The Commonwealth Court’s decision in Coleman v. Parkland Sch. Dist., 305 A.3d 238 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2023) has significant implications for boroughs in Pennsylvania. The Court ruled that Section 712.1(e) of the Sunshine Act is...more
In response to a class action suit by homeless people challenging several anti-camping ordinances in the city of Grant Pass, OR, the U.S. Supreme Court explored the contours of the Eighth Amendment (“8A”) of the U.S....more
On June 13, 2023, the House of Representatives passed HB 255 (124-79), a groundbreaking bill introduced by Rep. Robert E. Merski (D-Erie Co). This bill aims to fund local municipal code enforcement efforts and establish a...more
In Weis Mkts., Inc. v. Lancaster Twp., 248 A.3d 622 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2021), Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court decided that a municipality’s discretion to deny an intermunicipal liquor license transfer application is not unlimited...more
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s municipal authority and municipality bidding thresholds will increase 8.2% in 2023, compared to the 12-month period ending September 30, 2022.
The Department published...more
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s bidding thresholds for a municipal authority and municipality will increase a little over 2% in 2022.
The Department published its bidding thresholds for 2022 under Act...more
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s municipal authority and municipality bidding thresholds will rise 1.4 percent in 2021. The Department published its bidding thresholds for 2021 under Act 90 of 2011....more
On April 14, 2020, the Pennsylvania House voted (202-0) to approve legislation to ensure municipalities can continue to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since Governor Wolf’s March 6, 2020 emergency declaration,...more
COVID-19 has impacted every facet of our lives, including the way municipalities conduct public meetings. An amendment to House Bill 1564 cruised through the State House on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, (190-0) and is heading to...more
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s municipal authority and municipality bidding thresholds will rise 1.8 percent in 2020.
The Department published its bidding thresholds for 2020 under Act 90 of 2011. ...more
An important amendment to Pennsylvania’s Borough Code (8 Pa. C.S.A. § 101 et seq.) that impacts a Borough’s process for adopting its annual property tax rate took effect on August 30, 2019.
On July 2, 2019, Governor Tom...more
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s municipal authority and municipality bidding thresholds will rise 2.3 percent in 2019.
The Department published its bidding thresholds for 2019 under Act 90 of 2011. ...more
Newly elected officials may be surprised to discover their votes and actions have legal implications. Preventing a resident from speaking at a public meeting may result in a violation of the First Amendment and a civil rights...more
A Category 4 slot machine licensee will be authorized to operate no less than 300 and no more than 750 slot machines at a licensed facility (“ Category 4 casino”).
Act 42 prohibits a Category 4 casino from being built...more
On November 21, 2016, Governor Tom Wolf signed into law HB1683 (Act 172 of 2016), which authorizes municipalities to grant fire and emergency medical service (EMS) volunteers tax credits for local taxes. The new law takes...more