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01
January
2025
Pennsylvania’s Legislative Session Closes
The Pennsylvania General Assembly's 209th Session begins January 7, 2025, with all unpassed legislation needing reintroduction. Despite a divided government, fresh faces will emerge due to 19 retirements, including a Senate defeat. Republican Dave Sunday will be sworn in as the new Attorney General, setting the stage for collaboration on key issues, particularly in the automotive industry, in the upcoming year.
On November 30, 2024, the 208th Session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly ended. All legislation not sent to the Governor dies and must be reintroduced, with the process starting all over, in the 209th Session which begins on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.
The makeup of the General Assembly will look the same with divided government, as the House controls will continue to be controlled by the Democrats 102 to 101 and the Senate controlled by the Republicans 28 to 22. However, we will have some fresh faces because of 19 retirements, three in the Senate and sixteen in the House. In addition, a Senate incumbent was defeated for re-election. These retirements will create openings in the coveted committee chairmanships that are based on seniority and could have a cascading effect as senior members look to bump up to chair a different committee to match their interests or expertise.
Pennsylvania will also see the swearing in of a new Attorney General in January, as the York County district attorney, Republican Dave Sunday, won the open seat. The job came open because Attorney General Michelle Henry did not seek election after being appointed to fill the last two years of now-Gov. Josh Shapiro's unexpired term. Dave received his undergraduate degree in Finance from Penn State University in 2002 and graduated from Widener Law School in 2007, according to his campaign website.
He served in the Navy and worked as a legal intern at the United Nations, where he was assigned to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
He went on to clerk for the President Judge of the York County Court of Common Pleas.
Dave has been a prosecutor with the York County District Attorney’s Office for over 15 years.
Specifically of interest, the Office of Attorney General’s Public Protection Division enforces and administers the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.We look forward to collaborating with the new Attorney General and the General Assembly on issues impacting the automotive industry in the new year. Please be assured that we will keep you apprised of the legislation and regulations of interest.
What does the attorney general do?
Pennsylvania Attorney General
- Top law enforcement official
- Extensive responsibilities to protect and serve citizens and agencies.
Divisions and Functions
- Criminal Law Division
- Public Protection Division
- Civil Division
- Operations Division
Support Structure
- Staff of several hundred
- Includes prosecutors, attorneys, investigators, agents.
- Supported by regional offices across the state.
Specifically of interest, the Office of Attorney General’s Public Protection Division enforces and administers the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.
ELECTED LEADERSHIP TEAMS FOR THE NEW SESSION
2025-2026 SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP:
President Pro Tempore: Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland)
Leader: Joe Pittman (R-Indiana)
Whip: Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster)
Appropriations Chair: Scott Martin (R-Lancaster)
Caucus Chair: Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York)
Caucus Secretary: Camera Bartolotta (R- Washington)
Policy Chair: TBD through appointment.
Caucus Administrator: TBD through appointment.
2025-2026 SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP:
Leader: Jay Costa (D-Allegheny)
Whip: Tina Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia)
Appropriations Chair: Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia)
Caucus Chair: Maria Collett (D-Montgomery)
Caucus Secretary: Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks)
Policy Chair: Nick Mille (D-Lehigh/Northampton)
Caucus Administrator: Judy Schwank (D-Berks)
2025-2026 HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP:
Leader: Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton)
Whip: Tim O’Neal (R-Washington)
Appropriations Chair: Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana)
Caucus Chair: Martina White (R-Philadelphia)
Caucus Secretary: Clint Owlett (R-Bradford/Tioga)
Policy Chair: David Rowe (R-Juniata/Mifflin/Snyder/Union)
Caucus Administrator: Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland)
2025-2026 HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP:
Speaker: Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia)
Leader: Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery)
Whip: Mike Schlossberg (D-Lehigh)
Appropriations Chair: : Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia)
Caucus Chair: Rob Matzie (D-Beaver)
Caucus Secretary: Tina Davis (D-Bucks)
Policy Chair: Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie)
Caucus Administrator: Leanne Krueger (D-Delaware)
As seen in our Magazine
Erik Ross
Erik Ross brings over 30 years of experience in state government and lobbying to Milliron Goodman. He specializes in state government relations with a focus on transportation, energy, environmental, and public utility issues in one of the most innovative regulatory environments in the country. His duties include lobbying members and staff of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, executive departments, and regulatory agencies on behalf of clients. In addition, he serves as a liaison between clients and state government officials and assists in the drafting or amending of legislative and regulatory proposals.
Erik’s public sector experience includes positions as Research Analyst to the Chairman of the Senate Majority Policy Committee and Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee; and Legislative Assistant and Executive Assistant to the Pennsylvania Senate Majority Whip Mike Fisher from 1989 to 1993. His duties included management of legislative/policy development; drafting legislation, amendments, and correspondence; assisting the Majority Whip on the Senate floor; and assisting the Senate Majority Leader’s staff on caucus-related projects.
