a 1991 data-center zoning ordinance “substantially invalid” and set a 180-day path for a curative amendment. State House Moves Toward Data Center Rules: Three bipartisan bills advanced from committee, including a proposal to codify Shapiro’s GRID standards for developers seeking tax benefits. Skill Games Legal Fallout: Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court ruling that skill games are slot-machine-like is pushing lawmakers toward a new taxation and regulation framework. Indigent Defense Funding: Schuylkill County received $69,325 via PCCD to support public defender staffing. AG Settlement in State College: Attorney General Dave Sunday announced a $75K settlement resolving lease termination disputes tied to student housing renovations. Election Administration Watch: Spotlight PA reports Shapiro has left Pennsylvania’s Election Law Advisory Board seats unfilled for years, leaving the board largely inactive. DOJ vs. Philadelphia on Federal Officer Masking: DOJ sued over a city ordinance limiting how federal officers identify themselves and wear masks.

AI & Consumer Protection: Pennsylvania House lawmakers advanced a bill requiring companies to disclose AI-generated advertising content, pushing it to the Senate after a House vote. Election Integrity & Federal Power: Senate Republicans’ plans to confirm a new DNI director hit a snag when Trump demanded changes tied to a Manhattan U.S. attorney role and FISA Section 702 reauthorization. Reproductive Rights in Court: Pennsylvania family planning groups and the ACLU sued the Trump administration over Title X funding changes, arguing the program is being politicized. Housing Dollars: Montgomery County received $3.03M in state affordable-housing grants, including support for shelter and rapid rehousing programs. Transportation Policy: “Abby’s Law” for e-scooter safety remains stuck in a Senate committee, despite a family’s push for age and helmet rules. Immigration Detention Scrutiny: Reuters reports deaths in ICE detention have more than doubled under Trump, including cases involving Pennsylvania-area detainees. Energy Costs Debate: A new report argues alternative energy mandates have cost Pennsylvania ratepayers $3.3B and could raise bills under Shapiro proposals. Courts & Public History: A federal appeals court ruled the Trump administration can replace slavery exhibits at a Philadelphia historic site ahead of July 4 America’s 250.

Medicaid Fight: Spotlight PA reports Trump-era Medicaid work requirements and $990B in cuts could leave hundreds of thousands more Pennsylvanians—especially children—uninsured, as Shapiro says the state can’t backfill the hit. Budget Watch: Shapiro’s plan to tap nearly $4.7B from the rainy day fund to balance the 2026-27 budget faces House and Senate GOP resistance over credit-rating and future tax concerns. Iran Deal Fallout: The U.S. and Iran signed an initial agreement ending hostilities and easing sanctions, starting a 60-day nuclear negotiation clock—while Trump keeps the door open to renewed attacks. Data Center Politics: Venango residents packed a meeting over a proposed Scrubgrass data center expansion; Delaware County is weighing a November referendum to fund its Green Ways open-space program. Skill Games/Legal Pressure: The Pa. Supreme Court sharply rebuked Philly DA Larry Krasner’s office for misleading courts in murder-conviction relief efforts, tightening procedures going forward. House Action on NDAs: A Pennsylvania House committee advanced a bill to curb data-center nondisclosure agreements with local governments. Public Safety: Chester police report three people shot outside a Uno Pizzeria on Widener’s campus. Workforce/Contracts: A new survey finds many workers don’t fully read employment contracts, with real financial fallout when exit terms aren’t understood.