We get it, session weeks are busy. That’s why we put together a list of the bills being discussed in committee and on the floor of the General Assembly that are worth devoting your precious time to tracking. From manufacturing tax credits to volunteer fire departments, here are five bills to watch for the week of September 16.

Incumbent Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney beat back a primary challenge from Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) Tuesday, clearing the way for a second term. Meanwhile, Republicans retained control of two Senate seats and a spot in the state House, bringing their drought in 2019 special elections to an end.

Doug Mastriano and Joe Pittman won races to replace retiring Senators Don White (R-Indiana) and Richard Alloway (R-Franklin) respectively, while Marci Mustello defeated Democrat Sam Doctor to fill the seat vacated by embattled former Rep. Brian Ellis (R-Butler). Those victories come after Democrats regained control of two House seats and flipped a state Senate seat in special elections earlier this year.

A weekly look at new proposals from lawmakers in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. In our latest iteration of our weekly feature on new co-sponsorship memoranda, we take a look at proposals to ban the implementation of gun registries, require visible signage for Lyft and Uber drivers, and help small businesses.

Rep. Angel Cruz (D-Philadelphia) hosted a press conference Monday afternoon where he pushed for his legislation, House Bill 620, to be brought up for a vote in committee.

The legislation would require members of the House and Senate to be drug tested. The tests would be called by the House Speaker and the Senate President Pro Tempore at random and would be paid for by the legislators out of their own pockets.

In January, the City of Philadelphia announced it will implement safe injection sites, also known as comprehensive user engagement sites (CUES), in an effort to limit the number of people who will likely die from overdosing on opioids. 

Since the announcement, several Democrats have not warmed up to the progressive plan.