Pa. Senate approves bill modernizing permitting process

By a vote of 28-22, the Pennsylvania Senate approved Senate Bill 6, a permitting reform aimed at bringing increased accountability, transparency, and efficiency to how state agencies handle permit applications. 

Sponsored by Sens. Kristin Phillips (R-York) and Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland/Perry/Dauphin), the legislation establishes timelines for state agencies to review permit applications, creates a permit tracking system, and ensures applicants receive timely, consistent answers not endless delays. The measure also requires regular reporting so Pennsylvanians can hold their government accountable. 

In addition, Senate Bill 6 codifies key elements of Gov. Josh Shapiro‘s Executive Order, ensuring these reforms are locked into law and will outlast any single administration.  

The bill heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. 

“When permitting is unpredictable, so is investment,” Phillips-Hill said in a statement. “By passing this bill in the Senate, we’re sending a strong message that delays and inaction are no longer acceptable. We are saying Pennsylvania is open for business.” 

The bill builds on the Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development (SPEED) program, which required the Department of Environmental Protection to implement a permit tracking system. This legislation expands those transparency and accountability measures to all state agencies, ensuring these reforms last well beyond any administration. 

“Transparency and accountability in the permitting process will provide needed certainty, reduce delays, and encourage investment in Pennsylvania,” Rothman said. “These reforms will both transform and grow the Pennsylvania economy.” 

Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Luke Bernstein issued a statement on the Pennsylvania Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 6, legislation to strengthen the commonwealth’s permitting systems and improve Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness. 

“We applaud the Senate for passing Senate Bill 6, a major step toward ensuring that Pennsylvania’s permitting process supports economic growth. Employers across every industry — from manufacturing and energy to construction and logistics — have long cited permitting delays and inconsistent communication as some of the biggest barriers to investment in our state,” said Bernstein. 

“This bill is a strong response to those concerns. It improves communication between agencies and applicants, creates clear timelines, increases transparency, and ensures accountability by establishing a public permit-tracking system and annual performance reporting. It also allows for third-party reviews to keep projects moving and codifies firm decision deadlines so employers can invest with confidence. 

“This legislation builds on last session’s bipartisan passage of legislation to create the SPEED program, which expedites permits, and the commitment of the Shapiro administration to improve permitting and reduce DEP’s historic permit backlog.   This progress demonstrates how modernization, technology, and collaboration are delivering real results. Senate Bill 6 builds on this momentum by codifying many of the steps already implemented by the administration, ensuring this critical work continues and expands in the years to come. 

“When government and the business community work together to improve efficiency and predictability, everyone wins. We especially thank Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill for sponsoring S.B. 6 and her consistent leadership on this effort and urge the House to move quickly so Pennsylvania can continue building a regulatory system that drives investment and job creation.”