AN UPDATE FROM HARRISBURG

Lawmakers in Harrisburg are looking ahead to the next two year legislative session, and new bills are already piling up. Pennsylvania's House of Representatives' majority has landed with the Democrats for the time being. There will be three special elections coming up as a result of November's elections, and whichever party achieves a majority, that majority will be slim. Last week, Senator Gordner (R-PA Senate District 27) announced he will resign to take a position serving the Senate as Counsel; this means an additional special election to fill his seat. Lynda Shlegel Culver, a House member, has announced she will run in that special election so the saga of control over the PA House may become more complicated. This situation with a contested and close majority will frame what can be accomplished in Harrisburg in the first few months of 2023.

Looking ahead to 2023, January 17 will mark inauguration day in Pennsylvania. Incoming governors traditionally present their debut Executive Budget a few weeks later than sitting governors. A new governor's Executive Budget will provide glimpses into the new administration's priorities.

The Museum Unclaimed Loaned Property bill (SB822) advanced out of the Senate to the PA House of Representatives for consideration. The House did not take up the bill, and with this two year legislative session's ending on November 30, all the bills in either chamber that have not gone to the Governor for signature are removed from further consideration. it is our hope that lawmakers will re-introduce this bill in the next legislative session.

Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) has released a co-sponsorship memo on December 1 about re-introducing the Museum Preservation Act. PA Museums will continue to be interested in this bill as it develops.

When Pennsylvania's 2022-23 budget was approved, the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) was directed to distribute $15 million to museums and cultural organizations from American Rescue Plan Act funding. The COVID-19 ARPA Arts and Culture Recovery Program guidelines and timeline were posted last week; the application period opened Monday with a February 28 deadline to apply.

The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) will bring the field together for  Museums Advocacy Day in Washington, DC which will be held February 27-28, 2023. AAM organizes this effective national advocacy campaign each year. Participants enjoy a day of advocacy training with AAM staff, expert speakers, and fellow advocates followed by visits to lawmakers' offices to bring museum issues before members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.