HARRISBURG – The Senate State Government Committee approved legislation to increase the transparency of state and local government in Pennsylvania today, according to Senator David G. Argall (R-29), the chairman of the committee.
“Openness and transparency are crucial for building trust in our government,” said Senator Argall. “One of my key goals as chairman of this committee has been to ensure that every Pennsylvanian can know and understand the details of how their government operates.”
The bills approved include:
- Senate Bill 488, which requires additional disclosure of salary and budgetary information for Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, and Lincoln University.
- Senate Bill 1130, which allows for local governments to broadcast their meetings online and take remote comments.
- House Bill 2485, which requires state agencies to make information about all state contracts over $10,000 available online.
- House Bill 2219, which requires a report explaining the extension of a regulatory suspension in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The approval of these bills follows a public hearing of the committee last week reviewing legislation to update the Right to Know Law, which allows for Pennsylvania residents and organizations to request information about the operations of state and local agencies, the General Assembly, the judiciary, and state-related universities.
Contact: Jim Brugger
717.787.2637